Moving With Your Dog
TOOLS:
- Clicker
- Treats
- Treat pouch
TRAINING ENVIRONMENT: A wide open, preferably indoor area where you can move about without having your dog on a leash. Choose a place that is the least distracting you can find where the area is open enough for you to move around.RECOMMENDED TREAT POSITION: In place (in your dog’s mouth).
STEPS:
- Stand in the center of your area facing your dog. If possible, have your dog off leash.
- Take two steps backwards.
- Your dog should follow you. When he arrives in front of you, click and treat.
- Repeat three or four times.
- Once your dog is comfortable with the movement, turn your body so he is slightly on your left and move at an angle away from him.
- He should follow along as before. When he does, click and treat. If he doesn’t, practice the first step a little more.
- Do this three or four times and then turn farther away from him, keeping him on your left.
- When he falls in to heel position click and treat.
- Repeat this a few times.
- Now begin walking as normal, clicking and treating every 2-5 steps.
- Remember to mix it up so your treats are not predictable.
HOMEWORK:
- PUPPIES: Practice five repetitions (step away and treat is one repetition).
- DOGS: Work for 2-3 minutes, three times a day.
AT THE END OF THIS STEP:
- Your dog should be following you in heel position in a low distraction environment.
- Your dog will still not be walking nicely out in the real world. We’re not there yet.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
My dog won’t follow me when I turn.
- Try a less distracting environment and start again.
- Try a more valuable (usually that means stinky) treat.
- Go back to the last step where you had success and practice a little more, and then move forward more gradually.