This is the list of the activities we use in class and the typical order. Sometimes the order changes based off of previous training history or how the dog is responding.
- Reach out with a flat hand, to the side of your dog’s head. Touch your hand to his collar. Then feed a treat. Repeat multiple times.
- When dog is doing well and never moving away, gradually increase intensity.
- Increase the distance handler moves to the dog.
- Practice reaching over the top of the head to the collar (we want to always go from the side in real life…but other people who don’t know better might try to reach over the top).
- Get people your dog knows to practice this too.
- Have a helper hold your dog, or drop a few treats on the ground to distract him as you leave. Talk to your dog in a way that will attract him. When your dog is on his way to you, run away, then stop and scatter a few treats at your side.
- Dogs that like to play can have playtime when the dog arrives.
- Repeat many times, varying how soon/late you run and the distance the handler runs.
- Have a helper hold your dog, or scatter treats to distract him while you walk away.
- Call your dog (and possibly run). When your dog arrives, turn away from him a quarter of a turn, then scatter treats at your side. If your dog is coming to your left, you will rotate right. If your dog is coming to your right side, you will rotate left.
- Gradually increase the amount of your turn.
- Sometimes, instead of scattering treats, you can toss a big treat ahead at the “moment of reinforcement”
- Call your dog, when he is about to reach you, dart away. Feed as soon as he catches up.
- Vary where you are turning.
- Always scatter treats at your side, or toss ahead of you at the “moment of reinforcement”
- When your dog has had many repetitions with one dart away, you can have two changes of direction before reinforcing.
- The more practice the dog tries, the harder you can work to loose your dog. At the same time, always plan it so that your dog will most likely succeed.
1 Comment
elizabeth · March 23, 2011 at 6:00 pm
I am always looking for ways to work on recalls. Basically, I feel like you can't over train that one! I like your dart away two times in succession. I hadn't thought of that.
Thanks for your posts. They are great!
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