We are all stuck at home! It's a great time to do some fun training! Here are some ideas for leash games.
Connect the Dots! Use cones, heavy
bowls, dog bowls or even canned vegetables and set up 4 or 5 in a line spaced
approximately 5 feet apart. With your dog on leash and some treats in your training
pouch, start at the first cone and walk toward the second. Stop at the second
cone and reward your dog with a treat. Continue until you've reached the last
cone, turn around and walk back through the cones stopping at each one to
reward your dog. If your dog is not able to keep the leash loose with the cones
5 feet apart, try spacing them closer until your dog is successful, and then
work back up to greater spacing. Start simple: set up the game in your yard or even
in your house to increase your dog’s chances of success. With practice, then practice out in public
with heavy distractions.
Chase! This game actually teaches the dog to focus on you!
Start in your house or yard with your dog on leash and with some treats in your
training pouch . Take a few steps forward, if your dog is paying attention to
you and keeping the leash loose, use our marker word “yes” and immediately step
or jog backward for several steps. When your dog turns toward you and follows
you backward, reward with a yes and treat. Repeat this and mix up the number of
steps forward and backward as your dog learns to keep the leash loose.
Egg Roll! This game reminds you to use your voice to control
your dog and not rely on your leash to pull your dog around. The leash is a
safety belt, we want your dog to work under voice control. Put your leash in
the same hand as the egg (we use tennis balls) and spoon and take a walk around
your house or yard. When you see your dog start to get distracted or tighten
the leash, call him and walk backward to get his attention, verbally praise and
reward him with a treat when he reorients his attention to you. Relying on
leash pressure to move your dog around makes your dog less sensitive to when he
is getting too far ahead of you and causing a tight leash. The point of this game is to get your dog to
follow without you using the leash.
A *Tree* Exercise: Stand still with your dog on a leash and when he
pays attention to you, or loosens the leash, treat. If he pulls, ignore him,
just stand still. Practice getting him to come back to your side to get the
treat (reinforcement). Practice inside and outside several times a day and
before a walk.
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