Let's GO!!!
Classroom Blog exercises
The following are the exercises we will be working on in the upcoming live group sessions. You can get started practicing so that when we meet in class we can work on them together and I can help you with any trouble you might be having. They are broken into two sections- Foundations and Reactivity so you can look at the exercises that go along with the classes you plan on attending.
Foundations:
PLAY
PERSONAL PLAY:
getting engagement without any toys or treats
just experiment and have fun
if your puppy is under 5 months and has sharp baby teeth you can use a toy
Keep all personal play short with a lot of breaks if your dog is young and easily aroused or over excited
TWO TOY PLAY:
a good game for possessive dogs or dogs that lose interest in play quickly
Take two toys as close to the same as possible.
Toss one, or start playing tug with one, when your dog is in possession of the first toy, shift your focus to the second toy.
See if you can entice your dog into wanting to engage with your second toy.
FOOD AS A TOY:
bring your food to life!
Make it fun to chase
Make it fun to catch
see if you can get their tails wagging and eyes sparkling with food!
* If your dog resource guards food you can skip this game if it feels too sketchy.
PLACE:
Using a bed or mat we are going to start rewarding our dog for going to their place so we can build in a stay there.
hold your dog’s collar as you toss a treat onto their bed from a very short distance
let go as you cue “place” or whatever word you want to use.
when they get the treat, follow them and once they are on the bed use another treat to help them lay down or sit
* you can also see the video for shaping place using a clicker!
CLICKER TRAINING:
Condition your clicker/or load up your reward marker word
Try the box game
Reactivity:
HAND TOUCH:
stand facing your dog
present one hand a few inches away from their nose, open, palm facing dog and when they investigate it, when their nose touches your hand mark and reward
repeat 4-6 times
WHIPLASH TURN:
have a handful of treats
place a treat or two at your dog’s feet
while they are eating go behind their tail
give your emergency turn cue
when they turn put their reward at your feet
repeat the pattern 5-6 times
if they are fast eaters like Leo put down several treats and call when you see they have finished the last one
LOOK AT THAT GAME:
have your dog sit or lay down facing you
have an object small enough to easily hold and move, big enough for your dog to easily see
have treats in your other hand and put both hands behind you
present the object to your side and look towards it
when your dog looks at it, mark and reward
as you reward put the object behind your back
repeat 5-6 times
it’s simple but the trick is it’s like that pat your head rub your tummy thing where your hands have to be independently thinking so you don’t move your treat hand until after they look and you say yes. 😉
If you struggle with any of the exercises we will be practicing these together as a group in classes starting next week, or if you don’t want to wait you can go to the Facebook group and ask questions or post homework videos.