Four Easy Steps to Teach RETRIEVE

Uses:  Fun, exercise

1. Toss an item on the floor about three feet from your dog.  When your dog goes toward the object Click and Treat.

2. Once your dog is going to the object, Click and Treat him for touching it with his nose.  Repeat about a dozen times.  Your dog should now be predictably touching the object and expecting to be rewarded for it.  This time you will not Click him for touching the object.  Instead, wait and as soon as he makes any attempt to put his mouth on the object, Click and Treat.  Repeat this step many times, until your dog will mouth at the object nearly always.

3. Now you will not Click for mouthing the object, but instead wait until your dog picks up the object to Click and Treat.  Add distance slowly by putting the object a short distance away from you, then gradually increasing the distance.

4. Once you have a Retrieve (your dog goes out from you, picks up the object and brings it back) choose a command such as Take it, Get it, Bring or Fetch.

Now you can begin shaping your dog to pick up other objects, starting with easier ones then going to more difficult ones.  Each new object you want your dog to retrieve should be shaped with these steps. As you work with a variety of objects you will find it easier to shape your dog.

Four Easy Steps to Teach HEEL

Heeling in essence is “moving attention.”  You will be asking your dog to walk at your left side, as well as focusing his attention on you and not what is going on around him.  You will also teach your dog to automatically sit when you stop.  Heeling is useful for when you have your dog out and about and he needs to stay close and pay attention to you, i.e. a crowded pet store or walking near a busy road. Heeling is also an exercise in obedience competitions.

1. In a low distraction environment have your dog sit at your left side.  Hold a tasty treat in your left hand, with your hand near your dog’s nose but close to your body.

2. Take a step with your left foot.  Click and Treat when your dog is walking with you and has his attention focused on you.  You will only be walking 3-5 steps between rewarding your dog for being in the right position.  This allows you to reward often for the behavior you are looking for.

3. Once your dog understands step 2 you will begin to add sitting when you stop.  Take four and a half steps, stop and lure your dog into a Sit. Click and Treat. 

 4. Alternate between rewarding for moving attention and rewarding for sitting when you stop.  Continue randomly rewarding moving attention as well.

Four Easy Steps to Teach Basic SCENT

Uses:  Fun, Exercise, owner/dog bonding

1. Use three plastic cups of the same size.  Scent one with your scent by holding it for several minutes. Move the other plastic cups using kitchen tongs.

2. Set the cups up side down with a treat under the one with your scent.  The cups should be at least two feet apart to start.  When your dog sniffs the cup with your scent click and lift the cup so he can get the treat.  Repeat multiple times switching the positions of the cups.  Remember to move the unscented cups with kitchen tongs and not your hand.

3. Begin moving the cups closer together, adding extra unscented cups or using different objects.  Try these new things one at a time to let your dog get the hang of them without being overwhelmed.  Instead of putting a treat under the cup, just click and toss a treat to your dog when he finds the right one.

4. Now we will begin asking the dog to “indicate the article” or tell you in some way that he has found the one with your scent.  Start back at step one of this behavior.  When your dog sniffs the right one tell him “Good dog!” then ask him to Sit, Down, Speak or bring the object to you before clicking and treating.  (If your dog will not do these behaviors quickly work on them away from this behavior before attempting this step.  Once your dog begins to Sit, lie Down, Speak or bring the object to you progress through steps two and three above.  Now your dog should not only be able to find the object you touched but will also tell you he did!)