There are loads of games you can (and I do) use to teach and reinforce the come cue (aka Recall). Round Robin, Restrained Recall, Tag, The Stalky Stalk Game, Hide & Seek, Treat Toss, The Bowl Game, and more. But…
Games Dogs Play
Dog play is fascinating and hysterical! Lucy spaniel invented this game today and played it over and over and over. She takes the ball, and goes under the a-frame. Pushes the ball in the space under the a-frame, then uses…
Agility Trial Routines
I’m a rather routine, predictable person. I find routines comforting and reassuring. I like having plans. It’s harder to get lost, lose things and be forgetful when life is orchestrated with many patterns. It’s no surprise I have any number…
Thank goodness for Premack
A favorite dog of mine, Rose, who belongs to a good friend has been ill for the past couple of months. Steadily going downhill. Thursday my friend learned Rose’s symptoms were due to cancer. It beyond sucks. Rose is a…
Push the Ball
Teaching dogs to push round objects with their noses is often such a fun training exercise and game. The Advanced class had a great time with it last night, and as I just typed the instructions for it up for…
Stuck in the House
And Tom and Zora are sad. No walk for them today. It’s raining. And icy. Everywhere is this thin sheet of ice you don’t know is there until Whoops! There go your feet. We did some training and play early…
Toy Play & Cooperative Care
I teach a cue to my dogs that means reach your head through the hole extended. Primarily I use this for putting leashes, collars, and harnesses on. Though it has proved useful if they need to wear an Elizabethan cone…
Drop on Recall Game
1 cup kibble, 3 dogs, 12 minutes SO MUCH FUN! With the yard a mess of icy snow and it a chilly 20’F outside, the dogs and I decided to play inside this morning instead of out. Bloody foot prints…
Pawtraits
For the past few weeks for an hour each week I’ve been teaching a group of friends and their dogs. They all came into the group with varying yet similar goals and have made awesome strides over the weeks. And…
Teaching Heel
In Chapter 2, Section 18 of the AKC Obedience Regulations Heel Position is defined as: “ applies whether the dog is sitting, standing, lying down or moving at heel. The dog should be at the handler’s left side straight…