DOG Training TOYS

Second Assignment: Days 8 Through 14

Backing up game, five to 10 repetitions per session, for five to 10 sessions per day. Group come, 15 to 20 repetitions, two to five ses¬sions per day.

Variation One: The Backing Up Come Game

The backing up come game is an excellent beginning “come” exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to increase the amount of time the dog focuses on you while coming to you.
Start off using the standard come game, but when the dog gets roughly three feet from you, stand up and back away approximately three to ten feet. As you’re backing up, continue to coax the dog toward you and praise as the dog follows you. If the dog stops moving toward you, stop backing up, squat down again and resume coaxing.

Don’t back up more than 10 feet or the dog may lose interest. You don’t have to back up in a straight line, and in fact, it’s a good idea to back up in zigzag patterns. When the dog reaches you, pet, praise (say “good”) and if you’re using food, give the dog a treat. If you’re not using food, use whatever conditioned reinforcer works best for your dog. If you’re using food, keep it hidden and use it 100 percent of the time. Do this exercise five to 10 times per session, five to 10 sessions per day.
It is also important that your dog learns to be comfortable when you reach out and grasp her collar when she gets to you. Make this easy and nonthreatening. Don’t lunge at the dog and grab the collar. Instead, gently grasp it as you’re petting, praising and treating. This is important, because it is inevitable that at some point in your dog’s life you will need to grab hold of her collar. Usually…