by Positive Dog | Oct 2, 2018 | General Training
We all know dogs need walks and exercise. Certain breeds need more than others, younger dogs need more than seniors, and we need to be careful about how we exercise puppies.
Fetch – the Good, the Bad, and the Way I Play
Many dogs love a good game of fetch. I love playing disc and ball with my own dogs, and I play a little bit with them most days.
The Good
Fetch can be a great way to burn off a little steam before a leash walk or before company arrives. If you dont feel like going for a walk, fetch is something you can do from a chair with your coffee in hand. They even make chuckit devices that allow you to throw 3 times farther than you can normally throw, still from that chair, coffee in hand.
The Bad
Over-Excitement
Fetch can ramp up some dogs to an unhealthy level. For overexcited dogs, it can keep them in that unhealthy mind set for a long period of time. Instead of taking the edge off, or tiring the dog, fetch can create a wired, pushy, crazy eyed dog who can’t settle or relax. Particularly for reactive dogs or ones that have trouble settling in the first place, fetch can be a poor choice for exercise.
Injuries
Played too long, or with dogs too young or too old, or for ones with body structure that’s less than ideal, fetch can cause serious injuries.
Growth plates in your dogs joints do not finish developing until your puppy is 14months old. Until that age, you should be very careful not to overdo any exercise, particularly fetch and jumping games, or your pup can have joint damage that you might not notice for a few years.
Certain breeds are prone to cruciate ligament tears. Particularly for those breeds and for dogs that leap up for the ball, then land on their hind end, fetch should be limited.
The Way I Play Fetch
Always play on safe surfaces. Never play where you dog has to run down a set of stairs or over slippery surface. Choose your area wisely.
Safe Placement
Your dog’s job is to catch. Your job is to place the toy so that your dog can catch and land in a safe manner.
For dogs that leap, be careful on how you throw. Throw low and short distances at first. As you and your dog get better at playing safely, add in a few farther throws. If your dog seems to be wildly throwing himself at the toy, go back to shorter throws. If you have terrible aim, go out with the toy without your dog and practice. He can’t catch safely if you can’t throw accurately!
Impulse Control
Fetch doesnt have to be a mindless game. Minimally, your dog should offer to sit to earn the ball or disc toss. Ideally, you can ask for any known trick from your dog, in fact, a sequence of tricks, to earn that toss.
If you can do 10 strides of heel work, followed by a shake a paw, a rollover, and a sit stay, that dog has earned the toss!
This changes fetch from a mindless game of wild ball chasing to a thoughtful game of obedience and trick practice that uses the ball or disc as a reward.
Go have fun with your dog! 🙂
by Positive Dog | Dec 20, 2017 | General Training
Do you have a distracted dog? It takes some time and patience, but it’s not so hard to train them to want to pay attention.Â
People often tell me that when there are distractions, their dog doesn’t pay attention to them, won’t come when called, won’t sit when told to, etc.  One of the main games I play with my dogs, and with dogs I am training, is to teach THEM to offer attention. I don’t want to nag or beg the dog to pay attention to me, I want the dog to be the one checking in.
This is a basic foundation skill, not one you just play at the dog park.
To start teaching this skill, have some cookies or a toy on you, but do not engage your dog. When he looks at you, say ‘yes’ or click if using a clicker, and reward your dog with a cookie or a game of tug. If your dog is glued to you because you are super awesome and he knows you have cookies and his fave toy, toss a cookie away and tell your pooch to go get it. After he eats it, he will likely come looking for you again. As soon as he looks at you, say ‘yes’ or click and reward. Repeat. It’s that simple.
TIPS:
- If your dog is easily distracted and just learning this game, hold the leash in the middle, not at the end. Your dog can EARN the length of the leash by being attentive.
- Your dog will learn faster if you have A+ rewards like chicken meat, little bits of steak, etc. Â
- If your dog simply stares at you waiting for the cookies, be sure you are not standing there with your hand in your pocket or cookies in your hand. This is called ‘luring’ or bribing your dog – and it doesn’t work! The cookies or toy should be in a pocket or bait pouch and your hand should not reach for the reward until AFTER you say ‘yes’ or click to mark him looking at you.
Take the game outside.
Put your dog on leash. Hopefully he is well mannered and sits politely for you to open the front door, if not, work on that! =) When you give him permission to exit the house, take a step outside yourself and wait. How long will it take for him to stop pulling on the leash, scanning the environment, and look at you? Just wait!
Resist the urge to call his name, make little chirping noises, or jiggle the leash. Put the ball in his court. Nothing fun will happen until he looks at you. When he does, say ‘yes’ or click and reward with a super awesome reward. You might not want to start walking yet. Repeat this game, waiting until your dog stays focused on you, then start walking. If he immediately races to the end of the leash distracted by the world, simply stop and wait.
We go for walks together, mentally in sync.
Make this game a way of life.Â
This is one of my foundation games for any new puppy or dog. Everywhere we go, everything we do – we play this game. Gradually play this game in more and more distracting environments. Play this game before you let your dog off leash to run in a field, visit doggy friends, etc. Make offered attention how your dog EARNS the things he would like in life.
Once your dog is a pro, you can ask for more – attention AND a nice sit by your side… but don’t ask for calculus before you have taught Kindergarten!
Check out some of our other foundation skills:
