Don’t use your phone when she is on the long lead. She knows when your attention is off her.

Where to walk and the tracking app.

Training

Recall – Train for recall with you. Use the long purple lead when you’re in the parks. It’s annoying but much safer.  She is used to running and playing with other dogs and she will expect to be able to play.

There is a ‘arsonal’ of recal cues:

  • Use the pink wistle – long then short. This is the ‘real’ recal cue. It still needs training. Practice using it in the yoga room and in the green.
  • Positive interupters – ‘Willow’ and a short ‘duh-duh’ whistle with your lips gets her to check in. If you’re nearby and/or there is something more interesting in the environment she may not come all the way back though. But if you’re changing direction, she knows to check in and follow.
  • The frizbees and the pull toy – are great for moving her away from something you want to avoid (e.g. a dog on a lead that dosen’t want to play).
  • Run away from her – stoping and putting a treat down and saing “What’s this” – wait for her to follow and eat. And do this a few times. This is a good game toward the end of the walk when you need to get her back on the lead.
  • Capture – her checking in when she comes up to you in walks by giving a treat just for coming back or staying near
  • Be really interesting – crouch down and make weird noises.

Always be happy to see her and sometimes you might need to be more interesting than whatever else she’s intersted in.

Out

When she has something in her mouth you want to ‘borrow’ – like the frisbee. Hold still and say ‘out’ and then pull up slowly. She’ll eventually release.

Drop

This needs treats – drop them about a food in front of whatever she has in her mouth and keep walking. One step, another treat until you are far enough away. Can practice with soft toys in house as you play gentle tug.

She will be clever and circle back if she really wants something – so might be best to keep her on a lead and avoid a place where there is something that needs to be avoided.

Loose lead walking

This is still still a work in progress. She can definately ‘do’ loose lead walking, but it depends on ther level of attention.

We generally let her stiff if we’re not in a hurry as this helps relax and tire her out.

  • Sometimes it is best to just ‘manage’ – by holding her close to you. This is paricularly true when she is going to a park and looking forward to it.
  • Stop and hold still. She’ll eventually turn arond and come back to your side. Reward by saying ‘good’ and sometimes give a treat.
  • Sometimes play with walking faster or slower and getting her to follow you with a treat.
  • Weave in and out of cars/around trees to make it more interesting and difficult to follow you.
  • Put treats down by your foot to keep her interested in being by your side.

Games on Walks

  • Trading frizbees seems to be the game of choice at the moment. She’s not so good at retreaving but will drop one frizbee for the second until she wants to sniff something or another dog comes along. Sometimes the fake squrrel on the stick works for exchanging toys. Just hold the tug still and let her do her thing. Don’t pull her around as that could hurt her neck.
  • Run away from her – stoping and putting a treat down and saing “What’s this” – wait for her to follow and eat. And do this a few times.
  • Practice recalling a few times (but not too many) when there is no particular reason and she’s not too interested in something eles, e.g. playing. Don’t repeat recall if she’s not listening.
  • She loves playing with other dogs and is very kind and gentle. Watch her body language if she’s feeling overwhelmed or scared though (tale between legs – no rests between play – trying to get away but being hassled) – and help her out by putting her on the lead and telling the other dog owner that’s enough.

‘Find It’ at home

Load up the orange ‘hunter’ pencil case with treats. Tell her to sit on a blanket in the yoga room. Tell her to stay. Hide the treat behind a cushion. Tell her to ‘find it’ and point off  the mat saying ‘okay’ to release. She should find it and bring it back to the mat for you to open, give her a treat and repeat.

Tug Toys at home

We play very gentle and let her win almost all the time. Tug a bit and let go, then chase a bit. Then tug a bit, etc. Lots of tug toys mostly behind the chair in the study.