There are many games to play with your dog during the lockdown.
To borrow a quote from the Dalai Lama: ‘Even with an animal, if you show genuine affection, trust gradually develops. If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?’
ALSO READ: You and Your Dog: ‘Sit, smell and … find’
I do hope you are all enjoying the games I have posted for you to keep your dogs occupied during this period of isolation at home.
Let us take a moment to reflect and realise this isolation is also giving us a chance to do all the things we never get time for, such as spending more quality time with our beloved companions.
When our normal lives resume and we are busy at school and partaking in our many activities, please spare a thought for your dogs.
They need your interaction with them, and I am sure that after all the fun games we have played with them over the past few weeks you will want to play more games with them.
I still have many games to teach you!
If you have carefully followed my previous posts you will by now have a really focused dog, and when your dog is focused on you, he will do almost anything for you as you have now earned his trust.
Your game this week is really all about having fun, and you must not put stress on your dog.
Do each step until it is perfect, before moving on to the next one.
IMPULSE CONTROL
You will need a margarine tub lid and yummy treats and your dog on a leash.
STEP 1
Give your dog the sit command, have a treat in your hand and show it to him. Tell him to stay.
STEP 2
Take one step forward and place the lid on the floor, pretend to put the treat on the lid and say ‘leave it’.
You must not be too stern, just be firm with your command.
If he moves towards the lid say ‘eish’ and hold him firmly by his leash.
The word ‘eish’ is far more effective than saying ‘no’.
In this step it is important that he does not move towards the lid on the floor, you cannot allow him to win the game.
STEP 3
Once you have him sitting and not trying to move towards the lid, you can now place the treat on the lid.
If he tries to move forward tell him ‘eish’.
This time he should be more inclined to stay and leave the treat.
STEP 4
Once he is leaving the treat, only wait for a few seconds before you pick up the treat and give it to him, with plenty of praise.
This is important – you will increase the time he has to wait for the treat as he becomes better at the game.
Never allow him to take the treat himself.
You must retain control over the treat so you must be the one to give it to him.
So, now let us look at what we have just taught your dog.
You have taught him to control his impulse to take the treat when you have told him to leave it.
You have also shown him that you are in control of the treat, by giving it to him and not allowing him to take it himself.
Now, I am going to share a little secret with you all… if your dog is really struggling with having to leave the treat on the lid, well you have already taught him to focus on your hand, right?
So what should you do? Well I am going to tell you.
Put a second treat in your other hand and show it to your dog.
Place the first treat on the lid and show him the other treat in your hand.
He will now be focused on the treat in your hand and will not be so impulsive about the treat on the lid.
As you and your dog become better and better at this game you will be able to leave the treat in front of him and leave the room … when you return to the room give him the treat and plenty of praise.
Now your friends will all think you and your dog are awesome.
This game helps to keep your dog under control when you are out walking – if he reacts to another dog all you need do is give him the ‘leave it’ command.
He will look at you as he knows now that if he leaves the other dog, he will get a treat.
It is also useful when you are feeding your dog to make him wait quietly while you prepare his food.
Then ask him to ‘sit and wait’, put his food down for him and say ‘leave’ – then move the dish towards him and say ‘okay good boy/girl’, you can eat.
Please follow the steps carefully in order to build a solid foundation.
Stay safe, God bless.
Yvonne Eland
ACDIPCBM (UK)
Specialist in canine behavior and management.
