What to train?

Hi everyone,

Training with Stanley is a very ongoing thing. He knows sit, lie down, paws, up, in your bed, hi 5 and stay.

We're working on recall and leave. And correcting bad behaviours such as biting and jumping up.

We also play tug and fetch.

I'm just really looking for some more ideas of things to train and engage with him to keep him interested and keep building up the bond.

Thanks

 

Have you seen the Kikopup videos on YouTube? She has some great things to train, some fun, some useful.

 

No I've never heard of those! I'll have a watch. Thanks! ☺️

 

My obedience trainer has just suggested I teach a twirl as Molly is walking to heel. The idea is that, walking on my left, she twirls anti-clockwise and thus comes in to a closer position. I've never done this with a puppy, but I think it would be quite easy to lure (and it wouldn't matter if it didn't work!)

 

Have you taught a hand touch? I think it was the first thing I taught. It's great because no matter how frustrating a training session is or how bad a walk has gone, I can rely on a nice hand touch to end things on a positive.

 

Oh that sounds really cute. We always end with a high 5 but I like the sound of that!

 

Hand touch is fab you can use it for a whole bunch of things. As a physical check in. The beginning of luring with your hand. Improving delivery in a retrieve.......I could go on but basically it's incredibly useful

 

It's also very fun for the dog. You can make it low impact or high energy. Both my dogs love to hand target, and will run, full-pelt, for a hundred metres to do it

 

How about training "leave" - always a useful one. Coco's has fallen apart recently, and he is suffering loose poo after failing to "leave" any of the Schmackos (yucky treats!) at training on Saturday. He did provide plenty of entertainment though Back to square one for us...

agree with this for exactly the same reason.

 

Lots and lots of recall. From room to room, garden to house, house to garden. From sitting, lying and standing, from play and from food.

 

We're working on leave at the moment. He's pretty good with the basics of it but trying to get my shoe back from him.. Not so much

 

Thanks!

Definitely going to have to up the recall game. I bought total recall the other day after an incident with 2 cocker spaniels being chased by a big black ball of fur Luckily them and the owners were very patient with the little tinker. Just waiting for it to arrive

 

To stand/sit calmly to allow for checking of eyes/ears/teeth/legs/paws/body - your vet will thank you for it

 

What about teaching 'find it' with a treat or a toy? We hide her balls around the living room and send her to find them. We started in easy places, but are now hiding them under cushions, her blankets, in her toy box etc. We do the same with little treats.

 

That's a good idea. He's pretty good with his paws because I always want to hold his hand But I'll definitely try with his eyes etc

 

That sounds fun! I might play that in the garden.

Thanks

 

Not wishing to sound too ridiculous but what do you mean by 'hand touch'? I've not come across this before !

 

Here's a good article with a video to show you: http://thehappypuppysite.com/hand-targeting-dog-training/

 

Not ridiculous at all @FayRose someone else has asked exactly the same question here:

http://thelabradorforum.com/threads/starting-training-why-hand-touch.16069/#post-245755

 

Thanks snowbunny and bbrown, very interesting, I'll try that with Molly.