Games: Red Light / Green Light

Games can be fun for your kids to play with the dog.   But they can also be great educational life skills for you dog.   Red Light / Green Light is one that will help teach your dog a bit of impulse control by allowing him to get all excited and playful and then stop instantly when told. 

It's easy and it's fun for everyone to play.  

Your dog will need to know the basic skills Sit, Down, and Come before you play the game.  They should also be familiar with Okay! as a release cue.   So if necessary, teach those skills first.   Remember:  all learning is good for your dog so take the time necessary to build the foundation.

Play in large enclosed (fenced) area that is safe from hazzards that your kids or dogs might fall  over or get the dog's leash caught on.  The leash will be used initially to help teach your dog the game.

Engage your dog in a fun game of chase or with a toy tug.

Once the dog is engaged and excited, stop suddenly and issue a command like "Sit"

• If they sit, quickly say Okay! start playing again with the toy or the game of chase
• If they don't sit on command, use your leash to prevent the escape and them help them sit

 Play for several intervals and take a break.

Over the course of the next few days play the game and increase the time the dog has to hold his command before you release and play again.

Play with enthusiasm, but become calm and still when you ask the dog to sit for the first few days.   Then up the ante by getting excited or showing the toy again before you release him to play with you.

Dogs love fun and challenges!  You do too -- right?  Get out and play with the dog.

Once he knows the game, you can apply this quick issue of a command in moments when your dog may be getting to excited in the house, when the kids friends come over, or something unusual distracts him.  






Dana Brigman
The K9 Coach
Dog Training - Matthews, NC
980-339-8064
www.thek9-coach.com
info@thek9-coach.com

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The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrounding areas.


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My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.

My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.

Begin all training with a consultation with a professional trainer to be sure you're solving the right problem. Misdiagnosis can make the matters worse. Be sure that there are no medical issues at play and that your dog is not in pain, as pain can be a contributor to a new display of aggression. If you have any fear or uncertainty -- do not attempt the techniques without professional supervision.

Games: Teaching Fetch

It's fun to play games with your dog.  Some dogs need a job to do or to have an outlet for their energy and athleticism.  Kids often want to play with the dog, but aren't necessarily very skilled at holding them accountable to obedience work.

So what better game than Fetch? 

Teaching Fetch:   Fetch will teach your  to run after a your dog to retreive an object  that you have thrown (they see where it goes) and bring it back to you.   

It's easy to get started -- but remember you must have a high level of enthusiasm yourself for playing.   Your don't isn't going to know right away what the point of the game is.   And if you are not having fun and get him motivated he will just look at the ball, look at you, and go find something else more fun to do.  Have fun with your dog.... sometimes you have to teach them how.

 One easy way to get started:

• Cut a small in an old tennis ball and drop a smelly treat inside.  (Parents should do this for the kids)
• Toss the ball playfully away from you (a very short distance) and encourage her to pick it up and bring back to you.  (Using a leash or working in a room without an escape route might be necessary to keep your dog interested for a few minutes).
• Motivate with your voice, patting your legs, etc to get her to return to you.   Praise her from returning with the ball.  Play with excitment!
• When returns with the ball, take* the ball from her and squeeze the ball to release the treat.
• Repeat several times – the dog will start to return the ball to you to get the treat
• Begin to add a cue word as you toss the ball -- “go get it”, “fetch”, “retrieve” – whatever you want your cue word to be, just use the same word all the time. 
• Begin to add a cue word as you take the ball or as she drops it –  “give”, “drop it*”  -- whatever you want your cue word to be, just use the same word all the time. 
• Once your dog really masters the concept of the game, you can use a ball without the treat in it and reward the treat from your pocket
• Then you can use other objects to send her to retrieve -- like a Frisbee or other toy.

• Advancing skills -- Once the game is understood -- increase the challenge.   Ask her to  sit  (or down) and wait to be released to go retrieve the item – meaning she has to hear the cue word before she runs after it.  

*We will provide instructions for Drop It and other games soon.

The K9 Coach

Dana Brigman, CDT, IACP, APDT

980-339-8064
Email:  info@thek9-coach.com

Website:  www.thek9-coach.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/thek9coachcharlotte
Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/thek9coach
Youtube:  www.youtube.com/thek9coachcharlotte

The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrounding areas.

 

My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.

My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.

Begin all training with a consultation with a professional trainer to be sure you're solving the right problem. Misdiagnosis can make the matters worse. Be sure that there are no medical issues at play and that your dog is not in pain, as pain can be a contributor to a new display of aggression. If you have any fear or uncertainty -- do not attempt the techniques without professional supervision.