Listening to the Prime Minister last night left me confused. You can go to work from home and you should go to work if you can work at a social distance, but don’t use public transport, more exercise from Wednesday and you can meet friends outside at a social distance – but only in England…
Here and in Scotland the current rules stay in force for another three weeks.
I think.
I’m a bit confused…
But I’m not confused about our our Challenge game today. I was asked on Saturday to do some recall games. Getting your dog’s attention is a vital part of recall (and of training in general), so today I invite you to play two attention games.
“Look at me” is a simple but highly effective game. Have some favourite treats in a small container or treat bag on you at all times. Watch and wait for your dog to look at you. (You can make a smoochy, kissy noise if you get bored waiting.) As soon as their eyes gaze at yours, say “yes” (or “good”), smile, praise really well and give a treat. Watch for your dog looking at you throughout the day and praise and reward every time you see it happen.
The second game also reinforces your dog giving you attention. It’s a great mealtime game. We call it the Name Game. Throw one piece of kibble on the ground at little way away from you, allow your dog to go and eat it, then as they finish eating and turn back towards you, call their name, praise as they come back to you, then feed 2-3 bits of kibble. Throw another piece a short distance away, and repeat the game until the kibble is gone. As your dog learns the game, move it outside and throw the piece of kibble further and further away. This game starts to embed a habit of coming back to you – the basis of recall.
Keep training and keep safe,
Carol