September always seems like a new start, kids are going back to school with new enthusiasm after the summer break, no more long walks in the light summer evenings, the nights are drawing in and Autumn is nearly here. As we lose the light maybe you could think about doing a little more ‘brain work’ so that on the dark nights and rainy days you can tire them out polishing up your training skills.

We have put our heads together and come up with our favourite training games and basic skills to practice. Give it a go, it will not only be lots of fun it will build focus on you, your relationship and for those of you in class will help you with your exams!

Remember the 3 ‘D’s Duration, Distance and Distraction. Practice at home where it is quiet and then go out and practice in quiet places and build the distractions slowly.

Training should be fun!

So here are our top ten:

Sit – tends to be the first thing we teach our dogs but can always be better. Check if your dog can do it just with the cue ‘sit’? Have you got a visual cue? Have you got a release word? Think about the 3 ‘Ds’ can you build distance, duration and then can they do it with added distractions. Is your dog comfortable in sit, not all dogs are, some dogs are happier in a down. Check out my blog ‘Sit’ for more information. Training a dog to sit — Bark-ology
Down – can be more challenging for some dogs as lying down can make them feel more vulnerable. But for some dogs it can be preferable! Make a note - which does your dog prefer? As with sit, check if your dog can do it with just a verbal cue, a visual cue and then think about the 3 ‘Ds’.
Stand – super useful to teach a stand, for groomers, vet visits particularly. To teach ask them for a sit or down. Put a treat under their nose and step slowly back away from them, as they move forwards to stand, mark ‘yes’ and treat. Then as above, verbal cue ‘Stand’ and visual cue.
Mat – Mat, boundary or bed games again is an incredibly useful behaviour to train. Make sure you have your mat, treats, clicker or marker word (“yes”) and you finish cue “OK”. To start stand with the bed between you and the dog and reward for any paws on the bed, as you progress you will only mark for all 4 four paws on the bed. Feed the bed not the dog. Feed 3-4 treats on (and too) the bed in quick repetition and add a release word ‘OK’ or ‘break’. Add the 3 ‘Ds’ this is great for helping dogs settle when taking them to cafes, pubs etc.
Door manners – it’s a good safety skill for a start! Avoids them dashing out of doors, getting over excited and impulse control. Ask them for a sit, down or stand. Touch the door handle, reward. If they are calm and haven’t moved, try depressing the handle, then opening the door just a crack, keep going until you can open the door wide open and then release to the garden (life reward) or out the front door for an extra reward and lots of praise or a walk. Of course if you are using the front door make sure they are safely on lead! No escapees please!
Handling and grooming – take time to make them comfortable been touched all over, grooming. Do it little and often. Take notice of their body language and pause if they are uncomfortable. Think contain not restraint. If they want to move away let them, and try again later. Pair with good things and it will become less of a battle. Check out Chirag Patel – the bucket game if you want to get really geeky The Bucket Game Introduction Part 1
Recall – Lets face this is so important, it means relaxed walks where your dogs get off lead time sniffing and exploring, so if your dog doesn’t come back every time, brush up your recall skills. Think about what your Recall word is, does your dog come back you every time? If not go back to basics, maybe change your ‘cue’ practice in the house, in the garden, get that whiplash head turn before going out and adding distractions. Consider your reward, is it amazing, that is does your dog think it is amazing!? Is it food? Or a toy? Which does your dog prefer. Do they ONLY get that food when they recall? If no I would suggest that you change it, so that recall word is paired with their favourite thing. Liver cake, fish treats, cheese, super duper tug toy. Check out our online course just £45 for 17 video tutorials ONLINE COURSES — Bark-ology want to add in a 1-1 just drop me an email and we can get it booked in.
Loose lead – Is one of the most worthwhile skills you can achieve - it's all about focus and consistency. Think about context, are you asking them to walk by your side, no stopping, no sniffing, no changing sides? Or can they stop, sniff be in front, swap sides and generally meander? We call these ‘Leisure mode and working mode’ Choose one but teach both. In both cases we are looking for a nice relaxed lead, creating a J shape with the bottom of the lead. Be consistent when the lead is loose we are walking forward. As soon as it goes tight we stop, wait, and continue moving when the lead relaxes. Again practice at home, practice both ‘modes’, keep it short, lead walking is hard! Reward with food, life rewards (sniffing) or toys (you have done 5 steps close now lets have a game of tug!). Once you are acing it at home, go outside, do figure of 8 walking rather than trying to walk to the very exciting park where you always go! Be patient, most people give up way before the dogs do.
Food manners – its yer choice/mousey game. This is a game about choice. Your dog can choose to move away and get the treat or continue to pester and get nothing. They soon pick it up! To start take a small amount of food and close it in your fist. Anchor your fist to your knee or the floor - it is important that if your dog pesters at your hand that you do not move your hand away as this may incite a game of chase. If your dog starts investigating your hand keep very still. The second they move their nose away, even slightly, mark with a click or 'yes' and give them a piece of food between their paws, away from you. Continue to reward the dog with food, between their paws, for as long as they stay away from your hand. If they start pestering again simply go back a step. This is based on a game by the awesome Sue Garratt – this is the link to her blog and it has a video for you to watch. Dog Training Debate ... ItsYerChoice vs Leave It | Susan Garrett's Dog Training Blog (susangarrettdogagility.com)
Name game – and finally. What does your dogs name mean to them? Lets face it we all use our dogs name in loads of different ways ‘Rupert’ can mean put that down, don’t eat that, get off that and many more things!! But they are dogs, they are non verbal and they to be taught what our words mean. For my dogs their name means ‘I want your attention’ then I can follow up with a ‘cue’ so ‘Mila’ – looks at me – ‘sit’ – she sits. Does your dog do that? Try it? If you are not sure or they just don’t, practice the name game!
How to Play The Name Game: 1) Sit or stand in front of the dog. 2) Say the dog's name. 3) Feed a delicious treat. Repeat x 10! Play The Name Game a minimum 3 times a day (if you can!) for 3 days!
Name Game Part 2 1) Sit or stand directly in front of the dog 2) Wait for the dog to look at you 3) Say the dog’s name Mark and reinforce! Repeat x 10 Play 3 times a day for 4 days! For the next steps email us for a handout.

Wow! This was supposed to be a short blog but turned out to be a lot! Most of the top ten have handouts that you might already have access to if you come to class but if not please do email us at info@bark-ology.co.uk and we will send it across to you. If you want a copy of our log sheet to keep track of what you are practicing and how often again drop us an email.

If you have any photos or videos of you training, please share them with us on our Facebook page or in our Bark-Ology training group. Remember training should be fun!

Karen, Elle, Kate & Jo

Bark-ology

info@bark-ology.co.uk