Let’s face it, us humans are prone to be a little lazy (me included!) and what’s not to love about a cue that you can use in all sorts of different scenarios and for a variety of different behaviours.

Plus, we often forget our dog’s cues when we are caught up in a stressful situation, so having one or two words to fall back on will make every day management delightfully smooth.

Here is what (cues and what you can use these for) and how to teach your furry friend these cues:

✋The Hand Target

I use the cue ‘touch’, feel free to use whatever you fancy, ‘banana tree’ perhaps

✅ I’m going to keep this simple and refer you to the one and only Kikopup ’s YouTube channel, et voilà.

✅ If you don’t have a clicker to hand, use a marker word (I use an enthusiastic ‘yesss’).

A Pattern Game

(1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ & treat)

Kudos to another Dog Training Goddess, Leslie McDevitt who I’ve learned this technique from. Her book Control Unleashed is a must-read for any dog lover.

✅ To get started, check out Leslie’s YouTube channel

Catch

✅ Our dearest departed friend Oli Juste (we miss you! sweet man) has done a great video on how to teach ‘catch’. Head over to his YouTube channel please.

A couple of quick tips:

✅ Start training with light coloured treats, it’s easier for your dog to see

✅ Say ‘catch’ a second or two before you throw the treat to give your dog a chance to focus.