how to avoid your dog putting the breaks on when it's time to leave the park
Does your dog refuse to go home after a walk? Does she run for the hills the second the leash comes out? Does he pancake when it’s time to leave the park, seemingly unmovable until the end of your days?
Here is what you can do.
Firstly, look at it from your dog’s point of view; he or she is having the time of their life zooming around the park and then the boring human wants to go home where nothing fun happens EVER.
Sydney, Peter & Wolfgang
So, make it as rewarding and fun to go, and be, at home as it is to be out and about.
Always have something special and delicious waiting for your dog when you come home.
If you get to and from the park by car, have something tasty ready for entering the car AND for when you get home.
Provide enrichment and mental engagement for your dog at home; play and train with them, have puzzle toys ready and waiting. And of course don’t forget the cuddles.
To avoid the leash coming out or your recall cue to become a negative cue, do a bit of lead/ treat sandwich training
(call your dog, treat, clip lead on, treat clip lead off, send them off to go explore) and make sure you don’t only call your dog to you at the end of the walk (when it’s boring home time). Instead work on your recall a little every time you are out, calling your dog to you, treat, then sending them off again. You could also work on alternative cues and behaviours that get your dog to come back to you, including a hand target, pattern games such as ‘123’, middle and more.
And if you feel you could do with a little help in this department, get in touch. I offer remote training worldwide, via video call coaching consults, or if you are in the South of Sweden/ Skãne area, we can work together in-person.