THIS WAY

THIS WAY..for when you need to direct your dog in a general direction but don’t need them to come to you.

I use this verbal cue when the dog is off-lead to let her know “to come in my general direction” as well as for on-lead, as an ‘emergency exit’ behaviour to quickly get out of a potentially tricky situation.

For this post, let’s focus on the off-lead behaviour.

➡️ Setting up the right training conditions: start training in a low distraction environment, you need enough space to freely move around and change direction and if you are practicing out on a walk, make sure your dog had an opportunity to let go off that initial energy and need to sniff and explore. 

➡️ With your dog close by (1-2m radius) - on a long training line or off-lead, depends on your dog - say the cue (enthusiasm please) while swiftly moving away from your dog (using movement as a motivator to come in your direction).

➡️ The second your dog changes direction / moves towards you (this can be the smallest movement, ie a turn and one step in your direction), mark, then throw a treat to your dog (this cue is not about coming all the way to you, no need for hand feeding). 

➡️ Walk on.

➡️ Repeat as above, and slowly increase the distance to your dog at which you give the verbal cue, changing direction.

➡️ Eventually switch from marking and food reward to praising then allowing your dog access to the exciting environment again (big reward in itself).