1. Games allow you to reinforce a skill your dog has already learned.
2. Regular practice is important to help the dog learn. Try warming up with a game.
3. A game will help your dog learn by association, and build his confidence while having fun.
4. A game helps to develop a relationship between you and your dog. When you have your dog’s complete attention, you have a thinking dog.
5. Some dogs may have trouble learning to focus. So, teach them to focus with a fast moving game.
6. A dog that can stay focused can learn to block out distractions that they may experience in hunting training or at a hunt test.
7. I use games to keep my dog up and alert in practice or at a Hunt Test.
8. Some dogs will shut down during a hard or long practice. You need something for both of you to “SNAP BACK”. You only have yourself when it is time to perform, so make the best of it.
9. You and your dog have to have the will or the “attitude” to perform, so take your time and get ready. # 23, “dog to the line”!
First, a pup likes to hear your CRAZY voice. You have a training voice and playing voice. A good game can make a dog start to predict the outcome of a drill or task.
1. Sit on the floor with your pup between your legs. Toss a piece of food, toy, something your pup wants badly. The only time your puppy gets this toy or special food is when you play this game. You create the want with your imagination. Do no throw the food/toy too far, you want instant reward for your pup’s efforts.
2. Now, toss food/toy, Say 1, 2, and 3, GO! Restrain your pup by holding him back with your hand on his chest. Your pup might jump up and be standing on his back feet. That is okay. He is anticipating the reward of the retrieve. Now let your pup explode out of your lap to the Treat. C/T Repeat, add a little distance. Always praise and go crazy with your pup’s performance or what fun are you.
Chase and Carry Games
For this game, you can use a feather /wing tied to a string. A tennis ball tied to a long rope, again, use your imagination. Your pup likes to follow you and chase you, so make him carry or chase something while you walk. MAKE YOURSELF FUN TO BE WITH.
1. Make sure you have your clicker. Place a pull-tab on your pup’s collar. Hold the pull tab and say” 1, 2, 3 GO! Start running away from your pup. See if he can catch up to you, C/T.
2. Take your duck wing on a string and shake it, move it around the ground, first very slowly so pup can win and catch it. Now your pup has the idea of the game, move the wing faster on the ground in a zig zag motion, first slowly then faster as pup gets faster at grabbing the wing or ball.
3. If your pup tries to take the object away to play by himself, use the string/rope to pull the pup back to you. Tell him how good he was for bringing the object back, C/T Note: You can start any play session with a Ready, GO!
Drive game
1. Tell your dog to sit/stay. You sit down in front of the dog, 3ft away.
2. Place a favorite toy on the floor between you and your dog. Let your pup get it.
3. Put your dog back in the sit/stay. Say READY GO! Beat your pup to the toy and grab it. Tell him, hey “ better luck next time”!
4. Set your pup back in the same spot, s l o w l y place the toy down between you and your dog. Now this time let the puppy win. Don’t forget your Ready GO!
5. Now the dog is ready for the set up, the game and wants to beat you in a big way. I bet he wins and that is good. Let him play, he deserves it.
Marking
1. Dogs in heel position or between you legs toss a piece of food about 5ft away from you and your dog. Tell him to get it. You might have to walk him to it the first time.
2. Now,sit/stay, toss food, say MARK, send him for the food.. I would put your pup on lead or long line. Repeat! Try a recall!
Another version same game:
1.Sit/stay, toss food/ball, say MARK, now it is time to test your dog’s DRIVE. Repeat stay command if you have to and walk out toward the food/toy. Ready GO! SAY, Get it! Beat him to the toy and pick it up. Repeat but let your dog win.
2. Now your dog is really ready to win. Say stay, toss, say Mark! Do not walk out, just pretend you are going to run but don’t. Give your do forward momentum by stepping out but do not go anywhere. Does this make sense? Send you dog by saying just his name. Remember; use your voice to give him drive.
3. Try toys, bumpers, and ducks. Have fun!
Third version of same game.
This game is good for attention and focusing.
1. Tell your dog to stay. Walk out 10ft from your dog. Now that means… WATCH SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN!
2. Roll a ball 10ft in front of you. Turn to your dog and say, GET IT OR GO! USE YOUR VOICE TO MOVE THE DOG OFF OF HIS BUTT.
3. Now here is the hard part of this game. Tell the dog to stay, walk out slowly to see if the dog breaks. He will, do not say anything, just put him back. Repeat Stay!
4. Walk out slowly, 10ft away from dog, toss the food/toy, wait again, and see if you have full attention. Then send. Praise and STOP!
Handling
Sit your dog 10ft away from you on a long line. Place two balls in your hand. Toss the ball to your left and say OVER. Step in the direction of the throw and leave your hand out to give direction, let the pup chase the ball. Call dog to you with your long line. Repeat to the right, toss ball, say over, step in the direction of the throw, leave your right hand out to give direction and let your pup get the ball. Recall! Remember that ball is not theirs.
Go outs Place dog in a sit/stay about 4 ft from target. Place squirt cheese on a tall orange cone. Go out to the cone. Stand right by the cone w/ your hand pointing to the spot and say “pup! go out”. Pup will respond to your voice and go. Let him eat the cheese and Repeat. Do this 3 or 4 times before you try to send your dog from heel position. Remember that he has to think then go, PRAISE! Repeat with some distance. When you think you pup is ready, stand with legs on either side of your dog, Say, R E A D Y, GO! Hold your dog back, let him squirm a little, let him explode and flat out run to the cone. This is the start of your sight blind work. Good job!
Retrieving
This game will bring back the drive in your dog’s retrieve. So many times we forget that a poodle must think that they are having fun before they decide to make it fun at the wrong time, like a Hunt Test. So this is a game I use frequently to take the formality out of retrieving. You need two bumpers, bumpers with wings, two birds or two toys.
1. Place your dog directly in front of you, you might want a long line for this.
2.Start with, Are you Ready?
3. Ask your dog to Take it, hold it, and Release it. Now you have your dog’s attention. The game begins.
4. Toss the first bumper to the left, if the dog breaks and gets it, that is okay. As your dog is coming back, get ready to toss second bumper to your right. Grab first bumper from your dog while you are tossing second bumper. As your dog is getting second bumper, watch your dog turn quickly to see if you might toss another bumper again in another direction. The dog is now picking up the bumpers quickly with lots of drive and determination.
5. Stop! Praise your dog and set him up again for another series. Now it time to fake a toss; see if your dog is looking and listening to YOU.
6. Toss a bumper to your left; ask your dog to WAIT!
7. Toss a bumper to your right ask your dog to WAIT!
8. With an over single, send your dog to the first bumper, whistle, and hunt finish. Take bumper!
9. Turn your dog in the direction of second bumper, Restrain him from going by holding him back, build drive and desire. SEND!
With these games, there are many possibilities. What you are looking for is a dog that will charge for the retrieve. Games make your dog sharp and alert.
HAPPY TRAINING AND REMEMBER, TAKE SOME TIME TO BOND AND HAVE FUN WITH YOUR DOG!
* SOME OF THIS MATERIAL CAME FROM MY TRAINIG WITH TINA MORAN AND BOB HUX. *
