Welcome to Day 4 of the FAD Workshop!
Added 2025-03-27 15:00:13 +0000 UTCThe number 1 distraction among those who registered is other dogs and today's information is focused on that issue! At almost 2 yrs old, Azul's biggest distraction is new dogs entering into our environment so we practice remaining calm often. Check out today's video for more information about training exercises you can do with your dog around other dogs. Then check out the games below!
Whip It or Flirt Pole Fun
You can buy a flirt pole made for dogs or a horse lunge works nice for large dogs. But you can also make a homemade flirt pole with a rope or old leash. The idea behind this game is to build value for playing with you, the handler, by extending your reach out further away from your body so that your dog has to chase the toy more enthusiastically.
If I'm teaching this game to a house with older kids, we make a homemade version of attaching a soft tug toy or soft webby ball to about 6ft of rope. The kids can run dragging the rope behind them and add in some quick turns or gentle swings of the rope toy. If you are not a runner, or plan to play this game from a chair, you can attach the rope to an old broom handle, rod, or stick to extend your reach farther.
The first thing I do is work on getting that On/Off Switch we discussed previously in this workshop. Your dog will get amped up with this toy, so don't punish them if they struggle with the drop or stop cue you've previously taught. Just be patient and wait them out. If the toy stops moving and you stop tugging, typically the dog will get bored and drop the toy allowing you to play some more.
Practice this arousal up, arousal down exercise with simple cues until it becomes easy for your dog to follow your cues. Then you can add in more advanced cues to help your dog focus on you more.
Be careful playing this game!
If you're dog is spinning to fast or making quick direction changes, they could injure themselves. Be sure to play at a speed and difficulty level safe for your dog!
Also be careful to avoid tangles with the line that could injury your feet or your dog's feet. The first thing I teach my dog is an "All Stop!" cue so that if a tangle starts we can fix it ASAP and then play some more.
Azul playing with the Flirt Poles
Proximity Game
Orientation Game/Proximity Game
Start this game in a very easy, low distraction environment where your dog is used to playing with you!
Throw a piece of your dog's dinner out, about one meter away.
After they finish eating it, of course, they are going to look back at you for more. At that moment of they orienting back to you, mark the movement with a "YES" or a CLICK (if you use a clicker). If they do not look back at you right away, just wait them out and mark the moment they do look back. You may have to start playing this game on lead first.
Follow the marker with the reward of throwing another piece of food out to continue the game.
Play this everywhere, anywhere as as often as you can!
Also be sure to check out these videos of 24 Hour Bowling from Yooper Paws
24 Hr Bowling without Distractions
24 Hr Bowling with Distractions
