Dog Agility Training

Dog Agility Training

Using a leave command will give you much greater control over what your dog eats and sniffs when you are out walking the streets. You can also use it at home or any situation. The leave command is essentially a word that tells your dog not to sniff or eat something and it is the first step in training food refusal. There is not usually a hand signal involved in this type of training because it is more than likely used when you are walking and as your dog may be on the leash, you will not have your hands free.

Why should I use a leave command?

A leave command is a very useful tool to have in your dog training toolkit because it is easy to train and can be used in a variety of situations. It is also very important because it can stop your dog from eating something that may make it sick or may cause choking.

How do I start training a leave command?

Choose the word you want to use - some trainers use the word 'leave'. You can do either or both of the following. For the quickest and best results, do both and ask someone to help you when training food refusal. When you are out in the street and your dog goes to sniff or eat something off the ground, say 'leave' and keep walking. Don't give your dog the opportunity to get to it anyway by walking quickly away. Because this is a form of capturing, it will take some time because you are reliant on there being something on the ground. The second method is better because you have full control and can practise it anytime.

Choose a food that your dog likes and leave a very small pile on the ground. Put your dog on the leash and walk by the food. Walk close enough for him to sniff it but not too close so he can reach it. Give the leave command just as your dog goes for the food. In all good training timing is everything. Your dog needs to understand what you want straight away. You need to interrupt his behaviour as soon as it starts.

When you are walking past, give your dog praise. If you want to use treats to reward him, wait until you are five paces away. Your dog needs to learn that he is being rewarded for leaving the food on the ground and walking away so putting a small distance between the treat and the food on the ground will reinforce this.

FOOD REFUSAL

Food refusal can save your dog from eating poisoned food or over eating. Training food refusal may take a long time depending upon your dog's appetite and with some breeds like Labradors it needs constant practise and reminders.

Before you begin food refusal, choose an 'eat' command. Some people use 'eat' and others 'OK'. Whatever word you choose has to be different from any other word you use for your training.

Put your dog on his leash and get him into a sit. Ask someone to walk up to him and offer him some treats. It is important that you keep your dog in a sit and only let him have the treats when you say so. If he learns forward and stands up, re-command him into a sit and ask the person with the food to step away. When he can sit and wait for your command to eat, that's when he has learnt what you want. Now you have to practise and start making his training more intense.

Remember: always give your dog or puppy the opportunity to correct his behaviour and do the right thing. It is up to you to teach him what is acceptable and what is not. Reward acceptable behaviour; discourage unacceptable behaviour by using loud unpleasant noises, withdrawal of attention or treats or leaving your puppy on its own. Never hit or strike your puppy; you will only be teaching him that violence is an acceptable behaviour in your pack and he may use it on other pack members or friends including children.

Sue Day is a dog behaviourist with experience in puppy training, dog agility, obedience, and re homing shelter dogs. Sue owns Messy Pawz Dog Training which advocates positive training methods. Sue has made a lot of information available for free on her website: http://www.messypawz.com