2017 July August

Obedience & More
Rosalind Hall • Guntersville, Alabama
Games Puppies Play
Langston is a puppy. He has lots of energy. Langston is a
teenage puppy. He has a mind of his own and is beginning
to assert himself. Langston is a very smart puppy. He is
creative and learns quickly. These three factors could
make for a nightmare. Or, handled judiciously, they could make for
fun learning for Langston and a creative challenge for me. I don’t
start much formal training with
a young puppy, but I don’t want
to miss out on a youngster’s
energy and quick learning, so
we play many games which lay
the foundation for later training
in obedience and other venues.
There are all sorts of DVDs,
books, and training programs
based on games available now,
and I am sure they are all good.
These are just some I have used
for years that don’t require
much special equipment and
help with later training.
The first game I teach is one I call “Treat and Go.” This
involves the pup coming to me for a food reward, but it is NOT a
recall. The pup is allowed to come, get the treat, and keep going.
He is never restrained after he gets the treat. I feel that people
often call their dog to them and take their freedom away (the dog
has gotten loose and is running away or it is time to go inside), so
the pup learns to play dodge the owner. While this can be fun for
the dog, it is frustrating for the owner and can be dangerous if the
pup darts off. We start our game as soon as I get the pup; I want
to start while he is too young to wander far. As he is investigating
his surroundings, I excitedly call “Here, Langston” and wave a
treat. When he comes within reach, I give him the treat and let
him continue on his way. We do this several times a day, adding
distance as he gets older and wanders farther. Now that he is six
months old, Langston ventures all over the yard and is sometimes
out of sight. When I call, he stops whatever he is doing and comes
racing to me to get his treat. I want this action to be so ingrained,
it is a reflex. It may save his life some day. You can add a game of
hide-and-seek where the owner hides from the pup and lets him
search to find the owner and get the treat.
Another favorite game is “I’ve Still Got One.” For this game
you need two pieces of 1” car heater hose about 12 inches long.
I don’t start much formal training with
a young puppy, but I don’t want to miss
out on a youngster’s energy and quick
learning, so we play many games
which lay the foundation for later
training in obedience and other venues.
Because the heater hose is flexible, when you wave it, it bends
and the movement attracts the pup’s attention. You wave one
piece and throw it when your pup becomes engaged. As the pup
picks it up, you call his name, wave the second piece, and throw
it in the opposite direction. He will drop the first piece on his way
back in your direction to get the second piece. You then pick up
the first piece and are ready to
play again. Instead of the usual
game of fetch, where the pup
is tempted to play “catch me
if you can,” the pup does not
run off with his piece of hose
because you have another to
tease him with. I like this game
because I am always the center
of it, and he cannot play without
me. An advantage to this game
is that heater hose is readily
available at any car parts store
and is very cheap. Once my
pup is bringing back the hose
reliably, I can move on to balls or other toys and eventually to
dumbbells and scent articles. At six months, Langston will “fetch”
anything I throw including his dumbbell and a metal scent article.
We have a good start on formal retrieves.
Another game that helps with later scent work, and that I hear
is used in Nose Work, is “Find the Cookie.” And, since most of us
buy so much online these days, the main equipment, empty boxes,
is usually easy to find. I start with one box. I let my pup sniff a
treat I am holding and watch me “hide” it under the box. When he
noses the box, I lift it and give him the treat. Very quickly, he is
pushing at the box to get the treat. Now I add a second box, still
with one treat, but I stop letting him watch me hide the treat. Now
he has to sniff to find the box with the treat under it. I keep adding
boxes until I have five or six. He has learned to use his nose to find
something he wants.
Sometimes we play games at the school or park playground. I
use lots of treats as I gently place my puppy on a swing or see saw
and move it slowly. He learns to climb up a ladder to get a treat.
If there are children on the playground, I let them help me teach
the pup. They love helping, and, since I have no children, my pup
learns to enjoy their company.
(OBEDIENCE AND MORE . . . continued on page 82)
AUSSIE TIMES May-June 2017 83