This labrador training exercise, combined with the installation of the conditioned reflex to the “recall” or “come” command will give you unimaginable control of your dog.
You could start with a strange dog, and in fifteen minutes of work, have him responding just as though you’ve been ‘good buddies’ for a ‘dogs age’!!! Once again, things seem simple enough, so we’ll throw in a little extra.
Initially, just getting Rover to come, in response to the “recall” command, close enough to be able to pat him, would seem to be sufficient. While that may be good enough for most people, the Wits’ End Dog Training Method promises and requires strict, exacting, discipline.
After this initial phase of training is complete (maybe just one session of work, but do follow directions, and do this four times), you will be expected to cause your dog to sit directly in front of you during the “recall” or “come” exercise.
This will be extremely important in the “big picture”. But, for now, we do not need to be so exact.
The hard part is done!
* The “Hot And Cold ” Exercise
Remember the children’s game where an object is selected, and the one who is “it” is directed to find same based on directions of “hot or cold” to indicate proximity to the object?
(We call this the hot and cold exercise. Actually, we hate calling this the “hot and cold exercise”, and do so, simply for lack of a better name for it!)
We are going to do the same with your dogs attention, with you being the selected object. This “hot and cold” exercise takes about two minutes to perform. Done properly, this exercise will have the effect of shutting off his attention to anything other than you.
This practice should be used any time your dog becomes distracted or is not keeping his attention focused on you. Our objective is to cause your dog to always have one ear and one eye focused on you.
Done properly, your dog will end up directly in front of you, relaxed, and waiting for your next idea. As your dog moves forward and back, around and in front of you, allow your lead to flow smoothly through your hands, the free hand reaching out to collect your lead at its mid point, and place it in the palm with the handle, playing it out as he moves away, collecting it as he returns.
Just get used to the feeling of allowing your lead to flow through your hand, collecting it again, and allow it to feed out as your dog moves.
Be sure not to pull or allow tension on the collar. Do not lean toward your dog or move toward him, as this will cause the opposite effect, consequently subordinating our efforts.
To begin, ask your dog if he “wants to go to work”, tell him “good boy”, as you show him your lead, and lean back from him. This will help command his attention up and toward you, without focusing on putting on the lead.
We want to be sure not to give the impression that we’re assaulting him with the lead! Bend at the knees, keeping your back straight as you affix your lead to his collar, gently talking, but not physically touching any more than necessary.
Tell him he’s a good boy as you head out the door. As soon as you have cleared the area in front of your door, come to a halt. If your dog looks toward you, you’ll tell him he’s a good boy. Always, every time, no exceptions ever, no matter what, when, or where,: if your dog looks toward you, even a brief momentary glance out of the corner of his eye, that requires praise.
This rule will never vary. If he looks away, gently, in a conversational tone, tell him “no”, followed by “good”. Always, every time, no exceptions ever, no matter what, when, or where: Anytime we say “no”, we must always say “good” immediately thereafter.
This rule will never vary: any time you say “no” you must say “good” instantly, otherwise he’ll not figure out what we want. (Remember, we are using a system that allows your dog to think through the process of elimination.) If he looks toward you, tell him “good boy” again, and continue to repeat “good boy” intermittently until his attention drifts away.
As soon as his attention fades, once again say “no”, immediately followed once again by “good boy”.
Continue praising until his attention drifts once again. As soon as his attention becomes fixed elsewhere, say “no”, and again follow with praise.