Getting your dog to be eager and engaged in training can take some effort on the owner's part. Going to a dog class to train can be great, but it is unrealistic to expect your dog to pay attention and remain eager for an hour. Going to a class can give you the skills and knowledge to practice at home. When I compete in obedience and rally we are only in the ring a few minutes. So at home, I do multiple training sessions that are about five to ten minutes long. I choose a couple of skills I want to work on and build them into a game. I set up three hula hoops on the floor or grass about 8 feet apart in a triangle shape. Using an upbeat voice, I have my dog "heel" briskly to the first hula hoop. I have my pup sit inside the hoop while I walk around him. Then we go to the next hula hoop and this time I have my dog "down" in the hoop. It is okay if his feet hang over the edge. Then I circle around my dog while he remains in down. Last, we heel to the third hula hoop. This time my pup remains standing & i have my pup pivot in a circle counter clockwise inside the hoop as I circle fast to the left (counter clockwise) so the pup remains in heel position. At the end, I praise my dog lavishly and play for a few minutes. With my own dogs, I say, "Yay! Good work!" to signal the end of the exercise. This game keeps the dog paying attention because of the fast pace and mixing things up. The big reward at the end with praise, play and treats helps the dog connect the idea of paying attention results in rewards. This particular game works on heel, sit, down, stay, and pivot without drilling and boring your dog to death. Happy training!
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