5 minute read
fishing restrictions Training puppies while in coronavirus lockdown
AN INSIDE JOB
The baseball drill is a simple way to teach discipline, restraint and clear communication, and can easily be done indoors. With the pup sitting on the “pitcher’s mound,” and food placed on first, second and third base, issue a hand signal and verbal command in the direction you want the pup to go. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
By Scott Haugen W ith the mandated confinement the world has faced, being indoors has been challenging for us, our children, and even our dogs.
Hunting dogs are active animals that desire to be outdoors more than indoors. A dog’s drive to run, explore and engage innate senses makes it tough for us to deal with sometimes. But being indoors can actually be a great time to instill some valuable training.
In our two prior columns, we looked at offseason training tips. This month, we’re going to look at things you can do inside your house to tune up your dog and optimize its obedience and performance levels.
ONE OF THE BEST things you can do right now is simply spend time with your dog. When spending an entire day indoors with your canine companion, you’ll likely be surprised with how much your dog pays attention to your every move.
They’ll move when you move, look at your eyes to see what your next action will be, and twist and turn their head when you talk to them in order to decipher what it is you’re saying. All this exaggerated action is a result of their desire to please you; they do this by trying to read your mind or, at least, anticipate what move you’ll make before you make it.
Eye contact is one of the best training tools there is, and it’s important to be consistent in your looks. Your dog will sense when you’re happy, tired, upset or stressed.
Take note of the looks you give your dog or family members when the dog is in sight. You’ll see how committed your dog is to pleasing you. This is important because eye contact is a great way to engage your dog and efficiently communicate with them.
If you’ve not paid close attention to it, you’ll be shocked with how much you can communicate with your dog, without saying a word.
The same goes for reading your dog’s actions. Dogs can’t talk, though many owners swear they try. Spend day after day with your dog and you’ll soon read its disposition through its eyes, ear position and movement, tail action, even spine alignment and head angle. These are just some ways
your dog communicates with you, and it’s in your best interest to learn to understand what they’re saying.
IN TERMS OF TRAINING a dog, you don’t need much room to teach sit, stay, come, discipline and even hand signal movements. It can all be done in a living room. Using food or treats to get a dog to sit, stay and move in specific directions can be very effective. Above all else, it teaches them restraint,
which is key to optimizing any dog’s behavior.
Have your dog sit in the middle of the room. Next, place a couple kibbles of food to the right of it – at what we’ll call first base if we were on a baseball field.
Give an open hand signal to the right – along with a voice command – and the dog will get the food. Command it to sit when it’s done, then place food to the left of it and
Being aware of your pup’s behaviors, looks and body positions, and knowing how to clearly communicate with your dog based on these signs, will make you a better trainer, and your dog, happier and very disciplined. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
release it to get the food. Once it’s done, have the dog return to the middle – or the pitcher’s mound – and sit. Then put food behind it – on second base.
With an outstretched hand overhead, give a firm “back” command. Getting dogs to push back can be challenging, and teaching them this move indoors with small portions of food in a small area, can be very effective.
ONCE THE DOGS ARE on to this game, you’ll be impressed with how quickly they respond to your directions. Soon you’ll have the dog sitting on the pitcher’s mound – with food on all three bases – waiting for your commands.
Short, consistent orders are critical. If I want my dog to go back, I simply order, “Back!” I don’t say, “OK; go back now.”
Same with “sit” and “come.” If I want a dog to deliver something to hand, I simply say, “Hand” and not, “Bring it here to me.” Concise orders make it easy for a dog to understand what you want.
If you have a hallway, this can be a great training area. Shut all the doors and pick up anything from the floor. Create an area free of distraction, then get to training. Here you can teach dogs to fetch, sit, come, lie down, push back, retrieve shed antlers, and much more. The only limit is your imagination.
While being inside with your dog, don’t overlook the opportunity to clean their ears, clip their nails, brush them, even give them a massage, all of which will strengthen your bond.
Spending time with your gun dog will result in building solid bonds that will last a lifetime, and equate to optimal field performance you’ll be proud of. CS
Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
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