Hide and Seek game for off leash training

[Carol Brand]

I'm not sure that I've talked about this before, but it is a good game to teach a dog to stay close when they are off leash.

 

Even dogs who are solid citizens will sometimes will stray a bit too far when they are off leash.  Ideally, an off leash dog will be no more than 20 ft from its owner.  It can be tiresome to constantly remind the dog to "stay close".  This is where the hide and seek game comes in handy.  Note.... this game only really works if there is cover.

 

Let your dog move off maybe 20 yards.  Quickly crouch down and hide behind a bush or tree (it is amusing to have a view of what happens next).  At some point your dog will stop and notice that you have disappeared.  They will get this confused look on their face and they will start to trot back.  Often times they will trot passed where you are hiding.  Then they start to get a bit frantic and they will actively start to search for you via scent.  It doesn't take too long for them to find you. PARTY PARTY PARTY. Now they know it is a game.

 

It is a fun thing to play, but you will start to notice that the benefit is  your dog stays closer and pays more attention to you.  It got to the point where I really couldn't play this with Sabrina because she was keeping tabs on my foot fall on the trail.  Any change in the sound (like stopping or moving off trail) and she would spin around.  I couldn't hide from her.

 

I have started this with Riley, my Mini puppy and it works like a charm.  

 

 

[BG and Gavin]

This is a great game!  I play this with Gavin all of the time.  We play it inside with him as well.  I toss the ball down the hallway and when he goes for it I hide in another room.  Too much fun.  He will play forever.  I notice at the cottage in particular he has really been keeping track of us, as there are many nooks and crannies around the property where we can be out of sight.

[Jeanie and MacKenzie]

I LOVE  this idea!  I've noticed that when Kenzie realizes I'm out of sight she gets concerned and comes running but I never thought to use that for fun and training!  I'm going to do it with her this weekend!  Thanks!

[Bug]

it is funny i try this game with my zeb but she almost never lets me out of her site long enough the few times i did manage to hide she found me within seconds. it is nice that she always pays so much attention to where i am.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really don't think I could get far enough away from Murph to play this, but I think I could with Guinness.  Sounds like a fun way to reinforce "attention".  Thanks for the idea, Carol.