Dog Training Liverpool

Objective

We are looking to get your dog comfortable with future handling or vet treatments.

Using the process of ‘The Bucket Game’ this will help to give really predictable cues to your dog and allow them to essentially give us his consent that he is happy to proceed with the training.

We want your dog to feel safe and secure with what is happening.

Training

• The aim is to have your dog looking at the bucket for the duration of you reaching out towards them and practicing the handling actions, and then they receive the reward from the bucket

  • Start with the Environmental cues - Use the plain coloured pot/bucket, low value treat and specific mat

  • Hold the bucket by your belly button. When your dog looks at the bucket, mark the moment by saying “Yes” and then reward them from the bucket.

  • Do lots of repetition with this until we get a good run of reliable looks at the bucket. We want to be sure that your dog understands that this is what we want.

 

• Once we have achieved the above, then we will start with moving our hand slightly towards the dog. 

  • If the dog looks at the hand moving, then go back and do a more subtle movement. 

  • If you manage to move your hand and the dog still looks at the bucket then that gives us the indication that they were happy with the movement and so “Yes” and then reward them.

 

• The next steps are below but we only approach these areas with careful observations of their body language and only if their eyes stay on the bucket do we proceed with the full action.

  • slow hand movements

  • around their ears

  • then their front paws

  • then his abdomen

 

• Remember if they look at your hand in any concern, stop and go back to a previous step where he was comfortable.

• Final environmental cue - Remove  bucket and specific mat to make it clear the exercise is over