In Catch Me, you will toss a treat, and then run in the opposite direction, with the objective of getting your dog to come find you after they eat the treat.
This is the second of two games that help build your dog’s ability to return to you when called (Apple #8 is the first).
Setting up for the Activity
For this activity we recommend that, as much as possible, you “ditch the bowl,” which means that you temporarily feed your dog their daily portions through training rewards, rather than in their bowl.
Use the hand/finger position taught in the Follow My Hands (Apple #3). Take several pieces of food in the palm of your hand, and dispense pieces with your thumb by rolling them from your palm to your fingertips.
If you are not feeling kind, calm, and confident, do not train your dog until you are in a better mental state. Kindness is a choice, calmness takes practice, and confidence comes with education, which will grow as you master this activity.
Activity Steps
Get your dog’s attention with a food lure in your hand, and toss the treat a short distance, to distract your dog momentarily.
Quickly run away from them in the opposite direction—around a corner, a piece of furniture, or a hiding place, to get them to come and find you.
As your dog comes back, hold out your hand that is not holding the treats, and place it, fingers down and extended at the side of your body, with your palm facing your dog.
Wait until your dog’s nose touches your hand. Don’t move your hand to meet your dog’s nose.
In the exact moment that your dog touches your hand, mark the correct behavior with a “Yes!” and with your other treat hand, lure them across and in front of your body to the other side, and then treat. As your dog starts to get the hang of it, change “Yes” to “Yes! Come!”
This movement also positions your dog directly in front of you, and makes it easy to pick them up or grab their collar if you need to.
The marker needs to happen in the very moment your dog succeeds. Otherwise, your dog will be confused about what you are asking them to do. After marking and treating, make sure to praise them as well.
Repeat the process. Play the game for up to 10 minutes, or until they struggle to succeed. Always end on a success, so you can treat and praise, always making this game a positive experience for you and your dog.
If your dog is struggles, consider the three D’s—distance, duration, and distraction. Shorten the distance between you, or the length of time you require them to obey before rewarding, or lessen any distractions (noises, children, other dogs, etc).
Training Pattern
At first, you start by using a treat to encourage your dog to perform a desired behavior. Then reward them with the marker word “yes,” accompanied by a treat.
Second, you do the same thing, but you add the command to the marker word by saying, “Yes! Come!” This associates the command with the desired behavior.
Third, you do everything the same, except that you speak the command word as you begin. You will continue using a treat in your hand to encourage your dog. Each time they are successful, say “Yes!” (no need to add the command word here), and treat.
Finally, you will begin by speaking the command, and when your dog succeeds at the desired behavior, no treat or follow-up “Yes!” is needed.
Training Over Time
As your dog succeeds at this game, vary the game by tossing the food lure further and further each time. If you dog falters at a further distance, shorten the distance back to where they last succeeded, and always end on a success.
As you dog gains a good grasp of this activity, consider the three D’s again. Now, increase the distance as you train, require a longer duration before rewarding, and add in distractions to help your dog succeed at higher and higher levels.
