The three common mistakes

There are three super common ‘reminder’ or ‘learning’ moments that I see with dogs when they get distracted during a recall or command. Even after training, dogs can make these errors because... they’re dogs! And at some point they all get a bit distracted. Here’s how we can guide a dog who’s been remote collar trained and help them back on track and work through following their commands when they get distracted:

1- Overshooting the cot and standing/sitting beside you. As the first paw steps off the cot we’ll give them feedback by saying ‘No’ as we tap the collar. Step to the other side of the cot. Recall the dog back onto the cot by saying ‘Come’ and then say ‘Place’ And then ask the dog to ‘Down’. And we’ll add the guidance tap every time we say ‘No’ and every time we repeat a command to help the dog get back on track.

2- The dog runs by the cot altogether. As the dog runs by the cot we’ll give them feedback by saying ‘No’ as we tap the remote collar. Step to the opposite side of the cot (you want to be opposite the dog and recall them towards you with the cot in between). Recall the dog back onto the cot by saying ‘Come’ and then say ‘Place’ And then ask the dog to ‘Down’. And we’ll add the guidance tap every time we say ‘No’ and every time we repeat a command to help the dog get back on track.

3- The dog stops to sniff the ground or veers off track towards the distraction. When this happens we repeat ‘Come’ as we add the reminder tap on the remote collar at the earliest sign of the dog stopping to sniff or deviating towards the distraction. This little reminder often gets the dog’s focus back on the handler and reminds them to continue on with the task at hand.