Lesson #2: The Name Game

Hi! Kathryn here. In Lesson #1, you "loaded" your clickers (or marker words). Each time you click or mark, your dog should happily expect a treat. With the name game, we begin to take advantage of the loaded clicker (or marker). The tools for Lesson #2 are the same as for Lesson #1: clicker, treats, dog! I like soft treats for training, as they don't distract from exercises by requiring prolonged crunching. Also, they're easy to break into tiny pieces, so that I can reward frequently without worrying too much about the impact my training success is having on my dog's waistline. : )

Waiting to begin the game until your dog is looking away from you, call your dog's name in an excited, energetic, happy manner. When your dog looks at you, click and treat. Repeat this as often as you like. You are working to build a consistent response from your dog, so that whenever you say your dog's name, your dog immediately looks to you. This attention is valuable at this stage to cultivate attention, and will be just as valuable when you are tearing up an agility course together years from now. Keep in mind that you want your dog's association with his or her name, and with you, to be positive. Try to avoid using your dog's name with any sort of stern or threatening tone. Keep it happy!