Bond-Based Teaching Exercises

The following exercises allow dogs to think for themselves while giving them control of their body and behavior.

Food Sharing
Freely sharing tiny bites of your food with your dog builds trust while reiterating they don’t have to appease you to earn treats. This is a great tool to keep their attention on you in particularly distracting situations and ensures them it’s safe enough to relax.

“Yes or No”
By using one of your hands as “yes” and the other as “no” when asking questions, dogs are granted the freedom to make decisions. Follow a question you ask- “Do you want to go for a walk?” with “yes or no?” and extend your open hands one at a time in front of you. It’s important to be consistent- left hand is always “yes” and right hand is always “no” or vice versa. Some dogs will answer by touching their nose to the corresponding hand while others may simply look at the correct hand.

“Gentle”
“Gentle” teaches dogs not to be mouthy or too rough. Use a toy or stuffed animal that is used only for this exercise and name it (we call it baby). Play rough with another toy and then present baby to the dog. Cradle baby in your arms and tell the dog to be gentle with baby. Practice this exercise again by playing with a rough toy and then interacting with baby.

“Ick”
“Ick” teaches dogs what is and isn’t safe for them. In your hand smell a yummy, dog-safe treat and tell him “Mmm that’s good” before letting him eat it. Next, smell something (soap, paper towel, etc.) and make an overdramatized face of disgust and say “Ick!” or “Yuck!” to tell him not to eat it.

“Like Me”
This exercise is used to teach your dog how to imitate your behavior. Have your arms represent their front paws and your legs represent their back legs. Demonstrate what you would like them to replicate (jumping, standing, spinning) and say “like me”. This can be the building block for endless teaching opportunities.