- Sep 10, 2025
- 312
- 391
My theory on dog training is pretty simple, everything we do is geared to providing the dog as much freedom as possible while fulfilling their genetic predispositions and of course, having fun!
I came to this conclusion after a trainer asked me "What's your goal?"
Simple question, but I didn't have an immediate answer that I liked or even believed. I had to think about it.
What good is "obedience commands" without control and reliability?
Here's something I like to do with my dog that I find helpful (and super fun) that maybe you guys might like to add to your routine.
My dog and I play Chuck-it a lot. We do that more than anything else this time of year. There's a bunch of benefits, the dog is EXTREMELY fit, and I'm not getting my ass kicked like when we play tug.
My dog LOVES Chuck-it. Every single chase & catch is done with 200% effort and full power. He would run himself to death if I allowed him to. Our Chuck-it game is tight. LOL.
Anyway, here's how we start:
We don't start the game until I give the signal "you ready!" If he breaks the rules, there's some sort of penalty. Usually, I just give him a verbal correction and put him back at his starting position and then we start over. (Rules are important!)
Now he's fired up and if he's not barking at me (he usually is) I'll get him to bark at me. He is now barking with a lot of intensity too. He has a really nice bark and hold now.
At this point he's at a 9 on a scale of 1 out of 10. And we haven't even started yet.
Now I start chucking the ball and he's off like a rocket. As were playing, every few passes I ask for a little obedience in-between reps.
When he returns with the ball, he'll automatically out. Then, I might ask for a sit, a heel or a middle command, whatever.
Then I give my reward marker and I fling the ball. Occasionally I'll have him wait before releasing him to get the ball (practicing some impulse control)
After a few reps of obedience with me, I'll ask for obedience from a distance on the way back from the retrieve.
After a rep or two of asking for obedience on the way back, I'll up the criteria and I ask for obedience on the way to the ball. (The most challenging) Maybe a down while he's in full on flight, or even a recall out of the chase.
It's no so much about the obedience but more about getting the dog thinking, using his mind, and paying attention to me while he's working, exhausted and in a near frantic state of prey drive.
Our sessions average about 45 minutes to an hour. This is a lot and flys in the face of conventional wisdom on dog training. We take a few water breaks in-between reps and I'm only asking for obedience occasionally. It's like 80% play and 20% obedience. Maybe less. I don't want to tant the game.
This week was the first week I was able to get him to "stand" while he was at a distance, on his way back with the ball. This showed me that he's not only paying attention to me but also learning.
Anyway, we have a ton of fun doing this together. When he's gassed and the endorphins are flowing I make sure to show him lots of love, praise and gratitude.
Any who, maybe something like this might be fun for you guys to do with your dogs too!
I came to this conclusion after a trainer asked me "What's your goal?"
Simple question, but I didn't have an immediate answer that I liked or even believed. I had to think about it. What good is "obedience commands" without control and reliability?
Here's something I like to do with my dog that I find helpful (and super fun) that maybe you guys might like to add to your routine.
My dog and I play Chuck-it a lot. We do that more than anything else this time of year. There's a bunch of benefits, the dog is EXTREMELY fit, and I'm not getting my ass kicked like when we play tug.
My dog LOVES Chuck-it. Every single chase & catch is done with 200% effort and full power. He would run himself to death if I allowed him to. Our Chuck-it game is tight. LOL.
Anyway, here's how we start:
We don't start the game until I give the signal "you ready!" If he breaks the rules, there's some sort of penalty. Usually, I just give him a verbal correction and put him back at his starting position and then we start over. (Rules are important!)
Now he's fired up and if he's not barking at me (he usually is) I'll get him to bark at me. He is now barking with a lot of intensity too. He has a really nice bark and hold now.
At this point he's at a 9 on a scale of 1 out of 10. And we haven't even started yet.
Now I start chucking the ball and he's off like a rocket. As were playing, every few passes I ask for a little obedience in-between reps.
When he returns with the ball, he'll automatically out. Then, I might ask for a sit, a heel or a middle command, whatever.
Then I give my reward marker and I fling the ball. Occasionally I'll have him wait before releasing him to get the ball (practicing some impulse control)
After a few reps of obedience with me, I'll ask for obedience from a distance on the way back from the retrieve.
After a rep or two of asking for obedience on the way back, I'll up the criteria and I ask for obedience on the way to the ball. (The most challenging) Maybe a down while he's in full on flight, or even a recall out of the chase.
It's no so much about the obedience but more about getting the dog thinking, using his mind, and paying attention to me while he's working, exhausted and in a near frantic state of prey drive.
Our sessions average about 45 minutes to an hour. This is a lot and flys in the face of conventional wisdom on dog training. We take a few water breaks in-between reps and I'm only asking for obedience occasionally. It's like 80% play and 20% obedience. Maybe less. I don't want to tant the game.
This week was the first week I was able to get him to "stand" while he was at a distance, on his way back with the ball. This showed me that he's not only paying attention to me but also learning.
Anyway, we have a ton of fun doing this together. When he's gassed and the endorphins are flowing I make sure to show him lots of love, praise and gratitude.
Any who, maybe something like this might be fun for you guys to do with your dogs too!