Stop
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What:
- Emergency Stop is one of the most valuable behaviours you can teach your dog. It involves getting the dog to stop and remain in place when it hears the command or sees the hand signal.
Why:
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How:
Step 1: Throwing skills
- Choose larger-sized treats that your dog likes and can see and find easily.
- Your pup can be off-lead if safe or in a long line.
- Drop 4-5 treats on the ground to keep your puppy occupied as you walk five paces from your puppy.
- As soon as your puppy finishes the treats and their head comes up, with your hand raised above your head, say ‘Stop’ and push your hand forward above your head like a policeman stopping traffic, then follow that movement with similar 2nd movement, but this time throw the treat to land behind your puppy’s butt. (Imagine the movement in two parts, like a darts player)
- We want the treat to land behind the puppy’s butt, as that will ensure they do not creep forward when they hear the cue ‘Stop’ but remain stationary to check where the treat lands (behind their butt!)
Step 2: Consistency
- Start by repeating step one.
- As your puppy recovers the treat that you’ve just thrown, you can take a couple of steps to your left or right, so the picture changes slightly for your puppy as they finish the treat and raise their head.
- Be ready, so when their head comes up, you repeat the verbal cue along with your first above-head arm movement, then follow it with the 2nd movement of throwing the treat behind their butt.
- Be consistent. If you give the verbal cue and hand signal for ‘stop’, you must throw the treat behind their butt, even if your puppy creeps forward.
- With enough repetition, your puppy will learn what the cue predicts and, therefore, stand still in anticipation of the treat.
- Repeat as many times, but following each successful repetition, increase the distance between you and your dog.
Step 3: Proofing the behaviour and fine tuning
- Repeat Steps one and two. After a successful stop by your puppy, count 3-5 seconds before throwing the treat.
- Sometimes, rather than throwing the treat, approach your stationary puppy and reward them in the place they halted. (This will be a more real-life scenario when you can stop your dog safely, then approach them to put on lead, etc.)
- repeat the exercise in as many locations as possible and around different types of distractions.
Check out the videos below to learn more about training the behaviour from trainers around the world.
