Introduction:
Dog Training involves more than teaching basic commands; it’s about fostering understanding and obedience. The ‘Out’ command is crucial, telling your dog to drop whatever is in their mouth. It’s not just about obedience—it’s about safety.
Understanding the ‘Out’ Command:
The ‘Out’ command instructs your dog to release whatever they’re holding. It’s vital for preventing dangerous situations and reinforcing good behavior.
Steps to Teaching ‘Out’:
Start with a Toy: Begin by playing with a toy your dog likes.
Pick a toy your dog finds highly valuable. This creates higher focus and engagement during your training sessions. I recommend only using the “favorite” toy for training sessions until the skill is mastered. Find a good place to put it up when you are not training. The Monks of New Skete discuss why it is important not to have a fountain of toys laying around. I prefer to use a tug or rope toy. This way I can tug and get Ruger excited before asking for him to disengage.( this will be a way to amp things up after you get the basics) Once you build tug or playing association with the toy its time for the next step.
Introduce the Command: When they grab the toy, say “Out” and show them a treat.
Now that your pup is ready to play and you have a high value treat or reward in hand its time to get started. Let them have the toy for a moment and show them the treat. *Important* You will have to utilize all your dogs senses in this process. Considering they have their favorite toy in “mouth”. First let them see the treat, then let them smell the treat as you say “out”. This engages the Eyes, Ears, and Nose. The goal is so they smell and the mouth opens to drop the toy. Once the toy drops say yes or good and give the treat within 2 seconds of completing the “out”. I use a treat with strong scent such as Freeze dried treats or hotdogs.
Reward Immediately: Once they drop the toy, give them the treat.
It is essential to reward your pup as soon as they drop the toy. You have a short window before they loose the association with the behavior and the reward. If you are struggling with this record your self during the process to be sure you are hitting your markers for command(out), marker(good/yes), and reward(treat). This should occur almost at the same time within a few seconds of each other. Over time this will help you phase out the treat (reward) portion of the process. Keep in mind once the skill is mastered you still want to reward randomly. If you give treats constantly it will be expected for every time any task is performed. Keep this in mind while teaching even the basics of sit, down and stay.
Repeat and Reinforce: Consistency is key. Repeat the process to reinforce the behavior.
Dogs Learn over time *important* don’t get frustrated if they don’t get it the first few sessions. Note most puppies will only be engaged and learn for a maximum of 1-3 minutes. Adult Dogs can focus for a little longer but at most 8 minutes per training session. Try a few short sessions a day. Once your pup successfully completes the command 3 times take a break and play. That’s a huge win! Repeat the training and add intensity to improve reliability. As i stated above i play full on tug with Ruger. When he is fully pulling with all his weight i say out. After several sessions now he instantly releases. Add distance and duration to shake things up.
Importance of
Dog Training :
Training provides mental stimulation and strengthens the bond between you and your dog. The ‘Out’ command is a part of this important process. It is also a great way to prevent accidental ingestion of hazardous and poisonous items.
Dog Surgeries Related to Swallowing Objects:
Sometimes, dogs swallow toys or parts of them, like squeakers, which can lead to surgery. Teaching ‘Out’ can prevent these dangerous situations.
Safety of Regularly Checking the Dog’s Toys:
Inspect your dog’s toys often for signs of wear and tear. Discard any that are broken to avoid accidental swallowing.
Properly Disposing of Torn Up Toys:
Don’t just throw away damaged toys where your dog can still reach them. Ensure they are completely out of reach to prevent your dog from retrieving and swallowing dangerous pieces.
For more information on Hazards of toys Click Here
Conclusion:
The ‘Out’ command is more than a trick; it’s a safety measure. With patience and consistency, your dog can master this command, enhancing their obedience and safety. Ready to dive deeper into
