How to train your dog to catch a treat 🦴
/GETTING STARTED
Before you begin training you will need a few things. The most important training component will be a large supply of treats. If you don’t want to use treats, you can break his favorite food into small pieces. You’ll also need some space to practice in; a large room or a yard works well.
Try and avoid training in a room with lots of furniture, or in 10 years' time, you might move a couch to find some moldy doggie treats underneath. Once you have the above, just bring a can-do attitude and you’re ready to begin!
SIT AND CATCH
STEP 1
*Sit - Take him to the training area and have him sit in front of you. Make sure your pocket is full of tasty treats.
STEP 2
Toss - Take out a treat and throw it gently towards him at head height. You don’t want to take out an eye, so don’t throw it too hard. At this point you want to make it as easy to catch as possible.
STEP 3
Praise - As soon as he catches it, go over to him and verbally praise him. It is important you emphasize that this is the correct behavior. It is also crucial that you give him the praise as soon as possible, leave it too late and he won’t associate the action with the praise.
STEP 4
Try again - If he doesn’t catch it, scoop it off the floor before he can get to it. By doing this he will realize he will need to try a different technique next time. This is the way to correct any failed catching attempts. He will soon realize he needs to get it mid-air if he wants the treat in his tummy.
STEP 5
Challenge - Increase the distance you throw it from and change up the angle. Now it’s time to make it more challenging. Throw it from a range of different angles until he can run and jump to get the treat. Practice daily until he becomes a treat catching pro. Dogs are pretty agile so he should get the hang of it in a matter of days.
*If your dog can not sit like my old girl Jasmine, you can successfully achieve this trick while your dog is standing as well.
