The following exercise was taught to me by the late Dick Russell, Professional Dog Trainer from Louisiana.

This exercise works well for Puppies and Adult Dogs. When I teach this exercise to puppies I use a Flexi Lead and with Adult dogs I may use a 30' long line.

This exercise teaches the dog to move away from you and then to come back. The exercise allows you to gradually increase the distance that you both send your dog away and to come back to you. It teaches your dog to turn at your call when running away and returning to you. The exercise is fun for the dog because he/she gets a reward at both ends of the run.

To start the exercise put your puppy or dog on a leash and then have them sit. Put a paper plate on the ground about a foot in front of him/her. Place a food treat on the plate. Command your dog, "Away". Let the dog take the treat from the plate and then call him back to you. Praise the dog, touch his collar and pet him while giving a treat.

Do this about 10 times so the puppy knows that the paper plate has a treat to be taken. The next step is to increase the distance between the dog and the plate in small steps. Put a treat on the plate and take a step back and tell your puppy to sit. The tell your puppy, "Away".Let him go to the plate, eat the treat and then call him back to you. Praise with "Good Dog", touch her collar, Pet and give a food reward.

Increase the distance slowly until you can send you puppy away up to 30' or more. Practice in a safe enclosed space and use a Flexi or Long Line.

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