In this video Kim will show you how to teach your dog how to trade and put it on cue. The key to teaching this is to start with two equal toys, one toy in each hand. You will make one toy active (something that your dog is interested in playing with). Let your dog play with that toy for a little bit, then relax the toy they are playing with so it becomes boring. Next start moving the toy you are holding in the other hand, doing it in a fun way that makes this second toy interesting to your dog. The goal is for your dog to move from the boring toy in hand one to the fun toy in hand two. Thus learning to give something up in order to get something better. Once the dog is able to switch back and forth between the boring and the fun, we will name the behavior.
How to Teach:
- Explain what play is and how to get a puppy engaged with you (i.e. chasing toy, not pushing it in their face)
- Hold on to two toys that are the same, one in each hand.
- Start playing with one toy keeping the other one still.
- After the dog has played with the first toy for a bit, make that toy still and start moving the other toy.
- Alternate back and forth so the puppy can practice letting go of one toy and getting another.
- Add the cue once the dog is consistently letting go.
- Start varying objects slowly making one more exciting than the other.