Teach Your Dog to Find Your Keys
February 2, 2010 by Kelley
Filed under Dog Training
Lately, there’s been a lot of news talking about dogs and their jobs; such as the explosive sniffing dogs working for the US and NATO forces in the Middle East. Dogs by their nature love to have jobs and they love to play games. Let me show you a step by step way to get your dog’s nose to work for you. You’re dog will love you for it!
First start by playing a game of shells. The object of the game is to hide a treat under one of three cups and then have your dog find the treat. Here’s how to play.
1-Get three cups and your dog’s favorite treat. My dogs love Liver Biscotti
2-Have your dog lie down and stay across the room.
3-Space out the cups about 2 feet apart and discretely hide one treat under just one cup.
4-Give your dog the go command and ask him to find the treat.
5-Praise and let your dog have the treat when he gets it right.
Once your dog masters the Shell game with treats, it’s time to get your keys out. Find a small piece of leather and rub it between your fingers. This will get your scent soaked into the leather. Now, attach the leather to your keys. Show the keys to your dog and let him get a nose full. Now play the shell game using your keys. Don’t leave a treat under the cup, but initially reward with treats and praise when your dog hits on the correct cup.
Play this game and after a while it won’t matter where those pesky keys are hiding your dog will track them down for you.
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Hi Kelley,
This is a great idea. It will be interesting to see if I can get Misha to follow along on this particular trick. Should be very useful for her to learn though
.
Best,
Omar