A Manners Class is an excellent training class to take if you’re thinking about doing Therapy Dog work. A good Manners Class should include plenty of distraction work. Avoiding yummy distractions is a MUST. This video shows how a dog should be walking calmly at your side, completely avoiding the distraction. The trainer uses a clicker to reward the dog’s appropriate response to Leave It.
In Therapy Dog work, a solid Leave It command could be lifesaving. If you visit in a healthcare facility where medications are distributed to patients, a pill might drop to the floor and be quickly swallowed by a dog who doesn’t respond to the Leave It command. Or, a dinner tray might be left within easy reach of your dog’s mouth. You must be able to give the Leave It command and have your dog respond appropriately.
If you live in Western Massachusetts, you might want to check out the Manners Classes offered at True Blue Dog Training. Here, you and your dog will have lots of practice with the Leave It command in small classes with highly trained instructors.
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