Follow the Lure

Step 1 – Following the Lure with its Head (1-2 minutes)

Prerequisites

• Teaching the Marker, Step 1

Training

In this step, want the pup to move its head to follow a treat, known as a lure. When pups and dogs do this, we call it following a lure. It enables us to position them more easily and quickly teach certain skills.

1. Hold a treat right in front of your pup’s nose. Move the treat slowly to the left. If it follows the treat, mark the movement (yes/treat). Praise warmly.
2. Repeat this but this time move the treat slowly to the right. If it follows the treat, yes/treat. Praise.
3. Repeat again, this time moving the treat up a few inches over the pup’s nose. Yes/treat the movement.
4. Repeat again, this time moving the treat down a few inches below the pup’s nose. Yes/treat.
5. Do these movements several times, trying to get your pup to shake its head as if it was saying no and nod its head as if it was saying yes. Mark and reward each movement
6. Repeat Step 1 several times over a day or two.

Troubleshooting Step 1

• If your pup nips or bites you while you are holding the treat over its nose, immediately and loudly yelp “OWWW!” while pulling your hand away quickly. We want your puppy to understand that it should never put its teeth on your skin. Keep saying “OWW!” and moving your hand to your chest until your dog is gentler. It is MORE IMPORTANT that your dog learns to use its mouth gently.
• If the pup is hurting you so badly that you can’t help but drop the lure, put gloves on. It is really important your pup does not get rewarded with a treat when it bites you.
• If your pup loses interest in the lure, move your hand more slowly.
• If your pup isn’t interested in following the lure, increase the value of your treats.
• If your pup tries to get the food with its paw, just hold the food to your chest and turn your head away until the pup settles. Once it settles, try again to have it follow the lure.

Step 2 – Following the Lure with its Body (2 minutes)

In this step, we are going to ask you and the pup to move its entire body while following the lure. (TIP: If the puppy is biting you so hard that you can’t safely put the treat right in front of its nose, wear gloves and do not give the treat unless the pup takes the treat gently. Go back over Mouth Manners.)

1. Sit in a chair or kneel on the ground.
2. Warm up with a few movements from Step 1, luring your pup’s head back and forth, and up and down. Yes/treat after each movement.
3. Move the lure slowly to the right far enough that the pup must walk a step or two to follow the treat. Yes/treat and praise.
4. Move the lure back to the left so that the pup must walk three to four steps to follow the treat. Yes/treat.
5. Pivot your body so the pup is beside you facing in the same direction you are facing.
6. Position the lure at the level of your pup’s head but next to the seam of your pants. Yes/treat.
7. Keep the lure in that same position, keeping your hand near your pants leg, and slowly take a step forward. If the pup moves forward with you, yes/treat.
8. Repeat, moving the pup’s body with the lure several times.

Troubleshooting Step 2

• If your pup nips or bites you while you are holding the treat over its nose, immediately and loudly yelp “OWWW!” while pulling your hand away quickly. We want your puppy to understand that it should never put its teeth on your skin. Keep saying “OWW!” and moving your hand to your chest until your dog is gentler. It is MORE IMPORTANT that your dog learns to use its mouth gently.
• If the pup is hurting you so badly that you can’t help but drop the lure, put gloves on. It is really important your pup does not get rewarded with a treat when it bites you.
• If your pup loses interest in the lure, move your hand more slowly or reward smaller movements. If you can’t get your pup out of a sit with the lure reward it for shifting its weight forward.
• If your pup isn’t interested in following any lure, increase the value of your treats.
• If your pup tries to get the food with its mouth or paw, just hold the food to your chest and turn your head away from until the pup settles. Once it settles, try again to have it follow the lure.