The Tennis Ball Game for Improving Your Training Skills
Many aspects of training a puppy are mechanical skills like throwing a ball. Your puppy will learn faster if YOU practice your skills, too!
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Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public and make it simple for people to get dogs from good sources and for reputable breeders, shelters and rescues to put their dogs in good homes.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public and make it simple for people to get dogs from good sources and for reputable breeders, shelters and rescues to put their dogs in good homes.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public and make it simple for people to get dogs from good sources and for reputable breeders, shelters and rescues to put their dogs in good homes.
Play this game when you first start training your puppy and go back to it again any time you feel your timing is off. Timing your mark is a mechanical skill that *you* have to learn. It’s best if you learn it away from your pup so you can focus on your skills. The Tennis Ball Game is one that everyone in the family can do to improve their timing.
- Get a tennis ball or other light ball.
- Toss it up in the air and mark (Yes or click) when it is at it highest point but before it starts back down.
- Catch the ball and repeat 10-20 times until your mark is happening at the apex, not before or after.
- For an even greater challenge, has someone else throw the ball up and you mark (Yes or click) when it's at its highest point.
Dr. Gayle Watkins, PhD is the Founder of Avidog, the leading educational platform for dog breeders and puppy owners, and Gaylan's Golden Retrievers, her 40-year breeding program. Today, Gayle is the only golden retriever AKC Gold Breeder of Merit, and is a three-time AKC “Breeder of the Year.”
