How to teach "Go Out"

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I looked for a previous thread on this subject, but couldn't find anything - so I apologize if this is a repeat question.

What is the best way to teach go outs?

I want something fun and motivational that Starr will see as a game. He doesn't have a ton of confidence in the obedience ring, so if it's taught as a fun game I'm hoping he'll be more willing to leave me for the go out. :smile2:
 
I taught this to both Trapp & Jasper for frisbee catching. I looked at alot of videos on YouTube,to teach it.

And I do think it helps if the dog is drivey enough,and knows whats coming at the end..such as a frisbee. And teaching a cue word.."go" or "catch"

I first taught them to "go around" me. Since I throw left handed,they go around me on my left,and go out.Trapp was easiar,since he loved it (frisbee) very early.

Jasper I used chicken on the disc,to get him to follow the disc when I was teaching him to go round me. He would do it,but then sit. So the next part was trying to get him to go out. He wanted the disc bad..but would not go. So I did rollers on the ground to get him to chase the disc.
Search it on YouTube,loads of vids.
I highly recommend Zac Georges vids.
 
I start up close to the stanchion, pup in heel position by my left side - me holding him with right hand (I'm right handed) and with the left hand holding a can of cheese - then I reach out and put a dot of cheese big enough that he can see it, on the stanchion. I bring my left hand back and point to the stanchion with the "look" command. When he's starring at the cheese, I release him with the "away" command. And praise, alot, while he's eating the cheese.

I do this a few times, then I just point with left hand, say "look" and if his head drops to stare at the stanchion - I praise. This is my first step, that my dog can focus on the stanchion when I say "look" -

Then, I release him with the "away" command, and if he goes to the stanchion, I reward with the cheese. I stay up close (within 10-12 feet) till he's got it, that the cheese comes to him but that is where he has to go to receive it. :)

I've taught three dogs this way and their go outs are great, and we work them everywhere - to a tree - to a car bumper - to just go until you find something that might be a stanchion!

HOWEVER....

The trendy way to teach this with my buddies, is to teach the dog to go out to the stanchion and smack it with their paw.


Personally, I just don't get it, my Bobby is terrified of ring gating that moves (fell over on him once, he's traumatized for life) but many really like teaching the paw touch...

My dogs quickly faded from the cheese ON the gate to the cheese coming to them when they sit at the stanchion...
 
I taught Dalton, Derrick and Rush go outs exactly as described by 2GoodDogs. I kept the squeeze cheese amount to the bare minimum so fading it wasn't such a big issue.

The topic about having dogs Paw the stanchion is that over time most dogs figure out that if they barely swoop by the stanchion instead of actually touching it the handler can't see it. Soon the dog is swooping further and further from the stanchion and when inside a ring, they cut the go out oftentimes really short. By having the dog actually paw it or stand on the stanchion (Rush does this) then the handler knows the dog is making full contact.


Dani
Davina - UD, OM1
Dalton - CDX, RAE
Derrick - CD, RAE
Rush
 
LOL! You might want to retitle this thread for those of us "speed read"!

When I first read it, I thought this was house training 101. Then I read Michele's response....and thought.....is she nuts?????:lol:

Finally I clued in that this is Obedience talk...and not Go out, Go Pee! :o:o
 
The one time I taught go outs, it was to a boink ball. Wherever it was, she boinked and got a cookie. Then I transferred it to half a tennis ball, the worked the tennis ball smaller and smaller. It didn't take long. I won't use treats at the go out, because the dogs then spend seconds looking for the food.
 
ClantyreSheltie said:
The one time I taught go outs, it was to a boink ball. Wherever it was, she boinked and got a cookie. Then I transferred it to half a tennis ball, the worked the tennis ball smaller and smaller. It didn't take long. I won't use treats at the go out, because the dogs then spend seconds looking for the food.
Click to expand...

We're showing in Open for the first time this weekend, so it's time for us to start working on go-outs in class to get ready for Utility. I've been told the same thing about using food on the stanchions. I think if you're very careful to fade the food quickly, then it's probably OK, but Phebe is such a food hound, I can see her looking and looking for the cheese. I'll try to remember to post whatever method we end up using and how we progress.
 
As soon as my dog will look at the stanchion when I indicate, then the food becomes a reward for the turn and sit. Justus does not sniff, he knows the reward will come from me, or will be the chance I ask him to jump, which he loves almost as much as a cookie. :wink2:
 
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