#30 - Four automatic behaviours to add to your dog’s repertoire
Teach these before going hiking with your dog
Last week you read about useful behaviours to teach dogs before going hiking, focusing on behaviours that you should ‘put on cue’, meaning you train your dog to perform that behaviour when you say a certain word, or give a hand signal.
This week we’ll focus on automatic or default behaviours, i.e. ones that don’t require you to give a cue. The environment is the cue. In the example of loose-leash walking, being on leash is the cue for your dog to walk close enough that the leash is loose. You don’t want to have to repeat ‘slow down’ every few minutes. Keeping the leash loose should happen by default. I say should, because when I’m out walking and hiking with my dog, I don’t want to be talking all the time, especially not to correct what I -as a human- perceive as inappropriate. I would rather talk to him sometimes to reinforce behaviours I like and spend the rest of it enjoying the beautiful views and the sounds of nature.
An automatic behaviour doesn’t mean it comes naturally to dogs. As anyone who has trained a puppy knows, there’s nothing natural for dogs about walking on a loose-leash. However, we can teach them UNTIL it becomes an ingrained habit and an default behaviour.
So what default behaviours should we prioritize when training our trail dogs?
Loose-leash walking
Know what you are actually training for! Loose-leash walking is different from heeling as it does not require your dog to be at your side at all times. Instead your dog can walk slightly ahead, slightly behind, even stop to smell the ground; we simply want them not to pull on the leash.
Keeping your dog on leash is essential around trailheads, when the leash regulations dictate it, when your dog is reactive to people or dogs, or when your dog’s training is not yet dependable. In short, the likelihood that you will, at some point, have to walk with your dog on leash while hiking is very high.
That’s why it’s -in my opinion- the most useful thing to teach your dog before you start hiking together. In terms of safety, a large or even medium dog pulling suddenly could lead to you hurting your shoulder, or falling down. In terms of enjoyment, any-sized dog pulling the leash with dedication would make me reconsider my love for hiking.
Voluntary check-ins
Know what you are actually training for! Your dog is off leash and comes to see you or waits up and looks at you. Hi dog!
This didn’t start out as a behaviour I intentionally taught Bucky but it has proven so useful that I started encouraging it it. It helps reduce the number of times I need to recall him and teaches him that paying attention to where I am is rewarding.
When your dog comes back without being called, follow the same process as for a recall: your dog comes to you, you grab their harness, you give them a treat (reward!), you let go of the harness and give them a release cue (double reward!). By encouraging this behaviour, dogs tend to come back more often and even stay closer, instead of exploring far ahead. Your dog staying close to you is important for safety reasons. You can also reward simply when your dog waits and looks up at you (even if they are out of reach), by giving them a release cue.
With ‘sticky dogs’ who stay around staring at you, hoping for a treat instead of exploring the trail, despite you giving them their release cue, you can use a ‘go away’ cue. You say ‘go away’ or another cue, stop looking at the dog, and give no more treats. If you use it consistently your dog will understand this cue means that there are no more treats to be had and they might as well turn their nose to the trail.
Stay close & on trail
On leash-optional trails you are often asked to keep your dog under control. The definition of ‘under control’ for off leash dogs varies depending on the location of the trail, and often includes some of these requirements:
Your dog should remain on trail
Your dog should not chase or harass wildlife
Your dog should respond to verbal cues or hand signals
Your dog should stay within sight and close to you (within 10-15 meters / 30-50 feet)
You should always supervise your dog
You should leash up your dog if he becomes rambunctious, and is disturbing others trail users, humans and dogs alike
Keeping your dog close to you is important to follow regulations. It will also allow you to better manage interactions with other trail users, prevent injuries, and avoid encounters with wildlife. You can teach your dog to stay close or wait up when they get to a certain distance.
This is a behaviour you can start teaching by using a long leash, and directional cues. If you’re starting out, set your dog up for success by using a long leash, then letting them off leash only in areas where they are less likely to go off trail. Running off trail can be highly rewarding for dogs. The more they ‘practice’ that highly-rewarding behaviour, the harder it will be to teach them to stay on trail.
Placement
Know what you are actually training for! When near you, your dog stays close to your left or right side (instead of standing or walking right in front of you).
Placement is where your dog sit, stands, or walks in relation to your body. Dogs will favor the placement where they usually get the more rewards.
Until recently I didn’t think this was of any importance to me. After all, I have no intention to participate in any obedience competitions, so why does it matter where my dog is as long as he’s close? Well, it doesn’t… until I’m navigating a tricky descent on trail and he walks right in front of me, almost tripping you up. This is one behaviour Bucky and I will be focusing on in the next few months, starting by simply rewarding him more when he’s on my right side.
And more…
There are many other automatic behaviours that you might choose to train for depending on your situation: waiting at intersections or before road crossings, avoiding people or on leash dogs, … Start hiking with your dog and take time to notice what would help you spend a safer and more enjoyable time on trail.
Happy training!