Teach your puppy to love her name! We want puppies to learn that when they hear their name, something good will happen. This provides the foundation for a dog who, throughout her life, pays attention when she hears her name.
The Name Game is NOT a recall. It will help enormously when you train your recall but right now we are simply creating a happy emotional response to their name.
Start playing this game with very young puppies but if you have an older dog who does not love her name, you can play this game at any age. Here's how to play:
Watch Julie Daniels play The Name Game with Koolaid without a clicker.
Watch Julie Daniels playing The Name Game with Frankie using a clicker.
The Name Game is NOT a recall. It will help enormously when you train your recall but right now we are simply creating a happy emotional response to their name.
Start playing this game with very young puppies but if you have an older dog who does not love her name, you can play this game at any age. Here's how to play:
- The order is: Name, then treat. If you're using a clicker, the order is: Name, then click, then treat. You do not have to use a clicker for this. If you do, be sure to keep the correct order.
- Begin in a small space while the puppy is looking at you, and quickly randomize where the puppy is looking when you say her name.
- Add motion by moving around and then saying your puppy's name.
- Mix up the time intervals between when you say your puppy's name.
- Make it fun for your puppy by interspersing play and loving into the session!
- Use a sing-song happy voice when you say her name.
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Watch Julie Daniels play The Name Game with Koolaid without a clicker.
Watch Julie Daniels playing The Name Game with Frankie using a clicker.