Teach Your Dog to “Check-In”

Does your dog ignore you or play “hard to get” when in the backyard and its time to come in? Teach your dog to enjoy “checking in” with you by keeping delicious treats on you while watching your dog play in the backyard.

Randomly call your dog by saying his name and getting his attention with the treat. When he comes to you, give him the treat and let him run off again. Do this about every 3 -5 minutes. Sometimes bend over and pet him while giving him the treat. After approximately 15 trials, start acting as if you will put a leash on him while giving him the treat and let him run off again. Eventually, snap the leash on but then take it right back off and let him run again. Only once out of every 10-20 times do you actually put a leash on and make him stop playing. Do this several times a day.

For the dogs that love to run and play, this will teach them to “check in” with you and he is learning that you are not necessarily going to make him stop playing. Instead, he will enjoy coming to you to get a treat and then go back to playing. Teaching the “Check-In” is also great for hikes. Let us know how it works for your dog!

Teaching Your Dog to “Check-In”