How To Get Your Dog To Listen Outside Off Leash (Step By Step Guide)

If your dog is too distracted to pay attention to you outside, you might think you'll never be able to get them to focus on you in real world situations or let them off leash. Help is at hand! Teach your dog to listen to you no matter what. It starts with gaining small successes in a few minutes a day. This video is your comprehensive guide to get your dog to listen anywhere with three popular Shaped by Dog podcast episodes combined into one.
🐾 In this series...
00:00 PART 1: Teach Your Dog to Listen Off Leash and Away from You
00:10 Off leash obedience could save your dog’s life.
00:45 Get amazing responses from your dog at a distance.
01:09 How most people define success in dog training.
01:46 Dog training should be engaging, not a chore.
03:14 Step 1: Get mastery close up.
03:43 Verbal cues your dog should know from near and far.
04:02 Teach your dog to stand and down.
04:38 Goal: only ask your dog once.
05:11 Step 2: Dog holds the position indefinitely.
05:34 Step 3: Give the dog a release cue.
05:55 The “5C’s” of dog training.
06:33 Defining different release cues.
07:24 The skill of “ItsYerChoice”
08:17 Importance of your dog training mechanics.
08:58 Avoid using excess body language.
09:33 Dog’s behavior on reinforcement delivery.
10:22 Awareness checklist when training dogs.
10:57 Don’t build your body language into the dog’s cue.
11:57 When to retrain the cues if a dog responds slowly.
13:09 What is the transfer of value?
13:49 Distance or Distraction Experiment at Agility Camp.
18:30 Masterful dog training is achieved with layers of education.
19:19 Focus on close-up mastery before distance.
19:37 PART 2: Critical Timing of Distractions in Dog Training
20:55 Two reasons dogs will listen at a distance.
22:00 Why our dog training program works for even field-bred dogs.
23:00 The unmatched science and inspiration behind Recallers dog training.
25:05 The 4 critical elements of a dog’s off leash and distance listening.
26:20 Teach your dog to ignore distractions while in a control position.
26:46 What to do when your dog makes a mistake.
27:04 Crate Games makes distraction training and good choices easy for dogs.
28:22 Video Games and Dog Training - how ‘intentional failure’ engages dogs even more.
31:05 Control the distraction and not the dog.
32:00 Keep dog engaged with short training sessions.
32:34 How to grow levels of distraction training.
33:55 Ensure mastery of behaviors close up before ever attempting distance.
35:05 What’s your dog’s value for listening to you close up?
35:16 Team Distraction gets you to Team Distance.
37:12 PART 3: Dog Training at a Distance Tips
39:10 Take your dog’s feedback and create value for the cue.
40:31 Beware creating unwanted behavior chains.
41:02 Test: Is your dog listening or guessing?
42:10 Checklist of your dog’s understanding.
43:00 Get a preoccupied dog to listen.
43:26 Train a dog to change positions at a distance.
44:10 Help dogs understand reinforcement will come to them.
45:08 Troubleshoot distance training.
46:25 Use paw targets.
47:26 Put a bowl of cookies near your dog while you’re further away.
48:10 Transition to promise of reinforcement to come.
48:32 How to use toys as reinforcement instead of food.
49:11 Reinforce behind the dog using a “search” cue.
49:59 Transition to distance training outdoors.
50:28 Add motion to the position change cues.
51:35 Protect confidence by pacing progressions.
Resources:
1. Learn how to play ItsYerChoice - recallers.com/iycsummit-join/
2. Crate Games Online - get.crategames.com/
3. Get your PDF of Controllable Distractions for Clarity & Confidence - dogsthat.com/wp-content/uploa...
You can also check out our videos on teaching dogs to sit, down, and stand, and how to grow those skills so your dog will instantly respond everywhere.
Sit - 10 Ways To Teach A Sit WITHOUT A Food Lure! Unreal Results For Puppies And Dogs Of All Ages
• 10 Ways To Teach A Sit...
Down - 10 Ways To Teach A Dog To Lay Down And How To Shape It Without Luring
• 10 Ways To Teach A Dog...
Down - Teach Your Dog To Down On Cue: Easy Shaping With A Bed
• Teach Your Dog To Down...
Stand - How to Train Your Dog to Stand on Cue
susangarrettdogagility.com/20...
Grow Your Dog's Understanding - Proofing Vs Generalizing In Dog Training To Grow Skills And Confidence
• Video
P.S. Subscribe to our KZbin Channel so you get notifications of new videos!
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Twitter: / susangarrett

[@DogsThat]

Get the easy way to help your dog understand what you want in any location and situation - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHy4oGaEjL2bgqc Learn how to play ItsYerChoice - recallers.com/iycsummit-join/ Check out our playlist “Sit, Down, Stand, Stay! Dog Training Duration Behaviors” for all the foundations you need to get started - kzbin.info/aero/PLphRRSxcMHy2cY7Fg3MLUaobkSdnVx0jt Download our PDF with a list of Controllable Distractions for Clarity & Confidence - dogsthat.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Susan-Garrett-Controllable-Distractions-For-Foundation-Dog-Training.pdf

[@reneemckinnon5731]

My bullmastiff/American staffy mix (recently turned 2🎉) had a distance recall of about 90% which is nowhere close to what’s needed for a dog to be off leash imo. I started playing what I call “random recall”, the basic premise is that no matter where he is when there’s a recall cue, he follows it. At first I did it indoors, I wait for him to be distracted or in another room, then bam! Recall. On a side note: my expectations for a proper recall is he has to end up where I can grab his collar every time at a minimum, or for more advanced training he ends in a heel or front sit with his chin touching my stomach (we’re still working on the last two). Once I have hold of his collar, I treat and release. He loves this game! Outdoors: I bought a 30 foot, syntek long line that I wear cross body (I found out the worst way that if it’s pulled out of your hand it feels like your hand has been de-gloved, especially if it’s a cold day/night), I give him some of that length and play the game again, as he’s progressed he’s earnt the right to have more line. This simple game literally saved his life. We were waiting outside a pharmacy that is on a street that was extremely busy that day for my script to be filled when he started bouncing around on the grass (he’s obsessed with grass!). The next second his leash pulled out of my hand and he ran straight into the traffic, I screamed his recall cue (Hades, come!) and he pivoted on the spot, and raced back to me at full speed. If he’d reacted in any other way he’d have been killed immediately as his head was just under the wheel well of an off-road caravan (trailer). I’m just so blessed that he reacted the way he did because of all the recall drills we’d been doing for the couple of months before this. Once he made it back to me I collapsed to the ground, grabbed him tight, and made his leash into a cross body one. I stayed there and ugly cried for a long while. I now wear his leash cross body all the time when we’re out near traffic because I couldn’t live through him dying, especially if it was my fault. He’s not just a pet, he’s my assistance/service dog in training, and soulmate dog ❤ Luckily every trainer I know had told me that 90% recall isn’t nearly good enough which prompted me to focus on it so much that it was the main training we did/do. After watching some of your podcasts on KZbin, I recently realised that he’s emotionally dysregulated, that is now our current number one priority. I’m sorry this is so long but 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thank you so much for being such an awesome role model and dog training inspiration, not only did you help save my boy’s life, you literally saved mine as well ❤🫶🏼

[@marykaychristophersen]

The Fenton example was just what I needed to see! My goal of getting my dog to come along when I go trail riding means he can’t chase horses.

[@DE-ss5ks]

My foster Pyr has come and gone. Wow. I started going through the Recaller games, although cheated a bit. Started out with crate games since she needed to go in her crate. WOW. What a team we were. She learned so quickly. We did hot zone which took maybe 10 minutes broken up over a day or two so she learned she was to be in her HZ when I was in the kitchen. We worked on others as well, and she was just so brilliant. These games are just so amazing! Thank you again and again, Susan and your team Recallers!

[@DogsThat]

That's soooo great to read, congratulations on the work you've done with your foster dog, their new owners must be glad! 💕

[@cjanderson2371]

Wonderful as always! Thank you! Funny side note, my dog perks up at the end of the videos whenever Susan clicks the clicker 🤣

[@azogal53]

WOW! what a marathon, jam packed full of info. I saw myself in a few of the Don't Do This examples. Thank you, lots to spiff up ❤️🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

[@embladl1]

Yes please on the snappy sit.

[@DogsThat]

Hi @embladl1, we have a playlist focusing on sit that covers from the beginning through the layers to help and the first video is shaping a snappy sit - kzbin.info/aero/PLphRRSxcMHy2Hq4zfUmUf5VKNGAn3gwsD

[@bhaskaral784]

My break word is “ok” Once I was training my dog and I had the “together” command which means he needs to be close to me while we’re walking, then I told him “ok” But I didn’t realise he was “preying” on a car, he basically dragged me from the backyard to the front yard, and would’ve dragged me down the street if it wasn’t for my husband lol (Yes I can hold him on leash but my dumb ass wasn’t holding the leash properly so it tightened around my fingers and almost broke them)

[@Blklabvet]

I just revisited this video series, which was very timely, because we are getting a new puppy in March. Now it will all be fresh in my mind! Thanks (as always), Susan!

[@ammi_10]

Dogs are primarily visual learners and we expect them to follow verbal cues so it's up to us to fill in the gaps. We have to get better at paying attention to what's going on visually. 😉 I love the ability we now have to video our training. 😃

[@DogsThat]

Video is our best friend! ❤️

[@lindajakub624]

I would love to watch you train a dog

[@sydneyaustralia-gb8es]

Did I change too much at once? Such a powerful question! ❤

[@darnold5575]

Yes, it is time to retrain the simple. Thinking on how I got here, to build from there.

[@HookedbyKati]

I love this and I want so badly to work on these things with my doggo. Last week at an agility fun match outside, he took off after a grasshopper (and ate it) mid-run, and I was not more valuable than that grasshopper. :( I have a strange challenge though that makes working up to location changes more difficult. I have an American Hairless Terrier, who is totally naked. As a result, he doesn't like to sit or down on things like grass, gravel, dirt, etc. It's physically uncomfortable and sometimes painful depending on the surface. As a result, he has a killer standing "wait" and his startline stay and table are both standing, but this does make it hard to find postion changes to do with him for this distance/distraction training that he needs so badly. Inside, we do sit and down as for position changes, but once we leave the house for harder distractions, I don't want to force him to do it. I think it will send the wrong message of "do this thing that hurts when I tell you to."

[@wendyanderson8169]

Thanks so much for this video, there is so much information in here that I'll have to rewatch a few times. I'm going to go back to the podcasts you mention and re-train Down and Stand. My dog (coonhound) seems to do almost everything in slow motion, like a cartoon lazy hound dog. I'd love a video on a quick sit at distance! Appreciate you and your team so much, Susan, making this help available to us

[@DogsThat]

@wendyanderson8169, thank you for such a lovely note! A great one to start with is shaping a down on a bed, here's the video for you - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmTdaGmGdt9sd6c And we have a playlist all about sit - kzbin.info/aero/PLphRRSxcMHy2Hq4zfUmUf5VKNGAn3gwsD Have fun with it!

[@PamelaMcCoy-tf5tg]

Susan thank you for this reminder of how important consistency in your train Is! My dog has turned 5 year of age and he is a smarty pants for sure. How would I teach him not to forge out of position when heeling? I did Rally work with him and a class in tricks which seems I also taught him unwanted behaviors as well. I need to a better leader and intentional trainer.

[@joyfulk9services]

If your continuation marker is "good" and they were in a down, you'd be reinforcing the down if they stayed there, I guess if you used your terminal marker, it would be fine if they got up to come receive their reward. If they get up when they're supposed to stay in a down, how do you purpose clarifying to them that's the incorrect choice? Do they have a leash on for you to place back in position?

[@DogsThat]

Hi @joyfuldogservices8673, thanks for watching! For the foundation nuances of duration positions and creating success for dogs, Susan has a fabulous video to help - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX_Rn6KngceHsM0 Susan also has a blog post with video showing a strategy with a Plan B - susangarrettdogagility.com/2019/05/loose-potatoes/ You might also enjoy Susan's video about location specific reinforcement markers - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4mnpHaaaJ6aebs

[@watchmoivies123]

Thank you very much for this KZbin. It was very educational. I’m wondering when you will do an update on THIS ? Would love to see how she’s doing. I did see a little video of her with the other mixed breed dog doing flyball, but wondered if there was anything else ? thank you very much for your KZbins

[@DogsThat]

Hi @watchmoivies123 here's a clip of This! on our Facebook page from two days ago 😊 facebook.com/susangarrettdogagility/videos/189303487424125/

[@watchmoivies123]

@@DogsThat oh my goodness. She is doing soooooooooooooo GOOD !! Thank you.

[@lyriccairns2889]

I would like a snappy sit!

[@DogsThat]

Hi @lyriccairns2889, super, that is so fun to shape! We have a playlist focusing on sit that covers from the beginning through the layers to help - kzbin.info/aero/PLphRRSxcMHy2Hq4zfUmUf5VKNGAn3gwsD

[@fruitsandfourpaws]

THIS. IS. AMAZING.

[@TheKak933]

I’d love to give my dog a job. She’s a Yorkie mix and learns so fast it’s hard to keep up. This helps!

[@uvatech]

I so enjoy your videos.

[@rachel0080022381]

I was wondering if you had any methods for teaching your dog not to jump on the doors and scratch at them? It’s definitely related to not liking the separation.

[@DogsThat]

Hi Rachel, if you think your dog may suffer separation anxiety, here's a podcast for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKOQooWBd6iDi6c

[@Lilithliin]

This is wonderful thank you for all you do for us, lots of cookies.

[@DogsThat]

Glad you liked the video, cookies for you too! 🍪🍪🍪

[@HamishBlank]

So good, thank you for this!!

[@adaszpakowska9384]

Hi you mentioned 5 release cues, but you listed only break, search and get it. What are the other 2?

[@calvingodinho]

Thank you for this video, definitely joining team distraction 😊

[@cynthiabriceno6758]

I would like to learn how to teach a quick sit to my 7 month old puppy.

[@DogsThat]

Hi Cynthia! Here's a video for you and your pup: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0 Happy training!

[@halliejohnson3782]

WOULD LOVE THE SNAPPY SIT COMMAN TRAINING MENTIONED ABOUT

[@DogsThat]

Hi ! Here's the sit training video for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0 Happy training!

[@delenngrey]

Where can I find the list of 50 distraction ideas? The link in your pinned comments does not work. I would really love to have this list. Love this series! Thank you, Susan for changing my life and the lives of my dogs.

[@DogsThat]

Hi @delenngrey, thanks for letting us know! Here's the link, and we've updated our pinned comment - dogsthat.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Susan-Garrett-Controllable-Distractions-For-Foundation-Dog-Training.pdf

[@delenngrey]

@@DogsThat Terrific! Thanks so much!

[@rondagibson4343]

I would love a snappy sit

[@DogsThat]

Hi Ronda, here's help with getting a great sit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0 Happy training! 🐾

[@user-cx4jq3fu2u]

We promote what we permit

[@LilacTeaq]

Hey! I love this video so much it was full of great tips to train my dog! But at the start you were talking about training the dog to stay in the position it is told but what if they go up? Do I tell them to go do the position again or do I say something like no. Also my dog is only 1 years old and he is a very energetic Maltipoo. How do I make him focus on me even when there’s distractions? He will ignore treats if he saw a squirrel or bike.

[@DogsThat]

Hi, and thank you! Here's a playlist for dogs listening in different environments: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXLImoasabCJpZY Playlist with help for "sit": kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0 Happy training!

[@Oceangirl17]

Would love to see how an efficient and bomb proof sit is taught❤

[@DogsThat]

Hi! Here's lots of help with teaching a sit stay (and more!): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX_Rn6KngceHsM0

[@nancyhooper1742]

❤❤❤❤❤🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪 Happy Canada Day ❤❤❤❤❤

[@bhaskaral784]

Susan I have a question I’m guessing your dogs also get thirsty mid games/training Do you have to ask them if they’re thirsty and offer water or do they just go randomly? My dog shows no interest on me when he’s thirsty and will just go to his bowl randomly and I let him because I think he needs to know that if he’s thirsty or hurt no one’s going to force him to do anything But what’s your suggestion on this?

[@tianamarie989]

If a dog is thirsty they just go get water. They don't forget about drinking water like humans can do. It's instinctual for them. Let them drink. I never ask my dog if they are thirsty. I have two automatic waterers ilon3 inside one outside that replenish as they drink with cold tap water. They drink whenever they need too.

[@kathyweist9236]

So when you cue down or sit, and the dog gets up, how to you get the dog back into thedown or sit ? Do you repeat the cue, or aid with hand signal? TH

[@DogsThat]

Hi @kathyweist9236, Susan has a blog post with video showing a strategy with a Plan B for things like this - susangarrettdogagility.com/2019/05/loose-potatoes/ For all the nuances of duration positions and creating success for dogs, Susan has a fabulous video to help - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX_Rn6KngceHsM0

[@katebrown618]

​@@DogsThat48:08

[@katebrown618]

​@@DogsThat48:08 48:08

[@sherripaynter9825]

Please give instructions on sit

[@DogsThat]

Hi Sherri, we have a playlist with lots of help for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0&pp=gAQBiAQB Happy training!

[@user-yo7yd6zq7h]

How do you get a snappy sit

[@DogsThat]

Hi! Here's the video with ten ways to teach it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0feature=shared

[@anna_murawski]

I have a new dog, she's 2 and a rescue and doesn't really try different behaviours when I have a treat. She sits/downs and then doesn't really try other things lol. She used to be a stray so maybe not used to trying different things. She just looks at the treat or she might even wonder off. Any advice?

[@DogsThat]

Hi @annalm7516, we have a playlist of training games for shaping that you can play with your girl - kzbin.info/aero/PLphRRSxcMHy2TzttCtZVFwzwMGayAsaYe Another playlist covers shaping in depth, starting with emotional state, so that's another great resource for you - kzbin.info/aero/PLphRRSxcMHy2An5_3KqDPqFVV6J6dYsYx

[@susieallen2929]

I am trying to train my tiny rat terrier and it is near impossible this is been going on she will be 2 in January but she has aggressive parking I can't even take her for a walk and I'm visually impaired so it's really difficult if she starts lunging or sounds like she's screaming at whatever she sees enough to make people come out of their houses can you please send me the link for this problem

[@DogsThat]

Hi! Can you please email our team at [e-mail] so they can share the best resources for you? Describe your challenge and what you're seeing in your dog and our amazing team can help 💕💕💕

[@juliebolduc802]

All of this sounds amazing however, how do you get a 4 month old hyper dog (who LOVES FOOD) to sit longer than a minute or two? He watches me and sits, but after a bit, he gets bored. . . I don’t want to repeat myself so I just stand there like an idiot. . .

[@DogsThat]

Hi Julie! We have a playlist that's perfect for you and your pup: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0&pp=gAQBiAQB Happy training!

[@gwensharp6318]

How do I teach my puppy to sit, down, and stand without treats? Please help

[@DogsThat]

Hi! Here's your sit video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0 Down: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2qsiX6rmtx9eqc And here's a blog on Stand: susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/10/train-your-dog-to-stand-on-cue/ Happy training!

[@LIFESaWONDER]

My 3 year old female GSD was coming along nicely UNTIL we ran across a coyote sleeping in the meadow, she gave chase and ALL of her training went out the window. She did eventually come back to us but now she's on the hunt when we walk and is reactive towards dogs we come across. What can we do?

[@DogsThat]

Hi, here's a video with help for your challenge: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGrLiX6CeLBjeck Happy training!

[@crazyldy002]

I have a Sheppard and she is so hard headed it is unreal, she darts out of her kennel but as I open the door she will sit and as soon as I open the door she darts out and starts jumping on me, I have tried everything I know that has worked on past dogs as I have had dogs my entire life. What can I do?????

[@LindsayHaven]

Tough to give advice since you didn't list what you have tried. Definitely make sure your dog gets some great stuff for staying in the kennel, not for coming out. And maybe build duration for staying in the kennel before you open the door all the way. Then add a release word and open the door all the way. Slowly start opening the door wider before giving the release word. Your dog will still come up fast (unless you were amazing at making sure she'd rather stay for the goodies you give her in the kennel). But at least you can get her to stay until you release.

[@DogsThat]

Hi @crazyldy002, there are good tips from Lindsay! Two resources that will really help are the IYC Summit and Crate Games, so here are those links for you. It's awesome you want to help your girl! IYC Summit - recallers.com/iycsummit-join/ Crate Games - get.crategames.com/

[@LindsayHaven]

@@DogsThat Crate games is a great suggestion. It's very affordable and is 💯% going to help you with this question in the first couple of sessions.

[@katebrown618]

Yes to Crate Games. It can perhaps clarify the steps( mechanics) so your criteria for your dog is clear.

[@kayhamilton5943]

Extraordinary information

[@suannepinoniemi6963]

Why go through all of the circus props to stop them from creeping forward. I know, I am a dog trainer of 14 years and I’m aware of the frustrating creep forward irritation. I found by using a mat used for place training (the dog already associates the stay in place routine with the mat), I could take dogs that would stay in place on that mat, give them the down from a distance signal and they that had never done that command before, (providing they already knew the down from a distance signal) were totally successful. Even from the very first time. Try it! It works.