"Come Around" Tutorial (Patreon)

Hey Folks! 

I had a client who needed a come around tutorial, so I figured I would make a short video and post it for everyone! 

"Come Around" is an alternative to "Come to Heel"  . I like to use it in elevators, when I can't move my feet, or for any other reason that I want my dog to move from somewhere in front of me, to my left hand side (or train it in the reverse direction for your right side). 

Pre-requisites: Dog knows a front foot target and a hand touch and can follow a food lure and soft lure (hand motion, no food in it). 

Setup: Front foot target in line with your leg. 

Steps: 

1. With treats in both hands lure dog from in front of you with your right hand, around your back. Mark and reinforce. 

2. Then switch the dog to eating the food out of your left hand, luring them onto the front foot target. If your dog has a solid front foot target, they will likely put paws on target without much luring. 

3. Repeat until your dog is easily able to move around your body to the target. 

4. With a treat only in your left hand, use your right hand as a soft lure, motioning behind your back. When they hit the foot target, mark and reward. 

5. Repeat until a small motion from you sends the dog behind you and to the target. 

6. Remove the foot target. You will now temporarily use your left hand target to ensure your dog doesn't overshoot the left hand position. 

7. Once your dog is moving around your back to left hand position with your hand signal, start adding the verbal "come around" (said almost as one smooshed word) right before you give the hand signal. 

8. Repeat until the dog is proficient and then work to eliminate the hand cue and hand target. 

Happy Training!