One-year-old brindle Pit Bull/Boxer mix Sarah is declared the champion of the Dog Tags Canine Games! In last week’s class our students and dogs enjoyed some friendly competition in a class focused on keeping training fun through games. Each student was paired with a dog of their choice and competed in four games.
First, the dogs and their trainers warmed up with a Puppy Push-ups Competition. A “puppy push-up” is when the dog moves from a sit to a down and back up into sit either on cue or with some additional coaching (or treats) from his trainer. Sarah came in a close second to Australian Shepherd puppy, Tallahassee, with a total of 24 push-ups in a two-minute period.
Next came “Musical Sits”. In this game, which is similar to musical chairs, the last dog to sit when the music stops is “out”, leaving the last dog in the game as the winner. Sarah heated up the competition with a perfect performance that resulted in her first win of the day.
Sarah and her trainer entered the next event, “Longest Stay”, knowing that stay was one of Sarah’s strengths. They easily knocked out the competition with a perfectly focused 3-minute stay.
Last came “The Dot Game”, a canine version of Twister and a test of teamwork between dog and trainer. In this game, colorful dots are placed on the floor. A judge calls out a task such as, “Right paw on green”. The trainer uses luring techniques with treats to guide the dog into position. When the dog gets it right, the dot is removed. The first dog to eliminate all of his dots wins, and the winner again was Sarah!
Sarah has been with the Washington Humane Society for more than nine months and is still waiting for a permanent family. During her long stay, she has participated in Dog Tags, the STEPs program, and the PACK. She’s well on her way to a solid foundation of social skills and basic manners.
Come visit our Georgia Avenue shelter today and meet this special dog!
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