The Emergency U-Turn is a tool you can use when you want you and your dog to quickly change direction together and move away from a person, dog, or other distraction that may be concerning or too exciting for your dog to pass. This behavior utilizes a moving treat magnet and is a safety drill you can practice when you don’t need it so it is easy for both you and your dog when you do.
How to Teach:
- Using your treat magnet, start walking forward, and then slowly turn 180 degrees and continue walking in the opposite direction.
- Practice walking very slowly and start with taking just a step or two before and after the turn.
- If your dog isn’t able to maintain contact with the treat in your hand then slow your steps down to the point where they stay attached.
- Practice turning in both directions.
- As your dog demonstrates they are able to stay attached to the treat magnet moving in both directions you can add duration (more steps) or go a bit faster, as long as you still have your dog’s nose touching your hand/treat.
- Change only one variable at a time (speed or duration) and then work on the other separately.