teaching a dog left and right commands?

[g_lou]

does anyone know the best way to teach a dog the left and right command?

i want to train my dog this as we are startin agility and its something they ask you to train your dog.

many thanks

Lou x

[bookmom]

I don't think you teach "left" and "right," you teach them to watch your hand/fingers to see where you are pointing.

If you are starting classes they should be integrating this with other instruction to get the dog to hit certain targets.

[arkpudel]

My husband uses rights and lefts (it requires too much brain activity at once for me, though)- This is how he taught her:

Start with the dog on the left. Give the command "left" at the same time throwing a toy or a ball STRAIGHT out to your left side. Once the dog has the idea, then start giving the command, waiting for your dog to start to turn, and using the toy as a reward.

Work both sides this way, but only work one side in a session. So, maybe do lefts at breakfast, rights at dinner.

Good luck!

[Ivy L]

I actually taught my husky left and right. It will take some time though. Try the gentle leader. It goes around their muzzle, and it pulls there head, not hard though. put the leash on, and when walking, say Left, and pull the leash left, and their head will go that way. Do the same with right, and eventually, they'll associate the word, with the direction.

[bassetnut]

Do you mean to turn left and right, or to be on your left and right side?

Didn't the instructor show you how?

[May Domainee]

i would keep your dog on leash and walk past an obstacle, each time saying a different command "right" or "left" and then going the correction direction. when your dog starts going the correct way before you get there then you'll know he's catching on.

EX: use telephone poles when you're out for a walk.