Week 7

[Day 45] Fair and effective - practising the "out" through bartering

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Time to read 6 min

Basic obedience: Day 45 of 56

This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.

Today's training step is about the so-called swap - a tried-and-tested method to help your dog understand the "off" signal. With a swap, your dog learns that it is worthwhile for him to let go of a toy or object when signalled to do so. This technique capitalises on your dog's natural need for "fairness" by linking letting go with a positive reward.

Letting go, especially when the dog has a toy firmly in its mouth, requires more than just a clear instruction. For the dog, it means recognising that he gains an advantage by giving it up. In this way, the "out" signal becomes understandable and valuable to him instead of appearing to him as a "loss". This training step, which we are presenting today, prepares your dog for the controlled release in various everyday situations and helps him to further develop his trust in the signal.

Goal: Your dog releases the toy from its mouth on the signal word "Off"

Equipment: Toys (bite sausage or other Tug Toy), special treats, Harness, Long Leash

Location: Low-stimulus environment

Duration: approx. 5 repetitions with breaks in between


Trainingsplan Downlod

Why a swap deal? The importance of letting go and the dog's opportunism

Bartering is a simple but effective method of teaching dogs to let go of objects. Unlike a simple command, the dog understands that it will receive something in return for releasing an object - such as a special treat or a favourite toy. For many dogs, this is a more natural approach as they see a clear benefit in the action. Bartering as a training method taps deeply into the natural psychology and instinctive behaviour of dogs. Dogs are opportunists by nature - this means that they often strive to maximise their benefit from a situation. Unlike a direct instruction to let go of something, bartering offers the dog the opportunity to decide independently what is advantageous for him. Instead of being forced, he feels the freedom to make a choice and is guided by the immediate reward that awaits him.

Dogs often act opportunistically because they have learnt through evolution to use and protect their resources in the best possible way. An object or toy that the dog holds in its mouth can represent a kind of "resource" for it that it does not want to give up without good reason. Bartering utilises this natural attitude for training: instead of forcing the dog to give up the object, we offer him an even more attractive alternative. The dog recognises that the "loss" of the current object brings a clear gain - be it a special treat that he loves or another high-quality toy. By offering an exchange instead of an instruction, the "out" signal is positively reinforced for the dog. He learns that letting go of an object usually brings a reward or a new opportunity. This principle makes the "out" an attractive, opportunistic decision for him rather than a pure obedience command. At the same time, this makes the training more sustainable: the dog learns to see the "out" not as a loss but as a gain, which strengthens its willingness to voluntarily let go in new, appealing situations.


American Staffordshire Terrier tugging at a tug toy

Psychology of letting go

Dogs often orientate themselves towards immediate rewards and prefer actions that bring them an advantage. From a canine perspective, bartering is therefore seen as particularly positive because it responds to the dog's needs and motivations rather than giving a purely authoritarian message. This is particularly useful because dogs often perceive a toy or object as a "resource" that they want to protect. However, the prospect of a better reward makes the object less important to the dog and he is more willing to give it up.

Common challenges and how to avoid them

Some typical challenges can arise during barter training. Here are some simple tips to help you overcome them:

Frustration beim Training
If the "off" signal is repeated several times and the dog does not react, this can cause frustration on both sides. Therefore, only give the signal once and calmly offer him the reward. Patience is crucial here.

Correct timing
The "off" signal should be given when the dog is holding the toy calmly in its mouth. Do not give the signal during an active game of tugging, as the dog may otherwise resist.

Avoid resource defence
Avoid pressure and encourage the dog to let go voluntarily. Reward the "out" immediately and give him the toy back from time to time. This way, the dog understands the signal as a positive action.

Counteraction principle

Your dog's behaviour when playing tug follows a principle known as the Law of Action and Reaction. This physical principle describes that a force on a body (in this case the dog) causes an equal and opposite reaction. The more pull you exert when tugging, the stronger the dog will resist - this is a completely natural reaction.

In dog training, this reflex often manifests itself in tugging games: If the dog senses a counter-pressure, it will instinctively hold the toy even tighter instead of letting it go. It is therefore helpful to only give the "off" signal when you release the pull and your dog then holds the toy more calmly in its mouth. This makes it easier and more natural for him to let go without automatically encouraging him to hold the toy.

Trainingsplan Downlod

You'll find the perfect equipment with us

Summary

Barter training is an effective way to teach your dog the "off" signal by utilising his natural opportunism and the counter-effect principle. By offering an attractive reward, letting go becomes a rewarding decision for the dog rather than a loss. Targeted timing and the choice of the right toy help to make training stress-free and successful.

In the next steps, the "off" signal is further reinforced with increased stimuli and new situations so that your dog can also apply what they have learnt in more challenging environments. The downloadable training plan contains all the steps and exercises to systematically continue the training.

This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.

The authors: Paulina & Lui

Paulina and Lui are the heart and soul behind Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store]. Her journey in dog training began with the adoption of her first list dog, Vito. This experience sparked her deep interest in teaching other dog owners about dog behaviour and training. Initially this was just a hobby, but with the adoption of the American Pitbull Amalia, who had been relinquished several times due to severe behavioural problems, her passion developed into a true vocation. Amalia's particular behavioural challenges intensified her interest in dog training and behavioural therapy. This turning point led Paulina and Lui to leave their original career paths, undergo intensive further training and dedicate themselves entirely to the subject of dog training. Their work with human-dog teams also revealed a gap in the dog market: there was a lack of safe, high-quality dog accessories specifically for medium-sized and large breeds.

From this realisation, Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store] was born, a combination of their commitment to professional dog training and the need for quality dog accessories. Paulina and Lui bring their personal experience, extensive knowledge and passion for dogs to every product to help human-dog teams live together.

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