Train Without Pain Resource Library

Find It

The behavior teaches a dog to drop his head and search for a food reinforcement on the ground. It also builds a behavior loop in which the dog learns to reorient to the handler.

Why should we learn it?

The find it behavior is useful to redirect your dog’s attention away from another distraction. The behavior is used in classroom settings to keep dogs’ focus away from other dogs. In public, this behavior can be used to teach your dog to turn and move away from other dogs/people and follow you.

Teaching this:

1. Show your dog a food reinforcer, let him smell it and gently toss it underhand across the dog’s field of vision close by.
2. The dog should follow the treat, pick it up and reorient towards the handler.
3. As the dog reorients, toss another treat in the opposite direction.
4. Continue to play until the dog starts getting the idea to quickly chase the food and return to the handler for the next sequence.
5. Add distance, excitement and more handler motion as the dog becomes proficient. Make it fun!

Advanced Training and Application:

Name Recognition:

1. Show your dog a food reinforcer, let him smell it and gently toss the food underhand across the dog’s field of vision close by.
2. Immediately after he picks up the treat, but before he reorients to the handler, say his name. When the dog turns back to the handler, say your marker word and reward with another treat at your side. You are marking the attention or name recognition.
3. An advanced option is to alternate with delivering the reward at your side and delivering it in the form of another “Find It” toss.

Guidance Points:

• Toss Food–low
• Say Name
• Mark Head Turn
• Reinforce at handler leg

Recall: Build a foundation for coming when called.

1. Show your dog a food reinforcer, let him smell it and gently toss the food underhand across the dog’s field of vision close by.
2. Immediately after he picks up the treat, but before he reorients to the handler, say his name. When the dog turns back to the handler, say your marker word.
3. As the dog comes towards you to collect his reward, label the behavior with the word “Come” or “Here.” Reward the dog when he arrives to your side.
4. An advanced option is to alternate with delivering the reward at your side and delivering it in the form of another “Find It” toss.

Training Tips: The best food reinforcers for the exercise are relatively soft treats. Some hard treats roll away too quickly or too far. Experiment with where you deliver the treat in order to strengthen behaviors. For example, deliver the treat at your side, in front of you or behind you while you are walking. Once you are proficient, gradually add distractions and novel environments and locations to make the exercise more challenging and more useful.  Attach a long line to the dog’s collar or harness for added security and flexibility.