The Dog Training Lure Stick Guide to Efficient Learning

Using a lure stick is a game-changer for dog training, allowing you to efficiently teach your furry friend new tricks.

The key to successful learning with a lure stick is to keep it short, typically 6-12 inches long, making it easy for your dog to follow and grasp.

A well-placed lure stick can capture your dog's attention in as little as 1-2 seconds, giving you a head start on training.

This quick attention-grabbing ability is due in part to the lure stick's design, which often features a soft, flexible material that's easy for your dog to mouth and explore.

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Dog training is all about setting clear expectations and boundaries for your furry friend. This is especially true when using a lure stick.

To start, it's essential to understand that dogs are highly motivated by food and treats, which is why a lure stick is so effective. In fact, studies have shown that dogs can learn new behaviors in as little as 5-10 repetitions with the right reward.

A good rule of thumb is to keep training sessions short and fun, around 5-10 minutes, to keep your dog's attention and prevent frustration. This is because dogs have a short attention span and can get bored or overwhelmed if training goes on too long.

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The lure-and-reward method is a simple yet effective way to train your dog. This method uses a treat to lure your dog into different behaviors, making it a great starting point for beginners.

To get started, you'll need a delicious and motivating treat that your dog can't resist. The treat acts like a magnet for your dog's nose, so wherever their head goes, their body will follow.

For example, if you want your dog to sit, move the treat up and slightly over their head. As they look up at the treat, their rear will fall to the ground.

You can use this method to teach a variety of behaviors, from sitting and spinning to heeling and more. The key is to be consistent and patient with your dog.

To fade the lure, you'll need to repeat the hand motion without any food. Your dog should follow your empty hand the same way they followed the treat. Reward them with another dog treat after they do what you directed.

With repetition and practice, your dog will learn to follow your hand signal alone. You can then add a verbal cue to your training, making it easier to communicate with your dog.

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The criticism was largely based on the idea that dogs should obey commands without being rewarded, but fortunately, the scientific community has since accepted the effectiveness of positive reinforcement training.

A song even emerged from a group of trainers who defended the use of food lures, proudly singing "I Wish I Were a Treat-Slinging Weenie" to the tune of "I Wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Wiener."

The shift in acceptance has been significant, with studies now indicating that positive reinforcement training is not only highly effective but also avoids many of the pitfalls inherent in coercion training, including a significant risk of eliciting aggression from dogs.

If you're new to force-free training, be aware that you're more likely to see "demand barker" behavior in your classes if you don't inform your students on how to avoid it – a simple solution is to not reinforce it and instead reinforce an incompatible behavior.

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Dogs on restricted diets may not have access to high-value treats, but creative trainers can often find effective treats within the dog's allowed food groups, and there are other reinforcers besides food.

To avoid dependency on food lures, consider using the training technique called "shaping" instead of luring, but be aware that shaping requires more patience and skill at observing the dog's body language.

Recommended read: Shaping Dog Training

The Coachi Target Stick is a key accessory for clicker training, allowing you to lure your dog into different positions.

This tool is great for teaching your pet useful day-to-day behaviours as well as advanced tricks. The rubber ball provides a visual target for your pet to focus on and follow.

The target stick can be used to teach your pet movements and body positions from a distance, making it a valuable tool for obedience training. It's also great for teaching complex assistance behaviours, body positioning, and staying still for grooming.

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The Coachi Target Stick is designed to be easy to use, with a soft padded handle that's comfortable to hold. The telescopic design makes it convenient to transport in a pocket or treat bag when not in use.

Here are some benefits of using the Coachi Target Stick for lure and clicker training:

Using a dog training lure stick can be a game-changer for new dog owners, especially those with high-energy breeds.

By incorporating short, frequent training sessions, you can keep your dog engaged and focused. This approach is especially effective for breeds like the Australian Shepherd, which require regular mental and physical stimulation.

To maximize the effectiveness of your training sessions, consider using a variety of lure stick techniques, such as moving the stick in different directions and speeds to keep your dog guessing.

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Varying the pause is a game-changer in training your dog. This simple technique gives your dog more time to process what you're asking of her and more time to offer a response.

You can see this in action by varying the amount of time you pause before luring. This is where your dog might look to the ground or make a slight movement, as if she's saying, "I know I'm supposed to do something, but I'm not quite sure what..."

If you see her do any of those things, it's a clear sign she's thinking and processing the information. Tell her, "Good girl!" and quickly lure her the rest of the way – then click and treat.

Fading the lure is a crucial step in teaching your dog to respond to verbal cues. You need to start by luring as you normally would, moving the treat to the floor.

Most dogs need to see the treat all the way to the floor before they understand what's happening. As you move the treat, watch your dog closely to see when she appears committed to lying down.

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Whisk the treat quickly away parallel to the ground, and hide it behind your back. If she finishes the down, click and give her a treat. If she doesn't finish, bring the treat back out and lure her the rest of the way.

Next time, lure her a little farther toward the floor before whisking the treat away. Continue to vary the amount of time you wait after giving the cue and before luring.

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The Coachi Target Stick is a key accessory for clicker training.

This tool is essentially an extendable stick with a soft rubber ball on the end, providing a visual target to guide your dog.

A 30mm brightly coloured blue soft foam ball at the end of the Target Stick provides a clear visual guide for your dog to follow.

The telescopic design makes it convenient to transport in a pocket or treat bag when not in use, and gives flexible options when training.

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The Target Stick is available in a dominant colour in dogs vision, blue.

The rubber ball provides a visual target for your dog to focus on and follow, so you can teach your dog movements and body positions from a distance.

Here are some key features of the Coachi Target Stick:

The Coachi Target Stick is great for all dogs and puppy training, basic obedience and trick training.