teaching a release cue
As important as it is to teach your dog basic behaviors such as “sit” and “stay,” it’s equally as important to teach a release cue to let the dog know when he can release from his current position. Not only a useful training tool, a solid release cue can save your dog’s life. Use a release cue before going over a threshold, like through a doorway, out of a crate, or out of a vehicle. A release cue is also extremely useful for dog sports, as it builds a solid start line as well as clarity and confidence for duration behaviors.
To teach the release cue, choose a position that your dog already understands well, such as “sit” or “down,” and give the cue while the dog is in position. The cue can be anything you like, such as “let’s go,” “release,” or even a hand signal. Then entice the dog to get up and come toward you. Click and treat as the dog gets up. When your dog is waiting in position reliably, challenge your dog by doing random things while your dog remains in position until you release him. Once your dog understands the release cue, the opportunity to participate in the next activity becomes the reward!
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