Start in an environment with few distractions (like your backyard)—and have plenty of tasty treats available. In this video, KPA CTP Sarah Kaechele practices the “check-in” behavior on a quiet trail. Sarah’s dog wears a GPS collar as a safety measure, but you can also practice in a fenced-in area or use a long leash. Sarah waits until her dog engages with her spontaneously and then offers praise. To strengthen the behavior, she asks for a recall so that she can pay her dog handsomely. Sarah’s dog is learning that checking in is much more rewarding than following the scent of a critter that may have passed through hours (or days) ago!

For more ideas about how to get started training your dog, check out our blogs and the Dog Trainer Foundations course! The Immersion version of the Dog Trainer Foundations course offers an even more personalized, structured learning experience plus five hours of coaching to help you get to the next step!

Happy Training!