The Yo-Yo Game 

Tools:

Your dog

Flat Buckle Collar/six foot leash

Tug Toy

Method:

Level 1

1.    If you are alone, and it is safe to do so, do this exercise off leash.  Otherwise, hold your leash over one thumb and let the remainder of it hang loosely.

2.   Say “Tug” and offer your dog the toy.  Tug vigorously.

3.   Say “Out” and stop playing.  Make the toy dead, and take hold of your dog’s collar.  Put your tug hand together with your collar hand so that your dog cannot choose to pull away and reengage the game.

4.   When your dog lets go, repeat the first step.

Level 2

1.    When your dog is reliably dropping the tug you can start to add a behaviour in between the end of the last round and start of the next.  Say “out”, wait for your dog to drop the tug and then wait for eye contact.

2.   When your dog makes eye contact, say “tug” and start the game again.