Is that dog real?!

Do you know that we use fake dogs in dog training sessions all the time? Stuffed or fake dogs are an incredibly useful training resource for dogs who have a reaction when they see a dog in public. It is also a fabulous resource for working on training around distractions for recall or lead work.

If you put a life-sized fake dog in a walking harness and have someone walk it down the street, the vast majority of dogs who see it from a distance will think that it is real. And so, it creates a wonderful opportunity for both owner and dog to practice encountering real dogs in public, but with a little less stress.

Benefits

The benefit of using a fake dog is that it is often easier for the dog in training to cope with at the outset… although it looks like a real dog, we can be 100% certain that the fake dog will not look at the dog in training, or make any noise during the training session. This is super helpful for the dog in training in terms of setting them up for success.

Fake dogs are also great for practicing greetings if your dog has a tendency to rush up to other dogs. I promise that your dog will think it is a real dog until they get to give it a good sniff! Fake dogs also present a great opportunity to practice lead walking past other dogs and recall away from other dogs.

Limitations

Of course, there comes a time when working with real dogs is necessary but you can achieve so much of your dog’s initial training around other dogs by using a fake dog. Give it a try! You can spend a lot of money on life-like fake dogs online, or keep an eye out at the op shops.