How to teach left and right?

swissem · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:48 am Post subject: How to teach left and right?

How do I teach my lab left from right?

Do I walk with her on the lead and every time I turn left say the word left? And keep doing this untill she gets it? Not sure how else I would teach it. Any ideas anyone?

Very Happy

Basil · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:35 am Post subject:

what do you want her to know it for (that may help the way I suggest to teach it ).

Usually a hand signal works fine, start by placing a toy or treat on one side of you, then turn your body (especially feet and eyes as dogs respond natrually to that) and an outstretched arm towards the toy/treat then use a command she knows (ie take it / touch /fetch whatever) and reward her with praise for following your arm signal

Eventually replace that command with 'out' or 'left' and 'right' and stretch her with two toys either side of you etc.
We just use out and the hand signal shows which way. There's little point teaching left and right as our left is their right (if they're facing us )

Smile

swissem · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:46 am Post subject:

When we go on walks in the woods she normally walks up ahead and looks back at me when we come to a crossroads, as to say..'which way are we going now'.

I just thought it might be handy to tell her left or right. It's for nothing much really. Just looking for something new to teach her as she knows all the basics like sit, stay, fetch, give paw and down. Very Happy

Basil · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:52 am Post subject:

ok, in that case it's similar to teaching gundogs 'out' on a retrieve as she takes her direction from looking at you (so opposite)

It's easiest to use the same word for both left and right, so 'go' or 'out' or 'follow' or whatever and teach her to follow the hand signal as above (I put it a bit over simplified but you get the gist).
You basically hold you arm outright - but moving your feet and head/eyes the direction you want her to move does also help initially as dogs 'point' with their feet and head not their legs so they understand that piece of obdy language already Very Happy

Once you have pracitced the basic direction as above at home and you try it on a walk you might want to think of a way to reward it initally so she knows she's followed your arm signal correctly - this could be just hollering good girl or it could be throwing a ball over for her once she's taken your direction.

swissem · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:58 am Post subject:

great that sounds good. I will give it ago.

Thank you. Very Happy