Go Wild & Freeze - A fun way to train a dog to have impulse control

[kidowmer]

This is very interesting training...my dogs are pretty excitable..& this will probably do them good! Thanks for sharing...

[supernaturalbc2009]

This is a fun idea. I am wondering if you have any ideas for reinforcing stay (sit stay or down stay) in a similar game approach.

[JakeVomRivergreen]

GREAT GAME! I'm going to try this with Jake.

[dalyamou123]

this is a really cool game. its soooo funny when bandit wanted to play with his toys. lol

[celinha1953]

awesome game!!! 5*

[KRachei]

Looks like a game my four min pins would love to play! Thank you!

[EchoNratty]

Great video & an awesome game :)...I've played a variation of it with Echo back when we first started agility, but used a down instead of a sit...which do you think works better?

[pamelamarxsen]

I really think that it is up to you. You can actually play the game with many different variations if you read all the lovely comments. However, if your dog is really hyper a down might work better, but really it does not matter. The choice is yours. Thank you for your comment! Have a great New Year!

[Trifunovici]

The game sounds great. I will have to try it out with my 2 year old dobie who is full of energy and can be hyper. Will let you know how it goes :)

[BrysonLewis]

I am going to try that with Angel.

Thank you

[1949pink]

Very cool! I'll try this game with my blind dog. Thanks! 5 * Happy New Year!

[newbear95]

Great video! I would like to try this with my dog!

[nickelsmum]

This game was created by trainer September Morn, of Shelton, Washington.

[pamelamarxsen]

Thank you so much! Do you know if she has a youtube site? I will give her props in the video and on the description. THANK YOU!

[nickelsmum]

Pam, I don't know - she doesn't strike me as the video type. She had a website at one time but I think it is down. We may have a site for a published description of the game, but I can't find it yet... will post it if it is found. September is also the behavior/training columnist for Dog Fancy Magazine and writes a lot about training in the specific breed issues.

[pamelamarxsen]

Thank you so much! I already posted what you sent me and will add that about the Dog Fancy Magazine tomorrow. I am beat and need to get some sleep! Thanks again!

[chihuahuabulldog]

I enjoy seeing your videos, both for the pets/stars and the information. Thank you.  Ann

[Adipatus]

Thanks

[hufcar]

Such a great dog  5star video

Happy New year :D

[fickla01]

i love playing this game! I do it with tugging too, but it's also such a nice way to just play with your dog without using a toy! I usually don't add any cue to stop though, my freezing motion becomes it's own cue. i don't know what original source you're refering to, but I first saw the tug version with Susan Garret's video of "bad dog trainers"

[pamelamarxsen]

I totally agree with not using a cue. However, the average dog owner seems to need those cues. hmmmm! I also saw a version of it from the same Susan Garret video, however, this version I did see on the internet somewhere. I really wish I could remember. I feel so bad for not giving them credit!  :)

[ZiptieTheDog]

I will give it a try with my RugRats and give you a video responce back. Thanks!

[kikopup]

This was awesome! Its such a great game to figure out how to interact with your dog in a way that they find fun I will do it this afternoon! Its so tiring trying to be fun for a dog! A great work out! I would add that for dogs that want to bite your hands when you play this game, to work on that issue first before playing this game or start out with toys in your hand for them to play with? What do you think Pam? I know the toys in the had would make it a diff sort of game though...

[pamelamarxsen]

I totally agree that if the dog is biting hands that, that would need to be addressed first. I also agree that they could use a toy and I like that idea a lot. I just don't want people to think they have to play with a toy. :)

[StacyBS]

I like to teach this to families with young kids, so the kids can learn to stop (I add stand up straight and cross arms across chest if necessary) when the dog gets out of control, and the dog learns to sit when the kids stop running around. I have a parent say "freeze" to start off, and have each kid have a treat to reward the dog for the sit (lure if nec.) as well.

[pamelamarxsen]

Super! I am so happy that I put this video out there. I am getting such wonderful ideas of other ways to play it! I use the stand up straight and cross arms if I have to with clients and kids. However, did not really mention it in the video. Thanks for adding that! I do also mention that it is a good idea to have treats for the dog to get them to sit. I might also have them lure the sit if nec. as well! THANK YOU for such a great thought out comment! Have a great day!

[Suffix95]

Wow! This was really useful! So going to use this too!

Also, Bandit is so cute when you say "okay" and he thinks that you give him permission to get his toys, haha. So cute :D

Dogs are so smart! 5*!

- Nenne, Della and Cherie

[pamelamarxsen]

This was actually my first time playing this game with him. I have done it with clients all the time and crazy that I never really did it with my own dog. I really wanted him to play with me during this game and not his toys. We do too much of that. I might not always have a toy. hmmm, I probably would knowing me. HEHE! Thank you for such a sweet comment! I love my little Bandit! :)

[MultiAnimalcrackers]

yes love this game...i like to also include toys and playtime with other dogs into this..i encourage them to get as excited as possible and then shout STOP...great for learning control when two dogs are playing :) as a variation i also use the whistle in a long toot as a STOP COMMAND TOO..when playing. i will run with them then all of a sudden shout or whistle stop and keep running they should have froze instantly. fun game my dogs love it :)

[pamelamarxsen]

See this is what I love, I put a concept out there and I get a ton of ideas to try with my own dogs. I like the variation of using the toys with two dogs playing. I also love that you took it to a level of adding distractions by continuing your movement after saying, stop or in my case freeze. This idea of yours would be great for agility people teaching solid 2on2off contacts. YAY! I love it! Thank you! I am ready to try it! :)

[MultiAnimalcrackers]

yes works well for agility training:) have to say though i do start this game off first calmly by walking with them turning round and raising my hand in a stop sign...as by this time they have already learnt distance work and that the hand signal for sit is a raised arm. i do like to use a word or a whistle cause i also use the STOP/FREEZE for distance work...or emergency situations where they are not looking at me.once they understand the word in a calm state i up the excitment levels :)

[Majoofi]

good game. is there a reason you didn't want bandit to use toys as part of this game? would that be more advanced? harder to freeze with a toy?

[pamelamarxsen]

Great Comment! You can play the game with a toy, but I wanted to show that it is important to play with your dog without toys. One might not always have a toy, but I LOVE that you are thinking of how to take it to another level. Sometimes owners do not know how to play with their dogs by using body language and moving around. Plus, I spend a lot of time playing with Bandit and his toys, I wanted him to play with me. HEHE! THANK YOU for such an awesome comment!!!

[pherob]

It's a great game, it's funny and they love it. It really works out.