Is there anything cuter than a little dog carrying a little bag? How about a little dog named “Doc” with a signature doctor’s bag? This little guy belongs to a friend of ours who started the dog training game “carry it” as soon as they step foot in her house. Her long-term goal isn’t going viral—it’s Obedience competition. If they achieve a bit of notoriety before they’re ready to earn those titles, it’s a little bit of serendipity. Not to mention bringing a smile to everyone who sees it.
Breaking Down “Carry It!”
There are lots of parts to this game, and all of them deserve attention. If you try to skip steps, you’re building on a slippery foundation. If the dog “loses his place” in the middle but knows all the parts, they can pick up where they left off.
The 5 parts of “Carry It!”:
- Pick It Up
- Hold It
- Move With It
- Go To A Target
- Drop It
None of these parts is alien to your dog; they do them all the time. The difference is doing it when asked, with the object you choose, and taking it to the target you select. You can think of it as turning “Fetch!” into “Put Your Toys Away.”
Part 1: The “Secret Weapon” (Pick It Up)
You can use whatever object you like, as long as your dog is physically able to pick it up. In our classes, we actually use a clean, empty tuna fish can.
While it’s easier to get a dog to pick up a toy, the point of the game is for them to pick up the object you ask them to, even if they don’t care about it. As far as we know, no dog cares about an empty can. Using a low-value object also makes it much easier to get the dog to let go of it later.
- The Method: Put your tuna can on the floor and stare at it.
- The Reward: Reward any interaction your dog displays—looking at it, sniffing it, or pawing it.
- Pro Tip: Reward three or four times near the object, but don’t drop treats in the can.
Note: This step may take more than one two-minute session. That’s okay. Once they catch on, you’ll be able to get them to pick up anything, anywhere.
Parts 2 & 3: Hold It and Move With It
Motion on your part will trigger motion from your dog. As soon as the dog picks up the object, start moving in the direction of your target container.
- The “Oopsy” Factor: Most dogs will drop the object as they follow you. If they do, stop and stare at the object again.
- Encouragement: If they don’t seem to understand, use your voice: “You forgot something!” or “Oopsy, you dropped it!”
- The Win: You’ll know they have this down when they keep hold of the object while taking a step or two toward you.
Parts 4 & 5: The Target and The Drop
Keep the target container very close when you’re introducing the game. You can increase the distance as your dog gains confidence.
- The “Smelly Treat” Trick: If you have trouble getting the dog to let go, have an especially delicious, smelly treat handy.
- The Delivery: Hold the treat directly over the container. When your dog reaches for the treat, their mouth will open, and the object should fall right into the box.
Use All Your Tools
This game uses lots of different aspects of training: persistence, initiative, and modeling. If you’re ever stuck, try to “rephrase” the question. If your dog isn’t being creative, show them how to do it. Let them mimic your actions.
When Hope was teaching her dog Teddy the Ring Stacking game, he just wasn’t catching on. Until, out of a bit of frustration, she picked up a ring, told him “Do it like this!”, and put the ring on the cone herself. Darned if he didn’t do just that on the next try.
Don’t give up on your dog, ever. Just come at the issue from a different angle. You never know what will click into place until it does just that.