[Day 33] Radio training: How to keep your dog close to you at all times
Basic obedience: Day 33 of 56
This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.
Many dog owners want their dog to stay close to them at all times, even when running free or on a Long Leash, and to respond when called. This is exactly where radio training comes in: It helps your dog to maintain a fixed radius around you and improve its orientation towards you. Especially for dogs that are naturally more independent - such as hunting dog breeds or dogs from foreign animal shelters - radio training can be a valuable method for making free running safer and more relaxed. In this blog, we will show you how to build up radio training step by step.
Goal: The dog runs freely and orients itself within the defined radius
Equipment: Harness, Long Leash, treats
Location: Low-stimulus indoor environment, later outdoors
Duration: 5-10min. within a walk
Radio training - Why it is so important
Orientation towards people: A key to freewheeling
When running free or on a Long Leash, your dog's orientation towards you is key to preventing them from getting out of control or running into dangerous situations. Dogs that react strongly to external stimuli tend to move away from their owners - especially if they have a hunting or flight instinct. Radio training ensures that your dog remains responsive even at a greater distance and consciously moves within a radius defined by you.
Orientation is promoted by encouraging spontaneous eye contact and constantly involving the dog when it is running free. Your dog learns that it is worth staying close to you because it has positive experiences there - be it through rewards, games or discovering the surroundings together.
Why a defined radius is important
A defined radius helps your dog to move around more safely when running free and enjoy freedom at the same time. Without clear boundaries, the dog can wander too far and there is a risk that he will encounter dangers such as cars, other dogs or game. The training teaches him that he can move within a certain area where you can control him and he can still explore his surroundings.
For very independent dogs or dogs with a strong hunting instinct - such as some hunting dog breeds or dogs from foreign animal shelters - radius-related orientation is a challenge. They are often used to acting independently and are not dependent on humans. This is where radius training requires patience and consistency, as the dog must first learn to focus on you as the centre of attention. The training will gradually strengthen your dog's willingness to co-operate.
Control and safety with the Long Leash
The Long Leash is an essential tool in radio training, especially at the beginning. It gives your dog enough freedom of movement, but at the same time you have control to ensure that he does not stray too far or run uncontrollably. The dog learns that the Long Leash gives him an invisible boundary that he must not cross. As soon as he approaches the end of the Leash, you give a signal such as "attention" or "end" so that he slows down or orients himself towards you again.
Over time, your dog will internalise this signal and be able to do it without a Long Leash. It is important that you reward your dog every time they orientate themselves towards you, be it with words, a friendly look or the occasional treat. This positive reinforcement will ensure that your dog likes to stay close to you and doesn't constantly try to cross the radius.
Monitoring training progress: backtracking
To make sure that your dog has understood the radio training, you can use backtracking. This involves suddenly turning round and walking in the opposite direction. Your dog should react to this change, orientate itself and return to you. This method shows you whether your dog is really paying attention to you when you are out walking or whether it is focussing too much on its own interests. The more often you incorporate backtracking into your training, the better your dog will learn to pay attention to your movements and signals.
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Summary
Radio training is an excellent way to give your dog more freedom when running free while keeping him within a safe radius defined by you. It strengthens your dog's orientation towards you and gives you more control in situations that could be potentially dangerous. Dogs with a hunting instinct or dogs that have been rehomed benefit particularly from this training. Through patience, clear signals and positive reinforcement, your dog will learn that it is worth staying with you - no matter how exciting the world around him is.
This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.
The authors: Paulina & Lui
Paulina and Lui are the heart and soul behind Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store]. Her journey in dog training began with the adoption of her first list dog, Vito. This experience sparked her deep interest in teaching other dog owners about dog behaviour and training. Initially this was just a hobby, but with the adoption of the American Pitbull Amalia, who had been relinquished several times due to severe behavioural problems, her passion developed into a true vocation. Amalia's particular behavioural challenges intensified her interest in dog training and behavioural therapy. This turning point led Paulina and Lui to leave their original career paths, undergo intensive further training and dedicate themselves entirely to the subject of dog training. Their work with human-dog teams also revealed a gap in the dog market: there was a lack of safe, high-quality dog accessories specifically for medium-sized and large breeds.
From this realisation, Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store] was born, a combination of their commitment to professional dog training and the need for quality dog accessories. Paulina and Lui bring their personal experience, extensive knowledge and passion for dogs to every product to help human-dog teams live together.