Beginning Flatwork

1. Push the back and run away in a straight line. You are looking for the dog to come to the same side you left them on and not cut behind you. If your dog catches you too quickly, you can work this from a restrained recall or you can toss a piece of food behind your dog and take off running as they go for the food. 

2. Have your toy in your opposite hand and bring it down to reward before they catch you, dragging it across your feet to encourage them not to forge ahead or cut behind you. 

You are encouraging a game of chase. Think fun, dynamic, explosive. This is not an obedience exercise where they match your speed. 

After a session or two where they are driving nicely to correct side, you can start to add a bit of an arc. End goal is running in a circle, but we add the arc gradually to maintain the chase and build the understanding of coming to the correct side. 

Work towards running in a full circle as fast as you can with your dog on the outside trying to catch you. Make sure your dog does not cross behind you. If he crosses behind you, you may need to go back to working just the arc a bit more. 

If your dog is too fast and continues to overrun you, just run a smaller circle so you can stay ahead. Add in some changes of direction with an introduction to front crosses by turning into your dog and running back the way you came.