A Typical Tuesday in the City: You're walking your reactive dog down a city sidewalk, feeling good about how things are going. Your dog is engaged with you, you've got your treats ready, and you're all set to apply the counterconditioning exercises your trainer recommended. Everything seems to be under control.
Then, as you approach another corner, it happens—your friendly neighbor and their dog, tethered to a 15-foot retractable leash, come blasting around the corner. Suddenly, they're way too close, closing the gap to within 10 feet of you and your reactive dog. There's no time to perform counterconditioning as planned. You can see it coming: if you don't act fast, your dog is going to spiral into a whirlwind of lunging, barking, and chaos.
What do you do in a moment like this? How do you handle those surprise, up-close encounters with triggers that send your dog over threshold? And how can you apply counterconditioning when walking through your busy neighborhood feels like navigating a minefield of unexpected triggers?
The answer lies in teaching a move-away cue. This skill is the secret to managing these situations, allowing you to create immediate distance and help your dog feel safe, remain under threshold, and still benefit from counterconditioning. It's a simple but powerful tool that can be the difference between a reactive episode and a calm recovery—a win-win for both you and your dog.
It might seem simple enough to teach your dog a move-away cue, but you're probably thinking: What if my dog is already over threshold? How will they respond to any cue when they're already launching into full-blown bark mode?
Here's where the magic of classical conditioning comes in. Instead of teaching a traditional cue that your dog needs to think about and choose to follow, we're going to create something more like your dog's automatic response to hearing the treat bag crinkle. You know that instant head-snap and sprint toward the kitchen? That's the kind of reflexive response we're after.
By pairing the move-away cue (such as “hurry!") with classical conditioning, you create a cue that becomes so deeply wired that when your dog hears it, their muscles will fire, their body will pivot toward you, and they'll start moving away before their brain even registers what they're reacting to.
This isn't about giving treats for good behavior after the fact—it's about programming an automatic response, like a safety ejector seat for stressful situations. The goal is to create a cue that bypasses your dog's conscious thought process entirely, giving you a reliable escape route when you need it most.
Think about the last time someone unexpectedly tossed something at your face. Before you had time to think "Oh, an object is flying toward me, I should probably move my hands up to protect myself," your arms were already in motion. That's a reflex—your body's automatic response system jumping into action before your conscious mind catches up.
That's exactly what we're aiming to create with the move-away cue. Just like your hands instinctively shoot up to protect your face, we want your dog's body to automatically pivot and move away from triggers when they hear the cue. Through careful classical conditioning, we're installing what amounts to an emergency escape button in your dog's brain—one that works even when their conscious mind is preoccupied with reacting to that annoying skateboard or overexcited Golden Retriever across the street.
Here's where it gets really cool: as soon as your dog starts moving away from the trigger, their emotional overwhelm begins to drop. Once you've created enough breathing room—say, 20 or 30 feet—you can smoothly transition into continuing your counterconditioning work by breaking out the treats. So what started as a potential disaster actually becomes a successful training rep, where your dog learns that seeing something scary can lead to tasty snacks. In this case, counterconditioning is still happening—your dog sees the trigger, you create enough distance to ensure they feel safe, and then they receive food.
How to Teach Your Dog the "Hurry Away" Cue
Ready to turn "hurry away" into your secret weapon? Let's break down this surprisingly simple training process. We'll start indoors where your dog can focus without distractions—think of it as laying the groundwork for your future ninja escape moves.
Set the Stage: Grab your dog's absolute favorite treats (we're talking the good stuff—diced chicken breast or whatever makes their tail go into hyperdrive) and place them in a small container on a counter or table.
Get the Party Started: Position yourself a few feet from the counter and call your pup over. Give them a single piece of chicken—consider this their invitation to the greatest game they'll ever learn.
Drop the Magic Word: Here's where it gets fun. Let your hands hang naturally at your sides (no pointing or gesturing!) and say your chosen cue—"hurry!"—in your best "something awesome is about to happen" voice.
Make It Rain Treats: After a one-second pause (timing is everything!), grab five pieces of chicken and start the treat party. Pro tip: Break these pieces even smaller and stretch out the feeding to about 20 seconds. This isn't just snack time—you're building a powerful association between the cue and good things.
Reset and Reload: Give your dog about 30 seconds to process what just happened and get ready for more. Their brain is busy making connections, so don't rush it. Then do the whole sequence two more times.
Stick to the Schedule: Practice this ritual twice daily—morning and evening—for two weeks. Think of it as your dog's breakfast and dinner entertainment for the next 14 days. Trust the process; we'll level up after that.
Taking Your "Hurry Away" Show on the Road
After two weeks of indoor practice, you and your dog have mastered the basics—now it's time to take this show on the road! Don't worry, we're not jumping straight into dodging triggers yet. Think of this as your dog's field trip to practice their new favorite word in the great outdoors.
Gear Up for Adventure: Head out on your usual walk route, armed with your treat pouch and a dog who's ready to discover that their indoor game works outside too!
Pick Your Moments: Look for those sweet spots when your pup is in a learning mindset—maybe they're checking in with you or just casually taking in the scenery. Skip the moments when they're deep in sniffing detective mode or fixated on that squirrel who's clearly up to no good.
Drop the Magic Word: When the moment feels right, deliver your "hurry!" cue with the same enthusiasm you've been using indoors. Then unleash the chicken bonanza from your treat pouch, feeding small pieces for 20-30 seconds. Think of it as a surprise party for your dog's taste buds!
Keep It Cool: After the treat party ends, return to your leashed walk as you were previously.
Rinse and Repeat: Sprinkle 5 of these practice sessions throughout each walk. You're building your dog's confidence that "hurry" means good things are coming, whether they're in your living room or exploring the neighborhood.
Stick with this outdoor practice for one week. By the time you're done, your dog should be convinced that "hurry" is their lucky charm—a guaranteed ticket to tasty treats no matter where they hear it. Once this foundation is rock solid, you'll be ready to level up.
Level Up: Turn "Hurry Away" into a Fun Chase Game!
Now that your dog's ears perk up every time they hear "hurry" on walks, it's time to add some pizzazz to this safety skill. We're going to transform it into everyone's favorite childhood game: Catch Me If You Can! This upgrade turns your emergency escape cue into an exciting chase that'll have your dog zooming after you like you're made of bacon.
Surprise Sprint: Start with your usual "hurry" cue, but here's the twist—when your dog turns toward you, channel your inner track star and dash away! Let them chase you for about 20 feet before stopping to deliver their chicken.
Practice Where It Matters: Time to rehearse your new moves in places where you might actually need them:
Play the corner game: As you approach a corner, toss out your "hurry" cue, spin around like a ninja, and lead your personal furry security detail to safety.
Master the street crossing shuffle: Use "hurry" to make crossing streets feel like a fun getaway rather than a boring walk.
Perfect the doorway dodge: When apartment doors creak open, turn it into an opportunity for a swift and playful escape.
Keep It Positive: Remember, we're not just teaching an escape plan—we're creating your dog's favorite game show where they always win! The more fun they have practicing, the more reliable this behavior becomes when you really need it.
Mix It Up: Sprinkle these practice sessions throughout your walks like confetti—keep your dog guessing when the next fun chase might begin. This unpredictability is your secret sauce for building a lightning-fast response when it counts.
Your New Superpower: Ready for Action
And there you have it—your complete guide to transforming a simple word into a powerful tool that keeps your dog under threshold, even when the unexpected happens. By following these steps, you've equipped your dog with a reflexive response that's like having an emergency ejector seat for those "too close for comfort" moments.
When the day comes to use your "hurry away" cue in a real surprise encounter, you'll be amazed at how smoothly it works. Just remember: patience and consistency are your best friends here. The more you practice during peaceful moments, the more reliable this tool becomes when you really need it.
Here's a pro tip: resist the urge to "test" the cue by deliberately creating startling situations. Instead, weave "hurry" naturally into your regular walks, like a fun game that just happens to be your secret weapon. Keep it fresh, keep it fun, and keep it regular—that way, when you need to pull this ace from your sleeve, it'll work like a charm.
Think of counterconditioning as your long-term strategy for helping your reactive dog, and the "hurry away" cue as your trusty sidekick that ensures this strategy can work even in challenging environments. Whether you're navigating busy city streets or dealing with surprise encounters, this cue creates the breathing room your dog needs to process triggers in a more positive way. It's the difference between your dog thinking "Oh no, another dog!" and "Oh look, time for our fun getaway game!"
Remember, every successful use of the “hurry away” cue isn’t just about avoiding a reaction—it’s an opportunity to reinforce positive associations and build your dog’s confidence in navigating the world. With this new tool in your training toolkit, you’re prepared to handle even the busiest streets, turning potential challenges into moments of progress. Here’s to you and your dog taking on the world, one confident step at a time!
Is Your Dog's Reactivity Making Walks Feel Like an Olympic Sport? Are you perfecting your ninja moves to dodge triggers? Developing superhuman reflexes to spot dogs three blocks away? If your daily walks feel more like a episode of "Mission Impossible" than a relaxing stroll, I'm here to help! Whether you need strategies for managing surprise encounters or a solid training plan that doesn't involve wearing a disguise, my services can help transform your walks from chaos to calm. Learn more about working with me by clicking here.
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