GO HUNT - An RCT Technique
Create authentic engagement with your dog when and where you need it!
Connection and engagement are so important to our relationships with our dogs. But sometimes, we slip out of connection.
How to get it back?
GO HUNT is the answer!
GO HUNT teaches the dog that there is great value in trusting you to lead you both to a delicious treasure. (Well, okay - delicious for the dog!)
Easy to learn, simple and fun, GO HUNT has many practical applications. Dogs and handlers find this an enjoyable exercise, and one they are willing to practice often.
GO HUNT uses social and sensory engagement to bring the dog’s full attention and focus to searching for treats with the handler.
This emphasis on a shared and enjoyable activity makes Go Hunt particularly helpful when building or repairing the dog/handler relationship, with adolescent dogs, newly adopted dogs, and reactive dogs. Or just to have fun any time, anywhere.
While fun and easy, GO HUNT is surprisingly powerful in its effects on the dog.
GO HUNT is one of several foundational RCT skills that promote improved handler observation skills, awareness of the dog's thresholds, recognition of body language and behaviors that signal arousal shifts, and identification of training situation vs. management moments.
All that, wrapped up in a treasure hunt with your best friend!
Suitable for any age dog, Go Hunt is force-free and 100% positive. While it looks like pure fun, Go Hunt has some seriously terrific benefits! (No need to tell the dog - just enjoy the game!)
Authentic engagement with your dog - this is a shared activity
Your dog will think you are smarter (after all, the elves apparently only gave YOU the map to the treasure)
Shared SEEKING activity and the AHA! moments for a wondeful dopamine boost!
Ideal for managing arousal - channel that excitement into a productive "hunt" with you
Builds connection, and helps you re-connect if the dog has disconnected
Can be applied almost anywhere - at home, out and about, in class, in triggering situations (for reactive dogs), and just for the joy of connecting!
GO HUNT Basics
Using GO HUNT for Management
GO HUNT Teaching the Concept
WATCH: Hazel Learns Go Hunt
GO HUNT STEP 3 Prepared Hunts
GO HUNT STEP 4 On the Fly
GO HUNT Step 5 Here & Now
GO HUNT - Some Applications
GO HUNT for Car Chasing
DOWNLOAD GO HUNT - How-To
QUIZ GO HUNT
BONUS - free GO HUNT e-book (PDF format)
Help us spread the word!
Download the GO HUNT e-book, which puts all of the course materials into a handy-dandy reference for you.