How to Train a Puppy to Play Connect the Dots

In a room or out in the yard, set up your markers. Use different colors or shapes for each marker and make sure there is at least several yards between each one. Then hide a treat or a toy underneath each one. The trick is to make sure there is enough distance between them so your puppy doesn’t get confused.

Now secure Cooper to a leash and take him to the first marker/dot. Issue a verbal cue for the first dot, such as ‘one’. Give it in an up-beat voice and give it just as you get to the marker. Then ensure that he quickly finds the treat.

Once you’ve given him some verbal praise, you can then head to the second dot. But this time give a ‘two’ instruction just as he gets there. Again, ensure that he gets the treat and some verbal praise when he gets there.

Now you need to go back to the first line and start again. Stick to just a couple of dots the first couple of days, as you want to get him familiar with the commands for each dot. Then the next time you can go out, go to the third dot, using a new command. The trick is to gradually increase the number of dots he can connect.

Keep practicing over many days until he understands all the dots and respective commands. You can then start getting him to connect the dots in different patterns by using the verbal cues. Once he gets really good, you can then slowly phase out the treats too.

The first thing to do is to get your puppy used to playing fetch. Throw a ball in the yard and encourage him to return to you by holding up a tasty treat. Then when he returns, give him the treat and some praise. Practice this until fetch is his new favorite game.

Now head out into the yard and lay down some markers as dots. Then have one friend or family member stand at each dot. Ensure they each have a treat or another reward. Start with just a few dots to begin with.

Now throw the ball from the first dot to the person on the second dot. Make sure the person on the second dot is holding up a treat or another reward so Cooper stays at their feet. When they release the ball you can then give him a tasty reward. Now throw the ball from the second dot to the third dot and repeat the same steps.

Over the next few days, increase the number of dots you use. Ensure there is a person waiting with a treat each time. Soon enough your puppy will be in the habit of running and connecting each dot.

Once he is familiar with the game, stop giving him a reward at each point. This time, run alongside Cooper as you go and point at each dot so he stops there before moving onto the next one. Then simply give a reward at the end. Continue to practice this and before you know it Cooper will actively run from dot to dot all on his own.

A clicker is a brilliant way to signal to your dog when he's done something correctly. Therefore, it can speed up the training process by letting him know when he's on the right track. So start clicking whenever he performs a behavior correctly.

Now in a large room or yard, lay out some dots/markers. Use brightly coloured objects that either have a different shape or smell, so your puppy can distinguish between each one. Place a treat under each one.

Now walk steadily from the first dot to the second. Look at Cooper and whisper to keep him following you. If he gets distracted too easily, you may want to consider keeping him on a leash to begin with.

Once you and your puppy get to the second dot, click to let him know that he did something right, even if he doesn’t know what yet. Then let him have the treat. Now you can walk to the next dot and click again and give him a treat.

By now he'll know he needs to connect each dot to hear that click and get a reward. So simply point to the first dot and whisper and he'll quickly start connecting the dots on his own. Make sure you click to let him know that he's gone in the correct order. Not clicking if he gets it wrong will let him know that he needs to go back and try again. Simply practice regularly and be ready with treats until he masters the pattern and can connect the dots like a doggy pro.