How to Train Your Dog to Make an Emergency Stop

How to Train Your Dog to Make an Emergency Stop
Medium difficulty iconMedium
Time icon3-12 Weeks
General training category iconGeneral

Introduction

Have you taught your dog how to stop dead in his tracks in the event of an emergency? What would you do if your dog was just about to run into a busy street? Maybe he has seen a deer or another dog and has started to chase after him. In all of these situations, your dog is at risk of serious injury or worse if you can't get him under control – and do so very quickly. The idea is for you to be able to make your dog stop and drop instantly, using a single verbal command or hand signal at any time, no matter what he is doing.

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Defining Tasks

The command is basically the same as drop on recall, you could use "Drop" or "Stop" and a single down sweeping motion of your hand. It really doesn't matter as long as you teach your dog that he must drop instantly the moment he sees or hears the command. He doesn't even need to know why, just that he must obey immediately. This is a very important command as it could very easily save him from being badly injured, dying, or getting lost.

Training your dog to emergency stop is no more difficult than teaching him to drop on recall. But it will take time and patience, and a large supply of his favorite treats. You can teach a dog of any age this very important command, but it may take longer with younger pups as they are a little more wound up. But if you have already taught your dog to drop on recall, it will go much easier. Remember to give your dog plenty of praise and treats when he gets it right and never punish him when he gets it wrong.

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Getting Started

Teaching your dog to "emergency stop" is a vital skill and one command you need to make sure he knows and will obey without question. To train him properly, you need a plentiful supply of his favorite treats, a great attitude, and plenty of patience. The best place to start training your dog is an open space with very little in the way of distractions such as children playing, other dogs, traffic, and the like. You can add in these distractions once your pup has learned to obey your command without question. Remember, it is just as important for him to obey your verbal commands as it is for him to obey a gesture since he may not always be able to hear you.

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The Assistant Method

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7 Votes

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Most Recommended

7 Votes

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Assistant method for How to Train Your Dog to Make an Emergency Stop
1

Wait

Tell your dog to sit and have an assistant hold him in place giving the command "Wait".

2

Get some distance

Walk away to a distance of approximately 20 to 30 feet then turn and face your pup without making eye contact (If you make eye contact he may run to you).

3

Call

When you are ready, call him to you.

4

Introduce command

As soon as he starts moving, step towards him and give him your choice of commands both verbal and hand gestures (most people use the typical police hand signal for Halt). The mere fact you are coming towards him will make him hesitate (this is a normal reaction).

5

Increase distance

Once he has learned to stop on command, you can start extending the distance until he will stop and drop at any distance no matter which of the commands you use.

The Treats Method

Effective

4 Votes

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Effective

4 Votes

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Treats method for How to Train Your Dog to Make an Emergency Stop
1

Sit

Start with your dog in the sit-stay position.

2

Treat!

Now start tossing treats towards him and let him chase them down. The idea is that he associates your hand being in the Halt position is accompanied with treats being thrown his way!

3

Introduce command

Now that he has become used to seeing this, once he has retrieved the treat give the "Down" command. He should obey immediately in anticipation of another treat being tossed his way.

4

Increase distance

You can vary the distance between you and your dog, stretching it out over time.

5

Practice

Once he is used to your hand signal being accompanied by the "Down" command, he will learn to obey without the need for treats.

The Long Lead Method

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3 Votes

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Long Lead method for How to Train Your Dog to Make an Emergency Stop
1

Walk on lead

Attach your dog to the long line and start taking walks with him.

2

Add command

As you are walking along, suddenly give him the "Down" command. Each time he obeys it, reward him with a treat and plenty of praise.

3

From sitting

Transition to having your dog sit on the long lead while you walk away. Call him to you and command him to "Drop".

4

Increase distance

Each time he does, give him a treat and extend the distance. In time, you should be able to take him off the lead and repeat the process.

5

Practice!

If he doesn't obey the commands after being taken off the long lead, put him back on it and start over again. It may take several attempts over a period of time, but in time he will learn to obey.

Written by Amy Caldwell

Veterinary reviewed by:

Published: 09/26/2017, edited: 01/08/2021

Training Questions

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Training Questions and Answers

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da Vinci

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Lagotto Romagnolo

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One Year

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Question

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I am wondering if I should use a different word than "down" for the emergency stop. He knows down (for him to lie down) and does it rather well but I was thinking the emergency stop need a different word just like the emergency recall. Thanks

Sept. 6, 2022

da Vinci's Owner

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Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

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1133 Dog owners recommended

Hello, You can absolutely teach a different word. "Hault" or "Stop" are a couple of options. Whether it should be a different word or not depends a lot on how you use Down in every day life. If you are very consistent with always enforcing your Down command, then Down can still be used, but if Down is often used as an optional command, like pup is told Down but then if pup doesn't, and you don't feel like enforcing it in the middle of a crowded room of guests, and you don't go over and make sure pup does it every time, then an emergency word that's always enforced would be best. An emergency come is often used because many people use come casually and don't enforce their dog coming every time or they ask their dog to come for something unpleasant like a bath or to leave the park, so an alternative word is needed for Come. With my own dogs, I only have one word for Come but that's because we have done a lot of off-leash work, where I can expect my dogs to respond to come in an emergency. Do whatever is realistically something you know you personally will enforce best. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Sept. 6, 2022

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Kleo

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Pit bull

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7 Months

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Question

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2 found this helpful

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2 found this helpful

My challenge is getting my dog to give his full attention to me. My problem is that I can't teach him simple obedience commands because I can't get his 100% attention. Now sometimes when I do get his attention its not for very long and he will not listen to the commands even if I have his favorite toy or treat? Please help me out!

Aug. 13, 2019

Kleo's Owner

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Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

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1133 Dog owners recommended

Hello Anthony, I would work on building his respect, trust for you and impulse control in general. Expect it to feel a bit chaotic at first while his attention span is still short. Impulse control and respect: Working method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-doberman-to-listen-to-you Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omg5DVPWIWo Crate manners: https://thegooddog.net/training-videos/free-how-to-training-videos/learn-to-train-the-good-dog-way-the-crate/ Thresholds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w28C2g68M Heel article - The turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Heel Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo The above commands use an approach that depends more on your body language, leash pressure, working for life rewards, and spacial awareness - opposed to luring him into positions with treats. when he starts to do better with the above commands and overall focus and listening to you, you can add in lure reward training like the following commands and other things you desire to teach: Sit: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-sit Down https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-to-lay-down Come - Reel In method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall Leave It: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Aug. 13, 2019

Trash ass nigga

June 30, 2020

Dregan M.


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