Dogs are amazing predictors, able to link all kinds of events with meaning! For example, when my lead is unclipped, it’s freedom! When that clip gets put back on, all my fun is done.
This game changes the association your dog has with the lead being clipped or unclipped so that it is not a reliable predictor of what’s going to happen next, and helps reduce the chance of your dog taking off as soon as the lead is unclipped or feeling punished when the leash is clipped back on.
This game has been added to both the predation substitute training and recall programs as it is an important concept for all dogs to learn.