How To Teach ‘Go Around’: The Best Distance Command For Hikers

On a well-maintained path, walking with your dog is straightforward. But the reality of hiking often involves narrow passages, unexpected obstacles, and sensitive environments. The ‘Go Around’ command is a versatile solution to numerous common trail challenges, empowering you to guide your dog with precision and foresight.

Key Scenarios Where ‘Go Around’ Excels:

• Hazard Avoidance: The most obvious benefit is steering your dog clear of danger. This can include patches of poison ivy, broken glass, sharp rocks, or unstable ground. Instead of a frantic recall or a leash pull, a calm ‘Go Around’ directs them on a safer path.
• Obstacle Navigation: Large puddles, fallen logs, and dense thickets can block the trail. This command allows your dog to find a clear path without getting stuck, dirty, or tangled, which is especially useful when you are navigating a different line yourself.
• Trail Etiquette: When encountering other hikers, mountain bikers, or equestrians on a narrow trail, ‘Go Around’ can be used to move your dog to one side, creating space and demonstrating responsible pet ownership. It is a polite and effective way to manage interactions without needing to shorten the leash entirely.
• Leash Management: For those who hike with their dog on a long line, tangles around trees, rocks, and trail signs are a constant frustration. Teaching your dog to ‘Go Around’ the object on cue can prevent these snags, saving time and maintaining a pleasant hiking rhythm.
• Wildlife Encounters: Directing your dog to go around a snake, a porcupine, or even a deer carcass on the trail can be a life-saving application of this command, preventing dangerous or unwanted interactions.

Ultimately, mastering ‘Go Around’ builds your dog’s confidence and problem-solving skills. They learn to look to you for guidance when faced with an environmental question, reinforcing your role as a trusted leader. This level of communication elevates your partnership from simply sharing a walk to functioning as a cohesive team in the wilderness.

Before you begin teaching a new command, especially one that involves distance and direction, it is crucial to set the stage for learning. A solid foundation of basic obedience and the right equipment will dramatically accelerate the training process and reduce frustration for both you and your dog.

Prerequisite Skills:

Ensure your dog has a reliable understanding of a few key concepts before you start. While not strictly mandatory, having these in place will make teaching ‘Go Around’ much smoother:

• Target Training (e.g., ‘Touch’): A dog that knows how to touch an object (like your hand or a target stick) with its nose already understands the concept of interacting with specific items in its environment. This can be a building block for directing them toward and then around an object.
• Positive Association with Objects: Your dog should be comfortable and curious about new objects. Use positive reinforcement to build their confidence around cones, boxes, or other items you might use in training.
• Strong Engagement: Your dog should be able to focus on you and the training task for short periods without becoming overly distracted. Begin training in a low-distraction environment like your living room or backyard.

Essential Training Equipment:

Having the right tools on hand makes the process more efficient and effective. You do not need expensive gear, but these items are highly recommended:

• A Long Line (15-30 feet): This is non-negotiable for teaching distance commands safely. It allows your dog the freedom to move away from you while ensuring you maintain control and can guide them if they get confused. Avoid retractable leashes, which do not offer the same level of control.
• High-Value Treats: These should be small, soft, and extra-special treats that your dog loves. Think small pieces of cooked chicken, cheese, or commercial training treats that are more enticing than their everyday kibble.
• A Clicker (Optional): A clicker is a powerful tool for marking the exact moment your dog performs the correct behavior. If you are not familiar with clicker training, you can use a verbal marker word like ‘Yes!’ instead.
• A Target Object: Start with a large, stable object that your dog can easily see and move around. A traffic cone, a large cardboard box, a sturdy chair, or even a prominent tree in your yard are all excellent choices.

This training process is broken down into progressive steps. Master each step before moving to the next, and keep your training sessions short and positive—around 5-10 minutes is ideal. The goal is to build your dog’s understanding and confidence gradually.

1. Step 1: Introduce the Object and Lure the Motion

   Start in a low-distraction area with your dog on a regular 6-foot leash. Place your target object (e.g., a cone) on the ground. With a high-value treat in your hand, lead your dog toward the cone. As you approach it, use the treat as a lure to guide your dog’s nose around one side of the cone. As soon as they complete the arc around it, click or say ‘Yes!’ and give them the treat. Repeat this 5-10 times, luring them around both the left and right sides of the object.

2. Step 2: Add the Hand Signal

   Once your dog is fluently following the treat lure, begin to transition to a hand signal. Use a large, sweeping arm motion in the direction you want them to go around the object. Initially, your hand will still have the treat in it (acting as both lure and signal). As they begin to understand, start making the hand signal first, then use the treat lure if they need help. The sequence becomes: Hand Signal -> Lure if Needed -> Dog Moves Around Object -> Click/Yes! -> Treat.

3. Step 3: Introduce the Verbal Cue

   When your dog reliably responds to the hand signal alone, it’s time to add the verbal cue. Say your chosen command, ‘Go Around,’ clearly and once. Immediately follow it with the hand signal you’ve been practicing. When the dog completes the action, click/Yes! and reward enthusiastically. The new sequence is: ‘Go Around’ -> Hand Signal -> Dog Moves Around Object -> Click/Yes! -> Treat. After many repetitions, your dog will begin to associate the verbal cue with the action.

4. Step 4: Fade the Hand Signal and Increase Distance

   Now, start to test the verbal cue alone. Say ‘Go Around’ without giving the hand signal. If your dog hesitates, give a smaller version of the signal to help them. When they succeed on the verbal cue alone, give them a ‘jackpot’ reward (multiple treats). At the same time, switch to your long line and begin to gradually increase your distance from the object. Start by standing just a few feet away, then five, then ten, sending them to ‘Go Around’ the object from further away.

5. Step 5: Generalize to New Objects and Environments

   A command is only useful if it works anywhere. Once your dog can reliably ‘Go Around’ your initial training object in the backyard from a distance, start practicing with different objects. Use trees, park benches, light poles, or backpacks. Start each new object at a close distance and work your way back up. Then, begin practicing in new, slightly more distracting environments, like a quiet park, before eventually trying it on a calm hiking trail.

Even with a perfect plan, you may encounter challenges during the training process. This is normal. The key is to identify the issue and take a step back to a point where your dog was successful. Avoid getting frustrated, as this will only create a negative association with the command. Here are some common problems and their solutions.

Expert Tip: Always end your training sessions on a high note. If your dog is struggling, ask for a simple behavior they know well, like ‘sit,’ reward it generously, and then end the session. This ensures they always finish with a feeling of success.