THE BUCKET GAME - Considerate Handling & Husbandry For Your Dog

Slow and steady wins the race. It's a saying we all know well but often forget when teaching our dogs to accept handling, grooming or even vet visits.

What if we could do this type of training at our dogs pace, but not just guess the pace, really learn to know what there pace actually is? How slow, and how steady do we need to be?

Let me introduce you to the Bucket Game...

This is a simple yet powerful choice-based training method to help you know when your dog is feeling safe and in control. Developed by Chirag Patel, the Bucket Game gives dogs a way to say to you “I’m ready” or “ nope, I need a little break”.

We train a voluntary response in our dogs which gives them a little agency when doing things like handling and with it provides a clear way for them to communicate comfort levels in a more structured, low-pressure way.

It's a slow and steady wins the race kind of way to make grooming, touch and husbandry practices more ethical, than just traditional forced handling. Follow these steps and watch the video to learn to set it up...

5 Steps to Start the Bucket Game

1️⃣ Look = Reward – Place a bucket of treats at your waist, within sight but out of reach of the dog. Reward your dog every time they look at the bucket and keep four paws on the floor. Do this x 5 times at your waist, x 5 times at your knee, ankle and then on the floor until they reliably focus on the bucket without reaching for it. The criteria is look only.

2️⃣ Increase Waiting Time – Gradually space out rewards so your dog learns to focus for longer. Keep sessions short and successful for both you and your dog.

3️⃣ Introduce Gentle Touch – Practice reaching for your dog and build up to lightly touching your dog (e.g., back, ear) all while they look and fixate on the bucket. If they stay focused, reward! If they turn away, pause and let them reset and try again.

4️⃣ Handling Progression – Slowly increase touch duration and move to different areas (paws, tail, face). Only continue if your dog stays relaxed and focused on the bucket.

5️⃣ Apply to Grooming & Vet Care – Once comfortable, use the game for brushing, nail trims, and vet visits. Your dog learns they are in control, reducing stress and fear!

✅ Why It Works: ✔ Builds trust & reduces fear ✔ Gives dogs a way to communicate comfort levels ✔ Creates stress-free handling for grooming, vet visits & more ✔ Strengthens your bond with your dog.

Working Two Different Dogs At Different Levels Of Training...