Training your dogs to empty the washing machine isn't just a cool trick, it is an important task for service dogs who have owners that cannot do this activity on their own. Dogs are extremely intelligent creatures that are willing to please, so if you teach them that unloading the washing machine makes you happy they are more than happy to assist. It may not be an easy trick, but once it is done right it can help those with disabilities in ways they would not be able to function.
This training should be done in reverse. The dog should begin to learn how to place clothes in the basket before learning how to empty the washing machine.
Placing clothes in the basket:
Sit right in front of your empty basket with a pile of laundry and some treats. Make sure your dog is sitting on the other side of the basket. Pick up a small item of clothing and hold it over the basket and get your dog to take it. Once they have the piece of clothing, offer them a treat right near their face so they drop the item into the basket below. Once they drop the clothes, immediately reward them with the treat. If he does not drop it, pick up another piece of clothing and try again. Repeat until your dog has successfully completed over five consecutive lured clothing drops[1].
Begin to distance the treat from your dogs face as they continue the drops until your hand at your side. Next, you will need to fade you handing the clothing to your dog. Begin by picking up an item, but hold it closer the pile near the basket. Reward him every time he takes it from you and puts it in the basket. Hold the laundry closer to the pile, eventually just holding your hand over the pile waiting for them to pick up a piece without instruction. Then start fading out the hand motions replacing them with a cue (i.e. “basket!”). Every time he picks up an item and places it in the basket, reward and praise them. Add a distance between the pile of laundry and the basket and continue the cue to put the laundry in the basket, rewarding continuously. The next step is to spread the laundry onto the floor, adding distance and including other rooms. Repeat the process until your dog follows the cue throughout your home[2].
Emptying the washing machine:
Put treats on the edge of the machine so that your dog begins to achieve a positive association with it. Put the treats closer to the inside of the washing machine, once they stand with their body half inside the washing machine, continue to throw treats into it. When they show confidence stepping in the machine, start putting the treat further towards the back of the machine, depending on the size of the dog, this may require them to get into the washing machine[3].
Once they are comfortable, begin by putting a laundry item close to the washing machine and having them fetch it and put it into the basket directly below the machine. Slowly put the item onto the washing machine and then further into it – reward them as they retrieve and drop it into the basket. Make sure to increase the size of the items as you go, and finally increase the number of items in the machine, until they are emptying a full load into the basket – praise them enthusiastically once they have complete the exercise[4]. Practice this until you are confident in your dogs training, then begin to fade out the lure and change it with a cue, such as “put it away!”, that will let them know to fetch it and from the washing machine[5].
[1] Wag!. Nd. How to Train Your Dog to Pick Up Laundry. Available from: https://wagwalking.com/training/pick-up-laundry (Accessed 20 April 2020) [2] Wag!. Nd. How to Train Your Dog to Pick Up Laundry. Available from: https://wagwalking.com/training/pick-up-laundry (Accessed 20 April 2021) [3] Hill, D. 2013. Unloading the Laundry (Dryer) for Assistance Dogs Part 3. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ4x8SRHPsI (Accessed 20 April 2021). Time Stamp: Full video. [4] Hill, D. 2013. Unloading the Dryer (Dog Doing Laundry) Part 4. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piTYGYMMswE (Accessed 20 April 2021). Time Stamp: Full video. [5] Hill, D. 2013. Unloading the Dryer (Laundry for Service Dogs) Part 5. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgS82Mm6U1Y (Accessed 20 April 2021). Time Stamp: Full video.
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