Basic Obedience Commands:
Formal obedience training should begin
when your pup is 4-6 months old without pressure. Use bait (liver
treats) to motivate the proper behavior. Save leash corrections
for "when all else fails" tactics. Remember all dogs
are different and have their own personalities, temperament,
pain threshold and learning ability. Assess your pup and train
to their level.
This is only an outline.
LEASH:
Your leash should be kept in control at all times by folding
it loosely in your hand. The bolt should hang under your dog's
chin.
COLLAR:
The training collar should be kept up behind your dog's ears.
The collar should be taken off whenever you are not with your
dog as your dog could strangulate.
PRAISE:
Encourage your dog to do things correctly through praise. Let
them know when they do something right. Be verbal. Be happy!
Don't be afraid to use bait to reimforce motivation and proper
behavior.
CORRECTION:
Save leash corrects for an "when all else fails" tactic.
Correct your dog with a quick, swift snap of the leash. (Avoid
tugging) The leash should return to a hanging position immediately
after the correction. Corrections are not intended to cause a
dog pain, but are used to get your dog's attention.
COMMANDS:
Commands should be given with commitment and authority, though
please, don't yell at your dog. Commands should be a declarative
statement, not a question. Commands should be given once, as
you don't want to teach your dog that you are going to repeat
yourself.
Keep formal commands separate from informal
commands. For example, don't tell your dog to formally come to
you when you are sitting on the couch watching TV. The formal
command, "Rover, Come" means that your dog has to come
to you and sit in front. When you are relaxing on the couch use
an informal command such as "come here", or "come
on".
PRACTICE:
Practice makes perfect! You should work your dog at least once
a day for optimum results. Dogs are like children, they have
a short attention span and need reinforcement of success. Short
lessons are the most productive. I suggest three, ten minute
sessions rather than one, thirty minute session. Always end on
a good note. Be careful not to over-train as it will cause your
dog to withdraw.
After a training session, take a 5-10
minute play break.
OK:
To release your dog from a formal command, tap them on the side
and say, "Okay".
OFF:
With the palm of your hand towards you, swing in a downward motion
like you are brushing something off your front and tell your
dog, "OFF".
EASY:
While your dog is on okay, they are allowed to roam, but your
dog should not be allowed to pull on the leash. Teach your dog
to respect the leash by using a leash correction and saying "Easy".
This does not mean your dog cannot sniff the ground, or roam,
it only means don't pull me.
WAIT:
Teach your dog to wait at the door for your releae by pointing
one finger at your dog and telling them, "Wait". After
they wait at the door, give the "Okay" release.
NO BITE:
If your puppy nibbles on your hand, take the lower jaw in your
hand and gently apply pressure until they are uncomfortable,
say "No Bite." Allow your dog to kiss your hand!
SIT:
Give your dog one command to "Sit". Tap your chest,
make kissy noises, hold a piece of bait above them, anything
to get your dog to look up. Usually when a dog looks up, the
rear goes down! If needed, tuck behind the hocks to get your
dog to sit. Try to avoid pushing on the hips and back.
RECALL:
Your dog should come when called. Call your dog's name to get
their attention, then give one command to "Come". Hold
a piece of bait at your belly button. Gather your leash in front
of you and say "Sit" when they get in front. Make them
wait for the release "Okay" before being allowed to
get up.
HEEL:
Heel position is: your dog walking at your pace with their shoulder
in line with your left leg. Your dog should sit at your side
when you come to a stop.
Start off by saying your dog's name
to get their attention, and then give one command to "Heel".
Step out with your left leg. Keep a controlled pace. Use bait
in your left hand to encourage the dog into the proper position.
Slow your pace down a few steps before your stop and tell your
dog, "Sit".
DOWN:
With your dog standing at your side, gather your leash in your
left hand. Hold a piece of bait in your right hand, bring it
to the floor between the dog's two front legs. Tell your dog
"Down." Use the leash to keep the dog from backing
up. Keep the bait in a closed fist until the dog is laying down.
Stand next to the dog and drop pieces of bait between their front
feet to encourage them to stay down, reminding them of the command,
"Down."
When your dog gets the concept of "Down",
teach them the hand signal. The down hand signal is given with
the right hand. The elbow is out, wrist flexed back, fingers
pointed up. Move your right leg forward in a giant step and twist
your upper body to present the signal. Give your dog one command
"Down." Your left leg should remain in heel position.
Keep the signal up until your dog is down.
STAY:
With your dog in heel position, sitting at your left side, give
the command, "Stay." The stay hand signal is given
with the left hand. The fingers are pointed downward, the palm
of the hand is towards your dog's muzzle. Do not touch your dog.
Leave with the right leg. Remember to return to your dog before
they break to train on success, not failure.
Liver Treats
1 pound liver, fried in oil until browned.
3 cups flour
1 jar (3 cups) wheat germ
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 egg
water
After frying liver pour 1+ cup water
pan, bring to boil scrapping bottom.
Place cut up pieces of liver and water
in blender and mix to get consistency of pudding.
Add meat mixture to remaining ingredients.
Knead with hands. Add more water if needed to combine ingredients.
Drop by spoonful onto baking sheet. Cook at 350 degrees for 10
minutes. Refrigerate in air-tight container. Freeze extras!
Housebreaking Made Easy
Housebreaking your puppy is a task that
takes consistency and diligence. When you get your puppy home,
regardless if it is seven weeks or seven months, the first thing
you will do is discard the newspapers.
Purchase or rent a crate. The crate
should not be oversized so that the puppy can eliminate in one
end and sleep at the other. The crate should however be large
enough so that your pup can change positions comfortably. The
crate should have a machine washable bed inside along with a
chew toy. Teach your puppy that the crate is a good place to
be. Never use the crate as punishment.
Whenever you are not with your pup,
watching them, they should be crated. You want to avoid accidents
before they happen.
When you crate your pup for the night,
make sure you give them the opportunity to relieve themselves.
Pick up food and water about 2 hours before bedtime.
First thing in the morning, open the
crate and CARRY the pup outside. Don't wait. Go outside with
your pup, name it, praise them. "Good puppy, business."
If your puppy does have an accident
in the house or in their crate, DON'T PUT THEIR NOSES IN IT.
Your puppy is learning too. The evidence of the deed is there
and believe me, they know it. While you are cleaning up the mess,
keep the pup in the room with you. Yell, rant, rave and complain.
"BAD PUPPY, BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE… WHO DID THIS MESS,
SHAME ON YOU…" The pup will probably be watching from
the corner. When you are done cleaning up the mess take the pup
outside. Of course they won't have to go, they just did all over
your floor. But as soon as they look or sniff the ground reassure
them, "Good puppy, business outside… good puppy!"
Make sure your puppy's crate is always
clean. If you want your puppy to learn to be clean, you have
to teach him to be clean. This is one of the major problems with
pet store puppies. They learn to be dirty by being forced to
eliminate where they live and sleep.
