Recently I wrote about training your pup to ‘sit’ as the default command for everything…jumping up, going through a door, waiting for dinner, putting on and taking off collar… in short, everything. I also mentioned then about the three elements of training being: 1. duration, 2. distance 3. distraction. Later I posted Ian Dunbar’s ‘distance sit’ videos which I think illustrate the concept so much better than words ever could. [...] Read more »
Drop That!
Leave it! Gimme that! No! “Oh You…!” Get down! Supposing I were to tell you that the simple task of training your puppy to do all of the above could be accomplished by training him to understand that the word ’off’ means all of those things? Would that save you frustration and stop your yelling at the small creature who doesn’t speak English? OK, then. Let’s train your [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Roll Over
“Bozo, ‘roll over’.” “But I don’t need or want to teach my dog party tricks,” you say. Fair enough but consider another view. ‘Roll over’ is guaranteed to bring “aahs” of appreciation when performed AND teaching Bozo anything is a fun activity for both of you AND whenever you or the vet or the groomer has reason to examine Bozo’s undercarriage, “Bozo, ’roll over’ “ makes it incredibly simple. Convinced [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Come… The Recall
I have heard it said, “If your dog doesn’t ‘come’, you don’t have a dog.” Instead of debating that, let’s teach your puppy to ‘come’ whenever and wherever you ask. It’s all part of the manners game – ‘sit’ for leash on, ‘sit’ for leash off, ‘sit’ before going through a doorway, ‘sit’ for dinner. All these required ‘sits’ keep Bozo’s energy under control. If Bozo’s energy is controllable, he’s [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Speak & Shush
Dogs bark. It’s not bad. It’s not abnormal. It is what they do. Barking is probably one of the main reason man wanted him close and chose to domesticate him rather than run him off, all those thousands of years ago. “OK, OK, barking is normal but it’s driving me nuts!” Yes, it can and probably will if you don’t learn how to control it. Dog training is nothing more [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Settle Down
Imagine that immediately your pup, Bozo, hears the words,” Bozo, ‘settle’ “, he lies down quietly. No more begging at the table, no more nudging you or leash pulling when you stop to visit a neighbor while on a walk. It’s important to interrupt play sessions with Bozo even and especially when he’s very young. Uninterrupted play sessions quickly deteriorate into an out-of-control free-for-all; no good for pups or humans. [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Stay Until You Release Him
Good on you! Now you have a puppy who will ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stand’ on request. Excellent! Many times, though, we want Bozo to ‘stay’ in one of those positions. Let’s add that now. Many say that ‘stay’ is implied in the initial command i.e. sit and stay there until I release you. I personally like the added clarity of ‘stay so that both Bozo and I know what’s expected. If [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Stand From A Sit and From A Down
Muddy, wet Bozo comes in the door and ‘sits’ like the well-trained puppy he is. If he knows how to ‘stand’ when asked, the drying off becomes much easier. It’s also a useful position for the vet and the groomer. Of course you have kibble in your pocket. There’s kibble in the pocket of everything you own! (At least for these first weeks.) So, standing about a foot or less [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Lie Down On Command
Now that you’re well on your way to a reliable ‘sit’ across the room using only a hand signal, let’s talk about ‘down’. Once you, not Bozo, have the methods of teaching the ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘stand’, you can (and I think it’s a good idea) teach all three simultaneously. Then, especially for the super-energetic dog, you can ask for a ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stand’, ’down’, ‘sit’, ‘stand’ in sequence. First [...] Read more »
Training Your New Puppy To Sit
We’ve talked about ‘sit’ quite a bit already. In fact, I have suggested that you teach Bozo to ‘sit’ even if you teach him nothing else. It is so easy to teach a young puppy, though, it seems crazy to me not to teach them lots more. It’s not only easy but fun and the benefits… limitless. But I digress… SIT Get your bag of kibble. Put a couple of [...] Read more »