Training Tips

Leash Training

Step 1

This first step can begin as soon as your puppy arrives at his new home. All it involves is getting your young pup familiar with and comfortable wearing a collar. A simple light weight leather collar is ideal for this task. Place it on your puppy when you feed him or as you are playing, this provides a bit of a distraction from the collar. He'll probably roll around trying to dislodge it, or try his best to scratch it off. When he is doing this it is important that you don't take it off him. Wait till he has settled down and forgotten about it before you take it off.

Step 2

Once your puppy is happy wearing his new collar, it is time to introduce the leash. Same thing again here, you just want to get him comfortable with the leash, and to show him the leash is not to be feared. Any light weight, thin leash is fine for this step. You can buy your puppy a fancy leather leash after he is properly leash trained if you choose. All you need to do is clip the leash onto his collar, let him check it out and drag it around the house (always under your supervision). He'll forget about it after a while.

Step 3

Now that your puppy is comfortable in his collar and with the leash, it is time to pick up the other end of the leash. Make these first leash training sessions short, sharp and fun. At this early stage you will probably find that your puppy loves to follow you around everywhere - use this to your advantage. To start with just walk around the house with the leash in hand, and your puppy trotting along side you. When he is walking along on a loose leash give him plenty of praise, petting and even some treats. When he strains on the leash, stop immediately. Don't yank him back over to you with the leash, just call him back over to you and praise him when he comes. Never ever keep walking when your puppy is pulling on the leash, this only rewards his behavior and reinforces the habit.
Your puppy has to learn that when he pulls on the leash, he gets nowhere. If he wants to continue walking, it has to be by your side on a loose leash. The same rule applies if your puppy sits down when you are walking. Don't yank him forward towards you, just call him over and reward him when he arrives. Then set off walking again with your puppy by your side.

Using a crate to house train your dog

You can use a crate to safely contain your dog during the night and whenever you can’t monitor her behavior closely. Dogs don’t like to soil their sleeping areas, so your dog will naturally avoid eliminating in her crate. If used for house training purposes, the crate should be sized so that your dog can lie down comfortably, stand up without having to crouch and easily turn around in a circle. If the crate is any larger, she might learn to soil one end of it and sleep at the other. If the crate is any smaller, she might be uncomfortable and unable to rest. (When you no longer need to use the crate for house training, you can purchase a larger one for your dog if you like.)
Using a crate will help you predict when your dog needs to eliminate and control where she eliminates. If she’s been crated overnight or for a few hours during the day, the chances are extremely high that she’ll eliminate as soon as you release her from the crate and take her outside. So, with the crate’s help, you can prevent your dog from eliminating indoors and have a chance to reward her for going in the right place—outside.

 Teaching your dog or puppy to sit

When teaching your dog to sit, hold your hand high over their head with a reward in it. Your dog will look up at the reward. Use your other hand to gently push the dog's behind into a sitting position, and say in a clear, firm tone, "SIT" while still holding the reward in the air above the dog's head. When your dog sits, give them the treat and verbally praise them. Do not allow your dog to jump up and grab the reward out of your hand. Say firmly, "NO." You will have to repeat this over and over. Eventually your dog will associate sitting with the reward and will sit without your assistance. Remember the training sessions should be short but frequent. Repeat this method periodically throughout the day. If you get frustrated, stop and try again later.

Watch Video:  Bruno the Boxer puppy learns to sit.

 Teaching your dog or puppy to lay

 

1. Get your dog’s attention and show him that you have a treat in your hand.
2. Hold the treat in front your dog’s nose.
3. Say your dog’s name followed by the word “down,” spoken clearly and firmly.
4. Slowly move the treat towards the ground.
5. As soon as your dog’s elbows and hocks are on the ground, say “good down” in an upbeat tone.
6. Give your dog the treat followed by petting and praising.
7. Repeat 5-6 times.

Teaching Your Dog How To Bow

Steps

1. 1
   Make sure that your dog knows how to come, sit and lie down on command. Your dog should also know what his name is and be responsive to it. If he can't do these things reliably, you will need to teach him the basic commands of dogdom first.
   
   
2. 2
   Have your dog stand facing you, about two feet (60 cm) away. Hold a treat or toy so that he can see it, but don't let him eat the treat yet. If necessary, wave the treat a little to be sure that he is paying attention.
3. 3
   

   Holding the treat in your hand, wave the treat downward (or even drop it to the floor).
   Holding the treat in your hand, wave the treat downward (or even drop it to the floor). He should lower his head to keep his eyes on the treat.
   • Immediately praise and pet him.
   • Let him have the treat and take out another one in readiness.
   • If using a clicker, click just prior to giving your dog his treat.
4. 4
   

   Repeat this for a few times to get him used to the movement and receiving a reward.
   Repeat this for a few times to get him used to the movement and receiving a reward. Don't worry if your dog stands up straight away. He will learn to associate the treat (and clicker if using) with the movement after repetition.
5. 5
   

   Add the verbal cue.
   Add the verbal cue. Say your dog's name, then add an appropriate phrase, such as "Bow" or "Stretch". Say the word as your dog gets into position, for example, "Fido! Bow!".
   • 

     Use your hand coming down to the floor to indicate to your dog to bring his head to the ground.
     Use your hand coming down to the floor to indicate to your dog to bring his head to the ground.
   • Give the treat as before. If using a clicker, click just prior to giving the treat.
6. 6
   

   Showing an empty hand
    Repeat the trick a few times.
   • Continue with the verbal cue and moving your hand to the ground.
   • Switch to a pretend treat. When you open your hand on the floor, it should contain nothing.
   • Instead, give the treat after opening your empty hand. Give the treat with your other hand.
7. 7
   

   After several repetitions, try giving the "Bow" or "Stretch" command without moving your hand to signal.

     

   After several repetitions, try giving the "Bow" or "Stretch" command without moving your hand to signal.
   • If using a clicker, stop now. Simply rely on the command.
   • Give a treat initially and then taper off and replace with praise.
   • Give your dog lots of praise every time you see the desired bow action. You can use the praise method to reward natural bows every time that you see them, provided you associate the praise with the word "Bow" or whatever word you wish to use. By association, your dog may learn to bow naturally.
   • Your dog should eventually learn to associate the command with bowing his head and without getting rewarded. When he can bow his head without seeing you wave the treat or toy, he has learned the trick.
   • Always reinforce an action you have taught your dog with praise and love.