Dog Training

Lesson 1: The Basics - Sit, Stand, Down, Come and Walk on a leash

Practice

Spend several minutes a day having the dog sit, down and stand. You do not need to have one command perfect before trying another. The dog can learn them all at the same time as long as you only give one command at a time.

When the dog is responding quickly, you can put two or three commands together such as, "sit, down" or "down, sit" or "sit, stand, sit." Don't fall into the trap of repeating the same sequence or the pup will learn the sequence and think that everything must be done in order.

Practice having the dog come when called. You can keep treats in jars in several areas of the house. When the dog is not paying attention, call him and praise and give a treat. Do it often and for no reason at all.

If your puppy hasn't mastered walking on a leash, now is the time to start. Spend some time on this exercise as outlined above. A few minutes a day is all that is necessary.

Read in the suggested books on dominance, submission and body language in dogs. Having an understanding of dog behavior will help you to understand and to train your dog. You will want to know if the dog is not obeying because he is stubborn, or because he doesn't really understand.

Review the section on training equipment. Purchase the equipment you think you will need. It is perfectly acceptable to try different items to see what works best for you.

Something to think about or discuss: What does the dog learn if you always call him to punish him, put him in a crate or otherwise do something unpleasant? What does he learn if you call him and then chase him?

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