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BASIC OBEDIENCE FOR YOUR PUPPY
By Debbie Kaminski
THE BENEFITS OF TRAINING
Training your puppy...
establishes you as the pack leader.
will curtail behavior problems by setting up a line of
communication that your puppy understands. Training also gives
your puppy something to do.
increases the bond between you and your four-legged friend.
Many puppies who are not taught the simplest of commands
become unruly, unmanageable dogs that wind up in shelters or worse.
Please take the time to teach your puppy these basic exercises...
So Let’s Begin!
GENERAL TRAINING TIPS
Below are some general training tips to remember when training:
* I find it easiest and most enjoyable to train with food.
Use small, soft treats (such as sliced hot dogs or string cheese).
Soft treats make swallowing much easier for the puppy. If your
puppy does not seem interested in food, try scheduling your
training sessions before mealtime or use more enticing treats.
Bait bags, which can be purchased at your local pet supply store,
will make your treats easily accessible.
* When training with food, it is important to only give your
puppy treats during a training session or when he’s asked to
do something. Eventually you can even ask him to "SIT"
before you put his bowl down at mealtimes.
* Use a buckle collar made of nylon or fabric and a leash
made of nylon or leather when first training your puppy. The
collar should fit snugly behind the puppy’s ears so that it
cannot slip off. The leash should be between 4 and 6 feet long,
depending on the exercise you’re currently teaching.
* Keep each training session short. Two ten-minute training
sessions per day are better than one long session. It is important
to end training sessions BEFORE the puppy shows any signs of
tiring.
* Always end training sessions on a positive note. If your
puppy is having trouble grasping a concept, back up a step or ask
him to do something he does well and then end the session.
* Crate your puppy for at least 10 minutes after each
training session. This will help your puppy to better absorb what
he has learned.
* Praise should be given in a very positive, upbeat tone of
voice. Use many different phrases such as "good puppy", "that’s
it", "you’ve got it", "yes". Be
creative when using praise. Remember that praise will eventually
replace treats.
* Only give one command at a time, even when your puppy is
first learning. If you say "SIT, SIT, SIT" each time you
want him to sit, your puppy will not know which command he is to
respond to. In most cases, he will simply ignore your request
because you are not being consistent with your training.
* It is important that you release your puppy after he’s
been asked to do something. If you tell him to "SIT" and
he gets a treat and then gets up on his own, he is in control. You
must be in control. Choose a release word and stick with it
throughout your training. Words like OK or FREE are good choices.
As soon as your pup does what you’ve asked him to do, then
release him and play with him for a short while before repeating
the command.
* Never give your puppy a command that you are unable to
enforce. If you are only at the beginning stages of teaching your
puppy to come, do not expect him to stop immediately and come to
you when he’s on the trail of a rabbit! * Remember to always
use your puppy’s name in a positive manner. Do not use his
name when reprimanding your puppy.
* Training doesn’t always have to be at a set time of
day. It can be incorporated into your daily routine. Just be sure
to have those treats handy!
TRAINING LOCATIONS
Where you train your puppy should be based on the four levels
below. Once your puppy is responding at one level, it’s time to
move on to the next level.
Level 1: Each time you begin to
teach your puppy a new command, begin your sessions in a familiar,
quiet place (a room in your house with the door closed is a good
start).
Level 2: Graduate to working in
other rooms in your house. There should be no distractions present
(i.e., other dogs, people). Also, you can begin working outdoors
but only in places that your puppy is accustomed to and where
there are limited distractions.
Level 3: Next, begin working in
the same places as in Level 2 but add small distractions (i.e.,
have the television or radio on while you’re training, have
another person nearby who is not directly interfering with the
training session).
Level 4: Then, practice in
places that are unfamiliar to your puppy and that include
low-level distractions at first. It can be difficult to find a
public place where distractions are minimal. A good place might be
a schoolyard on the weekend or during the summer. Gradually
increase the level of distractions.
It is important to build the level of distractions gradually.
If your puppy is very toy-motivated, do not begin distracting him by
rolling a ball past him while he’s doing a sit-stay. Begin with
something your puppy can handle. Here are some examples of
distractions:
other non-interfering dogs or people
noises (have the television or radio on near your puppy)
toys
place treats on the floor near your puppy
roll a tennis ball on the floor
Please do not subject your puppy to any distractions that may
frighten him. You want your puppy to know he can trust you.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If other members of your family will be working with the puppy,
make sure they know what commands the puppy knows. It might be a
good idea to keep a list of commands in a central place in your
house...the refrigerator works nicely. It’s best if only one
person initially trains the puppy. The other family members can join
in once the puppy is trained.
It is still a good idea to enroll your puppy in a group
obedience class that uses positive training methods. It’s a
great place to train once your pup is ready for distractions. If you’ve
already trained your puppy at home you’ll be ahead of the game!
Remember to give your puppy lots of hugs every day. Love and
training go hand in hand.
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