Whatever the method you choose to train your puppy,
the first step is to be absolutely sure that your puppy understands
what is expected of him. It is important to CONSISTENTLY praise your
puppy for doing the right thing. Positive reinforcement is a much more
powerful and safer tool than punishment. Once your puppy understands
what you want him to do and he misbehaves, a mild reprimand is all
that is needed; followed by showing the puppy the correct behavior
and praising him. Ignoring or isolating the puppy after he misbehaves
can also be useful. Improperly applied or excessive punishment often
backfires. Many puppies become afraid of their owners or sometimes
try to fight back aggressively because they don’t understand
why they are being punished. Punishment after the fact does not work!
WALKING WITH A COLLAR AND LEASH:
Get your puppy used to a collar and leash right away. These are
essential to protect the dog throughout its life. Start with a
narrow, soft nylon collar and lightweight leash. When you are outside,
try to walk along with your puppy, keeping the leash loose so that
he does not get used to walking while pulling. If he lags behind
or runs ahead, a few short gentle jerks on the leash are usually
all that is needed to get him walking on a loose lead again. Some
dogs may do better with a harness.
PRACTICE KEEPING YOUR PUPPY’S ATTENTION AND EYE
CONTACT:
One of the biggest problems in training a dog is getting his attention
so that he will listen to you. Getting your puppy to look at you
and pay attention will make teaching any kind of command much more
successful. Encourage your puppy to make eye contact with you by
saying his name and holding a food tidbit close to your face when
your puppy looks at you, praise him for maintaining eye contact.
Now that he’s looking at you, he’s ready to listen
to a command.
SIT:
This is the easiest command to start training. Take a food tidbit
and hold it in front of your puppy’s nose in a closed fist.
Pass your fist toward the back of your puppy’s head as you
say "Sit!" As his head goes up and back to follow the
treat, he usually will automatically sit. Repeat this exercise
regularly until your pet learns to sit as soon as the command is
issued.
STAY:
Stay is nothing more than a long sit. To teach your puppy to stay,
stand in front of him and ask him to "Sit." When he does,
praise him but don’t give him a treat. Instead, say "Stay" as
you step back and give him an open hand signal. Then immediately
give him the treat. Repeat the process, increasing distance you
step back from your puppy. Go only one step at a time.
DOWN:
After your puppy has mastered "stay," he is ready to
learn the "down" command. Start by giving him the "stay " command.
Then, as you say, "Down," take a food treat in your fist,
place it at his nose, and pass it down to the floor. Your puppy
will follow the treat and lie down. After your puppy consistently
goes into the "down" position, you can teach your puppy
to stay in this position just as he learned for the sitting position.
COME:
When your puppy will sit or lie down and stay while you take ten
steps away, he is ready to begin the "Come" command.
Give your puppy the "Sit" (or "Down") and "Stay" command.
Take five steps back, whistle, say your dog’s name and "Come" in
an excited tone of voice. You may want to open your arms or make
some other welcoming gesture to encourage him to come. When he
gets to you, praise him and give
him a treat. Follow with a "Sit. "Repeat the command
(taking only five steps) ten times, then increase the distance
to ten steps. Always praise your puppy when he comes to you on
command. Never call a puppy to scold him or do anything that he
won’t like (such as giving medication or a bath). Responding
to the "Come" command should always be a positive experience
for the puppy.
