Your puppy - the early stages of training

Training Your Dog - How To Begin

You'll know when it's time to begin training, the dog will know its name, it will respect you and it will love you. The dog just wants to please you and, because you are its pack leader, it willingly carries out training activities for you. All tips in this article are for all Dog Breeds.

PREPARE

* Know what words and hand signals you will use
* Have rewards ready that you know the dog loves and make sure the dog knows you have them.
* Recognize that consistency is the vital.
* Understand that body language and eye contact are important.

THE LESSONS

* Must be short. Two minutes for a puppy and 15 minutes for an older dog is plenty.
* Can be held several times a day.
* Must be enjoyable. If the weather is not enjoyable for you then it won't be for the dog either - forget the training.
* Plan ahead by making sure all family members know what commands and hand signals you will be using. Write them down.

BEFORE THE LESSON

1. When the dog and you are alert. The bladder is empty, its just before a meal, the dog has just woken up are ideal times.
2. Have the treats ready. In the beginning always combine food rewards with praise. Eventually the food reward will only be given intermittently.
3. Pick your training ground. Inside is ideal to begin with, move outside where there are more distractions when the dog is responding well to the initial training.
4. Train in small increments. Don't try to teach 5 commands in one day. Do not even attempt to train two dogs at once - that's doomed to failure.

AFTER THE LESSON

Always finish on a positive note. The training should be enjoyable for both you and the dog. If the pup just can't get something right - go back to something it is good at and end the session with that exercise.

Then play with the pup.

Remember not to get flustered or annoyed while training. Stop and think about what you are doing. Take a break and try again later. Virtually all dogs have the capacity to learn basic obedience in a short period of time, usually within days or sometimes within weeks for the slower ones. If you need assistance then don't be afraid to ask.

Remember that your local vet or RSPCA office can put you in touch with a local trainer or they may even hold classes themselves.

Some easy lessons:

COME

1. Crouch down a short distance from your puppy, show the treat and as the dog begins to move forward, give the command "COME".
2. During the approach, say "GOOD DOG" with great enthusiasm
3. Give the treat
4. Do this several times a day
5. Graduate to standing upright, calling the dog's name, then say, "COME" as is starts to approach. A pat, stroke or rub is a good reward with an occasional treat thrown in.

SIT

1. Stand up facing your dog and, with treat in hand; ask it to "COME".
2. When the dog reaches you, raise the hand holding the treat up just enough to clear the dog's head, then back from the nose to the eyes or ears.
3. Make sure she is watching the treat. As the eyes follow the treat above, the rump will naturally go down. As the hind legs start to bend, give the command "SIT"
4. When the sitting position is achieved, say "GOOD DOG" and give the treat immediately.
5. Once the puppy is obediently sitting as it faces you, graduate to standing beside it while giving the command "SIT". As usual, initially give the dog a treat but graduate to words of praise alone.

STAY

1. Make sure the dog is in the "SIT" position and looking up at you. Don't stand too close.
2. After the puppy sits, show it the palm of your hand while you command, "STAY".
3. Keep the first few instances short, with small treat rewards.
4. Gradually increase the duration of the "STAY", also graduating to words of praise alone.
5. Repeat the exercise over a week; repeat the exercise, gradually backing up until you are giving the command at a distance.
6. Complete the "STAY" by introducing your release word "FINISHED".
7. Reward the dog when the exercise is finished.

DOWN

1. Make sure the pup is in the "SIT" position, kneel to the right, holding the collar with your left hand and a food treat in the right.
2. Put the treat in front of the dog's nose. Make a fist around the treat so it can't be taken from you. Then, using a sweeping action, move your treat-holding hand forward and downward in an arc. As your pup lies down to keep track of the treat, give the command, "DOWN". Keep the treat clenched so it still can't be taken.
3. Once the dog understands "DOWN", prolong it with "STAY", rewarding with the treat. As usual, initially give the dog a treat but graduate to words of praise alone.
4. Release the dog from training with "FINISHED".

PATIENCE

You are teaching a dog a new language. Think back when you were learning a different language and remember how frustrated you were. So be patient and reasonable with your dog. Remember how long it took you to learn something new. That way you will appreciate the dog's amazing abilities.

Training Aids may be purchased through any good Pet Supplies store. A large number of Dog Training Books are available at Woofahs Pet Supplies. Further articles on Dog Training, Dog Health are available in Woofahs Pet Directory and the Woofahs - All Things Pets website.