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It's important to teach your dog basic obedience
skills for his overall well-being and safety, and for your peace of
mind. But obedience – whether you train your puppy alone or go to a
class (some classes won't accept a puppy under 6 months of age) –
doesn't have to be hard work. Just remember the three principles of
training:
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Communication
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Praise
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Repetition
The first step in training is to make sure that your
puppy understands what is expected of him. Next, remember that praise
and positive reinforcement are more powerful and safer tools than
punishment. Finally, repeating each exercise helps your puppy gain
confidence and makes it easier for you to teach him more complex
behaviors.
Walking with a collar and leash
Get your puppy accustomed to a collar and leash right away. These are
essential to protect your dog throughout his life. When you are outside,
try to walk along with your puppy, keeping the leash loose, so that he
doesn't get used to pulling. If he lags behind or runs ahead, a few
short, gentle jerks on the leash are usually all that is needed to
correct him.
Paying attention and making eye contact
Puppies that pay attention learn faster. To make eye contact with your
puppy, say his name and hold a food treat close to your face. Don't let
your pup jump towards your face. If he jumps towards you, give him a
stern "no". Stop the training for a few minutes and then try again. Your
pup will learn that if he jumps towards you he gets no attention because
you stop the training, and his jumping behavior will stop. When your pup
looks at you without jumping, praise him. When he learns to look at you
as soon as he hears his name then he's ready to listen and learn.
Following are 4 of the basic commands you will need to teach your puppy,
and an overview of how to do this. Each command will be expanded upon in
future articles.
Sit
Take a food treat 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 should sit
automatically. Repeat this exercise until he learns to sit at the
command.
Stay
"Stay" is actually a long sit. Start with the "Sit" command and when
your puppy obeys, 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 the
distance you step back from your puppy. Go only one step at a time.
Down
After "Stay" your puppy is ready to learn "Down". Start with your puppy
in a sitting position. Then as you say "Down", take a food treat in your
hand, place it at his nose, and pass it down to the floor. Your puppy
will follow the treat and lie down. You can soon teach your puppy to
"Stay" in this position, just as he learned in the sitting position.
Come
After ten successful "Sit", "Down", and "Stay" attempts, your puppy can
learn "Come".
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 can also open your arms to encourage him. When he obeys,
praise and reward him. Follow with "Sit". Repeat the command (taking
only five steps) ten times, then, once he has this mastered, increase
the distance to ten steps. Never call your puppy to scold him or to do
anything that he won't like. Responding to "Come" should always be
positive for your puppy.
Reprimanding your puppy
Despite your best training methods, even the most obedient puppies will
get into trouble and disobey every once in a while. To work on problem
behavior, first make sure your puppy understands what you want him to
do. If he understands and still misbehaves, a mild reprimand is all that
is needed. Follow it by showing the puppy correct behavior and praising
him. Ignoring or isolating the puppy for a short period of time 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.
© 2010 Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
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