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    Basic Obedience Training Tips for dogs 4-months and older

 

General Guidelines

 

Dogs have a special gift that is unique to their species. They are born with an innate desire to please.  No food is necessary to accomplish lessons.  Rewards of dog biscuits are suggested only for housebreaking and crate-training.  In all other instances, dogs will work their hearts out for the big prize of “Good Dog!”  Communication is the key.  Showing your dog what you want and praising when he performs well is the basic philosophy of our training program. 

 

Keep up your dog’s enthusiasm by giving lessons of short duration the first six months.  Use your own good judgment.

Following are some of the common mistakes made when training puppies:

 

·        Expecting too much, too soon.

·        Taking off the leash too soon.

·        Expecting your new pup to behave and react like your last dog.

·        Deciding your smart, older dog can better train your new pup than you.

·        Stopping obedience lessons.

Your dog is like a teenager up to two years of age.  Dogs will continually test you so keep this in mind:  you may have worked very hard on a particular lesson, and it appears your dog just doesn’t get it.  But don’t give up!  You will be amazed when you’re ready to throw in the towel your dog suddenly performs that lesson perfectly.

 

Five Stages of Learning.  From your dog’s point of view:

·        “I don’t hear you.”

·        “Make me do it.”

·        “OK, but I’ll do it my way.”

·        “I’ll do it your way, but notice my tail is down.”

·        “Wow, Boss, I like your way, but keep reminding me.

 

Please, no backyard training!  Take your dog to new places.  Heel along city sidewalks, doing about-turns, stopping, staying, calling him to you.  Try having your dog stay, sitting by an active tennis court.  Inside malls can be used after your dog has made some progress.  Get a plan, and stick with it.  Tell other people not to pat your dog as he is in training.  At other times, make your dog useful and have him carry things for you.  He will get better and better the more he’s involved with you.

 

Inside the house, play a game of “sit” or “down” and “stay.”  Go to another room and wait ten seconds.  Then whistle him to you.  Build up to 2 or 3 minutes or more.  No cheating!  Put him back and begin again until he does it correctly.

 

Look for Golden Opportunities to Teach Your Dog.  When your dog makes a mistake, correct him.  “When I open the front door, my dog is gone….”  If this happens to you, make use of that golden opportunity to teach your dog.  After you catch up with your dog, clip the leash to his collar, and in a businesslike manner, bring him back to the house.  Give him another chance to go through the door, but this time, he’ll hit the end of the leash as you firmly say, “No!”  Then teach him to go on your command.  On-the-spot lessons like this can last a lifetime.

 

Exercising.  Never run your dog (taking him for a long jog) under six months of age.  Wait until your puppy’s muscles, bones, and ligaments can handle the stress.  Big-boned large dogs can take up to 18 months to fully develop.  Running a dog on hot days can cause heat stroke—don’t do it!  Playing the Fetch game is the way to get your dog exercised.  Fetching develops your dog’s coordination.  The Fetch game is the secret to getting your dog to come back to you.  Whistle him in, and he will come running back to you to play the game.

Our customers will receive by email  more training tips on the following subjects:
HEELING - The SIT Command - DOWN - RECALL - Walking Your Dog - Off- Leash Lessons.
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If you have questions call Teach Me Please 1-800-833-1913
email jean@series1dogtraining.com

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