Simply simple, leash your dog and wait for her to become preoccupied. “(Dog’s name), come,” you call, reeling in the lead as you back up and exclaim, “Good, good, gooood!” Kneel to welcome her and release her with the “chin-touch alright.” A game called “Pass the Puppy” is a terrific technique to teach your dog …
Teaching “Sit” and “Sit-Stay” Place your dog on your left side, hold his collar with your right hand, and place your left hand on his loin slightly in front of his hip bones and behind his rib cage to teach the “sit” command. Ask him to “Sit” while you draw up on the collar and …
After several days of random object exchanges, your dog should be happy to see you approaching him when he has something in his mouth, knowing it means a good deal for him. At the very least, he’ll get something good in exchange for what he has, and he might even get what he has back …
You’ll teach your dog the leave it command with treats, and then transfer the meaning to other things he would otherwise pursue with abandon if unimpeded by your command. During the process of teaching your dog to “leave it” on command, you’ll also teach your dog to “take it” on command, so this is really …
In the early stages of training, or when the lure of distractions may be over-whelming for your dog, you can make your own life a little easier by using tethers to back up your dog’s place on his mat. You can also use tethers in outdoor situations to ensure the safety of your dog. Using …
Teaching your dog to settle during meal times has lots of positive side effects. It keeps your dog from begging at the table, or scavenging underneath it for dropped morsels — or away from your kids, who might sneak vegetables from their plates and into your dog. It has an added relationship benefit, as leaders …
Ahh, the settle command. This command, once mastered, is your dog’s ticket to freedom. It means that he can be contained in a designated area without actually being contained by a physical barrier. Instead of being locked away from the action when you have visitors, he can be part of it, or at least a …
There are so many ways that the wait command can help your dog stay safe. From dashing through doors or gates, to bolting from cars or crates, your dog can really put himself in harm’s way if he doesn’t know to wait and rely on your infinitely better judgment about whether it’s okay for him …
The wait command is one of the most versatile and useful commands you can teach your dog. Not only will you use it as a leadership tool and to instill your dog with self-control, but also, in virtually endless practical ways, it make life with your dog easier, safer, and more enjoyable for both of …
The recall, or teaching your dog to come to you when you call, is arguably the most important thing you’ll ever teach your dog. Undoubtedly, you want your dog to come to you when you call every time, not just when he wants to. It takes time and commitment to teach your dog a rock-solid, …
As mentioned previously, dogs are very context-specific animals, so just because your dog understands “down” in the kitchen before mealtime doesn’t mean he’ll understand it on the front stoop. He’s really not trying to tick you off; he just doesn’t understand the command or its relevance in a new situation, until you teach him. Take …
Getting stimulus control of behaviors is a fancy way to say that your dog responds to your cues or commands with the correct behavior. There are two basic ways that you can communicate your commands to your dog: verbal or visual. Because people are verbal, we tend to teach verbal commands. Because dogs are visual, …
Compulsion, or physically (not forcefully) positioning your dog, can be used to back up commands originally taught using luring, or to teach the behaviors if you don’t want to use luring. As with luring, you’ll use the command one time as your dog is getting into the position. Remember to CR/ treat if you’re using …
With luring, you’ll use a treat to lead your dog into the positions. When luring, be sure to keep the treat pinched between your fingers, so you can control it until the right moment. Keep the treat close to your dog’s nose and move it at the speed your dog can and will follow it. …
