Teach your dog SIT-STAY

Steps:

1. Start with a leash and collar on your dog. Tell your dog to sit.

2. Once your dog is sitting, praise her and give her a treat, but keep her sitting.

3. Say your dog’s name followed by “stay” in a firm, clear voice while holding one hand up, palm out (as if to motion stop) for 1-2 seconds.

4. Say “Yes” in an upbeat tone and give your dog a treat.

5. Release your dog from the command by saying “okay” and encouraging her to move.

6. Instruct your dog to sit again and praise her when she complies.

7. Give the stay command again with the hand motion while taking a few steps back over 2-3 seconds.

8. If she stays, say “Yes” and give her a treat. If she moves, start over from step 1.

9. Release your dog from the command by saying “okay” and encouraging her to move.

10. Repeat this process 5-6 times, gradually increasing the time period between “stay” and “okay”.

Tips:

1. Over time, you should gradually increase the distance between you and your dog. Remain in your dog’s sight until she understands how to stay. Then, you can try leaving the room after giving the stay command.

2. Try starting this command in the standing or lying down positions. If successful, your dog should not change positions during the stay command.

3. Once your dog has mastered the stay command, try practicing with distractions. Get a friend to talk or squeak a toy. Your dog should not move at all despite the distractions.

4. If you wish to try this outside without a leash, always be sure you are in a fenced-in area.

5. Once your dog becomes an expert at staying, you no longer need to give a treat every time – only occasionally. However, rewarding with praise is always a good idea.

Teach your dog to DOWN

STEPS

1. Get your dog’s attention and show him that you have a treat in your hand.

2. Hold the treat in front your dog’s nose.

3. Say your dog’s name followed by the word “down,” spoken clearly and firmly.

4. Slowly move the treat towards the ground.

5. As soon as your dog’s elbows and hocks are on the ground, say “Yes” in an upbeat tone.

6. Give your dog the treat.

7. Repeat 5-6 times.

Tips:

1. If your dog does not lie down on his own after a few tries, avoid pushing him down. Next time he naturally lies down, say “down,” then praise and reward him.

2. Hold short training sessions throughout the day in various locations, both indoor and outdoors.

3. Once your dog becomes and expert at lying down, you no longer need to give a treat every time – only occasionally. However, rewarding with praise is always a good idea.

Teach your dog to SIT

STEPS:

1. Get your dog’s attention and show her that you have a treat in your hand.

2. Hold the treat just above your dog’s nose (not too high or she might jump).

3. Say your dog’s name followed by the word “sit,” spoken clearly and firmly.

4. Move the treat back towards your dog’s ears.

5. As soon as your dog’s rear lands on the ground, say “Yes” in an upbeat tone.

6. Give your dog the treat followed by petting and praising.

7. Repeat 5-6 times.

Tips:

1. If your dog does not sit on her own after a few tries, avoid pushing her into a sitting position. Instead, spend some time watching her. Anytime she naturally sits, say “yes,” then praise and reward her.

2. Hold short training sessions throughout the day in various locations, both indoor and outdoors. Include the front door and food bowl as regular training locations. This will make her more likely to sit when greeting guests or before feeding.

3. Once your dog becomes and expert at sitting, you no longer need to give a treat every time – only occasionally. However, rewarding with praise is always a good idea.

TOP TEN TRAINING TIPS

TOP TEN TRAINING TIPS from Patricia McConnell

1. BE POSITIVE! Dogs learn much faster and are more reliable if they learn to feel good when they do what you ask. You’ll have a much better behaved dog if you learn to use positive reinforcement rather than forcing your dog into a behavior.

2. LEARN TO “SPEAK DOG” Dogs don’t come speaking English, and they don’t read minds. Communicate less with your voice and more with your body (like dogs do), and your dog will understand you better.

3. BE A BENEVOLENT LEADER TO YOUR DOG Your dog is dependent on you, and needs to know she can count on you to be responsible. That doesn’t mean you should be a tough taskmaster, far from it. Think of the best teacher you ever had, and try to emulate that with your dog.

4. LEARN ABOUT LEARNING Training animals isn’t intuitive, and we’re not taught how to do it in school. Don’t assume you know how just because you love your dog!

5. LEARN TO “READ DOG” Dogs have remarkably expressive faces, but we often fail to pay attention to what they’re trying to tell us. Look for relaxed bodies and open mouths on happy dogs, and stiff bodies and closed mouths on dogs who are, at best, concerned about something.

6. TRAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY Avoid long training sessions every evening by scattering training exercises throughout the day. That way you’ll always have time to train your dog, and your dog will learn to listen wherever and whenever you ask.

7. MASTER A FEW EXERCISES You’re much better off teaching your dog a few, simple exercises and practicing them in a variety of contexts, than teaching your dogs lots of signals that only work if he’s not distracted.

8. BE CONSISTENT Don’t say “Ginger Come!” in the morning, and “C’m ‘ere, Ginger” at night. Our dogs are trying to learn a foreign language, and we just confuse them if we keep changing the words!

9. TEACH GOOD BEHAVIOR If your dog consistently does something you don’t like, figure out what you DO want him to do, and teach him to do it, rather than correcting him for doing what’s wrong.

10. LAUGH A LOT! Why not? Training should be just as fun for you as it should be for your dog. You’ll both do better if you make it all into a game and have fun with it.