‘Puppy Training’ Category
Puppy training can be taught in many various different forms, and it is especially important to be clear on your vocal training commands. Your little pup may become confused if told the same things that may have different meanings to you. For a great example, let’s refer to the command words “OFF” and “DOWN”.
It is important to learn the difference between “OFF!” and “DOWN!.” When you get into obedience work, you will use the command “DOWN!” to mean that the pup will lie down. Therefore, while you’re working on the problem of jumping up on or at you, don’t use the wrong command. Tell Puppy “OFF!” And what if she doesn’t? Let’s examine why a puppy jumps before we try to eradicate jumping.
Have you ever greeted someone you love and been able to see only that person’s ankles? Don’t you want to look into the face of your beloved?…
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Focus is the single most important command to teach your puppy. If your dog is looking away from you, he is listening to what he is looking at. Distractions are a large part of life, and you need to teach your dog to ignore them and pay attention to you.
You cannot achieve focus simply by your puppy’s name. On a daily basis, you will use his name for many different purposes. Worse yet, you will probably yell his name at him when he is doing something wrong.
The term you will use to teach your dog focus will be a consistently positively reinforced term. He will first learn to look at you on command no matter what is going on around him. Next, he will come to you when you call instead of running away off to who knows where. Here are the
beginning steps necessary to teach attention.
1. Begin training your…
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Toilet training should not end with housebreaking. If you want to avoid the unpleasant but necessary task of picking up after your pet in the street, it makes sense to train him to go before you leave home. This is not as difficult as it may seem but requires a fair amount of patience in the early stages.
If you have been successfully working at the housebreaking process, you will, by the time you are able to take your puppy out, have a particular phrase that your puppy will associate with going to the toilet.
You should also have a fairly regular routine and will have some idea of when your puppy needs to go. Try to arrange your first walk to coincide with this time. Go out to the yard as usual, repeating your chosen phrase until your puppy does what is required. Praise enthusiastically and then take him out for…
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The puppy who learns the rules of fetch-and-carry has taken a big step forward into being a well-trained adult dog. In this way, he also finds that learning can be fun. Roughhousing, though not too roughly, teaches him to play and not bite and to work to get something he wants, still without hurting the person holding it.
In the course of a good rough and tumble, you will use words that he will remember next time. He will learn “Stop that,” if he gets rough himself. If he needs reprimanding, a firm “No!” and a quick tap on the rump should make him behave.
Protect your puppy against what is really teasing, as when children call it “play” to steal his toys and hold them out of reach or to wrestle too roughly and hurt him. In addition, never play with him, or let children do so, until the point…
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Mouthing and nipping are two different issues. Mouthing is a communication skill to get you to do a particular thing. Less pressure, less annoying, but still not particularly charming. Nipping is a puppy thing; it is interactive and playful. Nipping puppies are bossy and manipulative and need a firmer regimen.
Mouthing is often an attention-getting behavior. If your puppy uses it to communicate a need to go out, respond. If, on the other hand, your dog mouths you for a pat, ignore it. If he becomes too annoying, get a water spray and spritz him discreetly in front of his nose, hiding the spray in your hand and spritzing as you avoid all eye contact, comments, or pushing. When you use the spray this way, you are performing a cause-and-effect correction rather than interactive discipline. Interaction involves eye contact and physical manipulation – not good. Cause-and-effect corrections result in unpleasant reactions…
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The leash is a great tool for distance training. It allows freedom to explore while still leaving you in complete control. As a training tool, you can use it informally during walks to reinforce the following commands:
Name: Call out your puppy’s name enthusiastically: If he looks at you, praise him. If he ignores you, gently snap the leash, say “No,” and then praise him once you have his attention.
Wait: Begin to command your puppy to stop 3 feet in front of you with this command. If your dog continues forward, gently snap the leash and say “No, Wait.” Increase your distance to 6 feet, 8 feet, 12 feet, 16 feet, and 26 feet in front of you.
Sit-Stay: Use the Flexi-Lead to increase your distance control. Increase your distance incrementally.
Heel: Use this command to call your puppy back to your side. Call out his name and then command “Heel” as…
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