|
|
This has taken five years to sink into my conciousness: the most important part of dog training
is to have my dog's attention. If my dog is running around, sniffing the ground, I can't teach
him to sit or come or heel. I first must teach him to pay attention. I want my dog to look at
my face when he pays attention to me. Simply speaking to my Yorkie will have this effect. Some
dogs will be encouraged to look at their trainer if the trainer communicates excitement. For my
Chow I hold a piece of food in my hand, say "Ready", and move the food toward my eyes. When he
looks at me, I give him the food. Never stop working on this command. Give this command at random
when you have your dog outdoors.
A dog is encouraged to "sit" by pulling up on the leash and pushing down
on his rear. Pulling up raises his head and almost compels him to sit.
With food: hold the treat in front of his face and bring the treat up (and back a bit). Thus we
reinforce the upward movement of the head with the leash and the food in
the hand. --> "Hand moving up" is the hand signal for "sit."
"Down" by grabbing the leash CLOSE to the collar (or grab the collar itself)
and pulling down to the floor (and forward a bit). With food: hold the treat in front of the dog's face and
bring the treat down. -->
"Hand moving down" is the hand signal for "down."
"Stand" by pulling the leash STRAIGHT forward just a few inches and then
stop with palm toward the dog. With food: hold the treat in front of the dog's face and
bring the treat forward. This works because
the dog moves his body forward as he stands from a down or sit.
Alternatively, take a step forward and the dog will stand as he moves forward
at your side in the heel postition.
"Come" is very important. Train your dog with the six foot leash and then use
gradually longer leashes or a rope, etc. Let your dog see the food in your hand
before you say "Come."
Train your dog to heel by holding a piece of food in your left hand. (Hold the leash in your right hand.)
At random intervals give the food to your dog without stopping.
Your dog should obey on the first command. Give the command once and then enforce
it. If you are training with food, the dog gets the treat ONLY if she obeys on the first
command.
If your dog breaks from the stay position, it is your fault. You must return to your dog and release her
BEFORE she breaks. This is the only way to have a successful learning experience. When your dog breaks,
that's NOT a training experience. If your dog can stay for only five seconds, you should perform LOTS
of successful five second stays. I do not reward my dogs with food for the "Stay" command.
The anticipation of a food treat is a great distraction to the dog.
Your dog isn't responding to your food treats, you say? You aren't using good enough treats. Use the
best quality beef hot dogs. Abjure those low fat dogs, those chicken dogs, and especially those soy
dogs!
|
|