Groom your Dog

Grooming your dog daily not only keeps it clean and healthy, but also helps to reassert your authority over it. Picking up the dog, holding its head, and opening its mouth are dominant gestures that reinforce your control. Initially, use food rewards as distractions throughout the grooming session.

Three Essential Commands

The “Come”, “Sit” and “Stay” commands are the most important lessons that you can teach your dog, since they enable you to keep it under control at all times. All dog owner have the responsibility for ensuring that their pets are not a nuisance. Be sure to praise the dog when it responds well. When it disobeys a command, repeat the exercise from the previous level of success.

Coming To You

Train your puppy to come to you on command when it is alert and hungry. Divide its meal into ten portions, and throughout the day entice it to the food bowl using its name and the command “Come”. As the puppy comes to you, kneel down and praise it by saying “Good dog” with enthusiasm and give the good.

The “Sit” Command

One your puppy responds well the command to come, teach it to sit. Call the puppy to you, showing it a food treat. As it reaches you, move the treat slowly up and over its head. The pup will naturally sit down in order to keep its eyes on the food. Give the command “Sit” when you see the puppy begin to bend its hind legs. Initially, reward each respond with verbal praise and treats.

Learning The “Down” Command

Train your dog to lie down reliably on your command before moving outdoors where there are dangers such as busy roads. There are two lying down positions – “sphinx”, in which the hind legs are tucked under, and “flat”, where the hips are rolled and the legs are to one side. At this stage, it doesn’t matter which position it assumes.

Walking Without A Lead

It is often easiest to train a puppy to walk to heel off the lead at first, since it will enjoy a human companionship and will usually be willing to follow its owner. Using the scent of food to attract the puppy, give command “Heel”. Be ready to grasp the collar if the puppy wanders, and attempt to cover only small distance initially.

101 ESSENTIAL TIPS TRAINING YOUR DOG