Five Commands For You And Your K9 Friend.
Sit
The sit command is one of the easiest dog obedience commands to teach your dog, so it’s a really good one to start with.
Hold a treat above your dog’s nose and by moving the treat above the head. FourFriends natural Tuna Stick Bite treats are ideal for this command.
Move your hand up, allowing his head to follow the treat and causing his bottom to lower.
Once he’s in the sit position, say “yes” and then give him/her the treat, and share affection.
Repeat this sequence a few times every day until your dog has it mastered. You can then add the Sit command.
You can then ask your dog to sit before mealtime, when leaving for a walk, and during other situations where you’d like him calm and seated.
You can then start to move away from the dog when they are in the sit proofing the sit position.
Come or Here
This command is a great training aid as it can help keep a dog out of trouble, bringing him back to you if you lose grip on the leash or accidentally leave the front door or gate open.
Put a long leash and collar on your dog and have some FourFriends healthy dog treats or their usual food with you in your pockets or in a training pouch. Any of the FourFriends Premium Quality Dog Foods are ideal.
Call your dog by either the come or here command and as soon as he/she looks at you walk backwards and when the dog comes to you reward him/her with the treat or the food.
Make sure it’s fun for you and your dog and make a fuss of them when they come back.
Once they have mastered the command you can then start to remove the leash — and practice the command in a safe, enclosed area.
Don’t forget to always make a huge fuss when they come back as the best place to be will always be with you.
DOWN
This command is easily done in doors by sitting on the floor and interacting with your dog, always remember to think what you are trying to do and try not to touch the dog when carrying out commands, this will help the dog learn by making mistakes, once the dog learns a movement or position they will then work out how to get their favorite FourFriends treat.
A lot of trainers say that this is the hardest position to train but I would disagree if you make it fun. Some trainers say this because they think it’s a submissive posture.
You can help by keeping training positive and relaxed, particularly with fearful or anxious dogs.
Hold your hand up to your dog’s nose. When they sniffs it, move your hand to the floor, so he follows.
Keep holding the treat in your hand on the ground in front of him to encourage his body to follow his head.
Once he’s in the down position, mark this with a yes or click then give him/her the treat, and share affection.
Repeat it every day. If your dog tries to sit up or lunges toward your hand, say “No” and take your hand away. Don’t push him into a down position, and make sure you encourage every step your dog takes toward the right position. After all, he’s working hard to figure it out!
STAY
Before attempting this one, make sure your dog is an expert at the “Sit” command.
First, ask your dog to “Sit.”
Then open the palm of your hand in front of you, and say “Stay.”
Take a few steps back mark the behavior for staying with a yes or click and then reward him with a treat and affection if he stays.
Gradually increase the number of steps you take before marking the behavior then give him/her the treat.
Always reward your pup for staying put — even if it’s just for a few seconds.
This is an exercise in self-control for your dog, so don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to master, particularly for puppies and high-energy dogs. After all, they want to be on the move and not just sitting there waiting.
LEAVE IT or OUT
This can help keep your dog safe when his curiosity gets the better of him, like if he smells something intriguing but possibly dangerous on the ground! The aim is to teach your pup that he/she gets something even better for ignoring the other item.
Place your FourFriends natural dog treat in both hands.
Show him one enclosed fist with the treat inside, and say, “Leave it.”
Let him lick, sniff, mouth, paw, and bark to try to get it — and ignore the behaviors.
Once he stops trying, mark the behavior with a yes or a click and give him/her the treat from the other hand.
Repeat until your dog moves away from that first fist when you say, “Leave it.”
Next, only give your dog the treat when he/she moves away from that first fist and also looks up at you.
Once your dog consistently moves away from the first treat and gives you eye contact when you say the command “leave it” or “out” then and only then are you’re ready to take it up a level. For this, use two different treats — one that’s just all right and one that’s a particularly good smelling and tasty favorite for your pup.
Say “Leave it” or “out” and then place the less attractive treat on the floor, and cover it with your hand.
Wait until your dog ignores that treat and looks at you. Then remove that treat from the floor, give him the higher quality FourFriends treat and share affection immediately.
Once he’s got it, place the less tasty treat on the floor… but don’t completely cover it with your hand. Instead hold it a little bit above the treat. Over time, gradually move your hand further and further away until your hand is about 6 inches above.
Now he’s ready to practice with you standing up! Follow the same steps, but if he tries to snatch the less tasty treat, cover it with your foot and say “no”.
Don’t rush the process. Remember, you’re asking a lot of your dog. If you take it up a notch and he’s really struggling, go back to the previous stage and don’t be frightened to go back at any of the stages in training.
Just these five simple commands can help keep your dog safer and improve your communication with him. It’s well worth the investment of your time and effort. Remember, the process takes time, so only start a dog obedience training session if you’re in the right mindset to practice calm-assertive energy and patience.
Always Keep Calm and Train Happy using FourFriends Premium Quality Dog Food and Treats.
Should you have any questions about the FourFriends range or dog training please contact Gavin our very own dog trainer.
Gavin is available on 01302 637377 or by email at gavin@fourfriendspetfoods.co.uk