Be Flexible - adjust your training to the dog

Training tip of the day: training the dog to perform any command is not just about teaching a behavior as much information as we are giving our dogs it is so important to listen to your dogs too, read their body language and their actions and adjust your training method, style and speed to your dog. If your dog seems confused or doesnt seem to be getting something then don't blame your dog figure out what you can do differently to help your dog succeed. They are all different even dogs we have in for day training. Some dogs practice their obedience best straight out of a nap in the crate, others do better after a romp in the yard, some work better starting with a short walk down the street and back and others the treadmill 1st. We have a variety of dogs here today and not one of them is the same it is up to jason and i to read the individual dogs and decide what we believe is best for that dog then go with it but we are constantly listening and tweaking what we do to adjust to the speed and what works for that individual dog. This is what keeps my job fun. Sit is sit and down is down but how we teach it and reinforce it is different for very dog.

Treats: Lure! Don't Bribe

This is exactly why I instruct you to start with luring with treats or use food as a reward not as a bribe because they already aren't doing it. 
For example we started teaching "Cash" a 15wk Pom how to walk on the leash and he had never even had a leash on before today so he was extra stubborn so we started walking he dug his heels in and with a little encouragement after a few steps on his own he got a treat. Then after 3 or 4 more steps next to me he got another treat. If I had come back to him and bribed him with a treat after he had dug his heels in he would think "Cool the more stubborn I am the more treats I get, I will continue this behavior" Use food as a lure from the beginning, or as a reward never as a bribe.

Correct Heel Position

Training Tip of the day: If your dog is in heel position your shadow should look like this

SIT - How to

SIT

TEACHING

             This is the beginning step of teaching your dog how to sit. There are stages in training and future posts will have information about adding Duration and Time, Distractions and Distance. 

             Your training sessions should be short and sweet. 5 min max at a time. 

There are 4 teaching methods listed below. We know that all dogs are different so find what works for your dog.

             Training equipment: At this stage I recommend using a flat collar or a slip collar of some sort. I do not recommend a harness or head halter of any kind for teaching these commands. It's possible to but I don't recommend it. 

             Make sure to give the command “SIT” before you start to help the dog in any way. When you say “SIT” command it. Don’t yell it and don’t say it in your everyday voice. Add a little bit of emphasis to it like you mean it but it doesn't need to be loud. Say the command once, even if it takes you 5 min or more to get the dog sitting you have only said it once at the beginning. Once you get the dog into the desired position you can calmly pet and reward with food if your dog is food motivated. Release your dog right away. “FREE” is what we use. When you release your dog you are just encouraging him to get up. Do not pull on the leash to get your dog up into “Free”. Just make it fun and exciting. For this beginning step in training you want to “Free” your dog before they have a chance to get up on their own. We will work on time and distance later.

Lure

Over head: Start with your dog in front of you take a treat and put it in front of their nose bring the food up over the dogs head and towards its back. (Slow) As soon as your dog is sitting say “Yes” and feed then say “Free” and encourage them to get up. If your dog loses interest part way following the treat then you need to slow down. If your dog still loses interest you need to move to a higher value treat.

Up toward you: Start with your dog in front of you take a treat and put it in front of their nose bring the treat toward you at a straight line from the dogs nose to your belly button and then in all one motion up your body to your chest. Sometimes it helps if you back up initially when you start this.

Leash Pressure and Physical Help

            Pull the leash gently up and over the dogs back at an angle adding slow gradual pressure straight up and slightly at an angle over the back while adding gentle pressure with your hand or finger tips to the dogs butt near the tail. This is NOT a challenge of how quickly you can force the dogs butt down. Slow is key as soon as the dog starts to finish sitting on their own – You let them and help again if you need to. As soon as they are sitting slow calming pets and praise.

            If the above doesn’t work here is one other option. Pull the leash up at an angle over the dogs back while taking your arm behind your dogs hind knees helping him to bend his legs in to a sit.

            Take your time and listen to your dog. Some dogs work better with the leash pressure at an angle over their back and others work better if you have the leash pressure coming in a straight up position.

Over time I plan to start adding videos to these posts as demonstrations.

Watch for updates.

NEXT will be a post on Duration getting your dog to stay sitting for a length of time. 

PLEASE ask ANY questions you have in relation to these posts. 

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Set Structure in your Home

Adding Structure and Rules to your dogs daily life can help make the world of difference.
If you teach obedience but let them get away with ALL of the following things this is probably why you are still having trouble.
Remember dogs are pack animals and in their world someone has to be in charge. They would always much prefer it is us but they do things to test us to make sure we are still in charge. In their world we can't just be buddy buddy with no one in charge. If we show we are in charge through little things in their life they feel more comfortable and are better behaved around new people, they are more confident overal knowing if there were a problem we would take care of it. I see dogs every day that have nervous energy from lack of structure.

Furniture
- By invitation only.
I have no problem with my dog cuddling on the couch with me or sleeping in bed but I want it to be by invitation only. Your dog should not feel it is their right to be on the furniture.
I let them up on my terms not because they are sitting begging to come up.

Attention
- On my terms.
Invite your dog over for attention. Don't give in to the nose bumping your arm while you are sitting down. Just ignore it... after your dog gives up you can then invite your dog over for attention.
Remember that negative attention is still attention to most dogs. If your dog jumps up and you push them down that often becomes a game. Turning away from them, standing up or using a leash to correct the behavior is far better than talking to them or just pushing them down.
If your dog jumps on the couch do not pick them up to set them down a little tug on the collar towards the grown will work.

Food
- Feed Set Meals
Instead of free feeding your dog feed set meals at morning and night. Give your dog 10-20min to eat anything they don't eat should be taken up and not returned until dinner.

Crate
- Crate training is huge and helps to give them more structure and it helps to manage behavior to create new habits instead of allowing your dog to continue practicing bad behavior.
Crating the dog even when your home for short periods of time helps.

Doorway manners
Having your dog wait at doorways before they go through. I am not worried about every doorway in your home but the major ones like
Front Door
Back Door
Side Gates
Garage Door
Car Door

Place
Teaching your dog to go to a dog bed and wait there until released. Place is nice to create calm in a house with multiple dogs. I use place for front door manners. When someone comes to the door I have the dogs go to place and I decide if or when they get to say hi to guests.