Dog Training

Lesson 1: The Basics - Sit, Stand, Down, Come and Walk on a leash

Coming When Called, Walking on a Leash

Coming When Called

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this command. If your dog learns nothing else, this is critical. The best way to start is taking the pup out off leash as soon as he is old enough to follow you. If he starts off leash, then being off leash will be no big deal. Use rewards to give him the idea of what “Pup (your dog’s name) Come” means. Call the dog excitedly and reward and praise him enthusiastically when he comes to you. If he is distracted, run away from him. Most puppies cannot resist a game of chase. Practice calling him for no other reason than to reward him. If you have to put him in a crate or give him pills or any other thing he might rather avoid, go and get him. Don't expect a young dog to obey if he thinks it's going to be unpleasant.

Older dogs may need to stay on a long leash, (about 40 feet is good) or long rope for safety. The longer the dog has been disobeying that command, the longer it will take to re-train him. You might even consider changing the command to something like “Here” or using a whistle so he won’t associate it with the command he knows he can ignore. Some older dogs may never be reliable if they have a long history of taking off. It is still worth working on, however. Even an unreliable recall is better than none at all.

Walking on a Leash

Most older dogs have mastered this lesson, more or less. But be sure your puppy can walk on a leash. Start with a well-fitting buckle collar, tight enough so it won’t slip over his head but loose enough to get two fingers under the collar. You can start by letting him drag the leash for short period of time—while supervised, of course. He’ll become accustomed to the leash and will learn to back up if he steps on it—a preliminary lesson for walking on a leash.

Pick up the leash and lure the puppy with his treat and try to persuade him to follow you. If he moves away, follow him for a short distance. It will be give and take until he learns he must follow where you lead.

Don't forget--Keep the lessons short. Quit before the dog (and you) get tired and frustrated. Try to end on a positive note so the dog will look forward to the next lesson. End the lesson with some play time. Practice often. And have fun!

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