I have a 12 week old chocolate lab puppy and want to know the best way to train it to sit, stay, and come when I call out. Also, how do I teach it to fetch?
Answers:
The Basics
SIT, COME, DOWN, STAY, HEEL.
SIT
Holding a treat in your left hand just above the pup's nose, gently rest your right hand on pup's rump.
Slowly move the treat in an upward motion while applying gentle pressure to the rump. ( you dont want to push hard because if you do the dog will sit every time someone touches him and this is not good for competitive obedience)
as soon as pup sits say in a very happy excited tone "GOOD SIT" and give the treat.
Repeat excersize 7x. then take a play break and move on to something elce.
very young pups should not train for more than a half hour each day
every time you put food bowl down or give a treat give the sit command, and wait for the sit. then once pup sits give treat or food down.
DO NOT move on to something new until pup has the new command down pat.
COME
walk away from pup about 10 feet to start. say pup's name and "COME" in a happy voice. once pup comes praise it lavishly have a bit of a play and give it a treat.
Gradually increase the distance you walk away. and eventually once pup knows command only treat every 3rd come. tappering off until he comes every time with out treat using only praise.
this will take a few days to learn if you practice every day.
DOWN
Start with pup in sit. move hand with the treat between the pup's front paws on the ground.
Say "DOWN" in firm but not loud voice.
pup might try and get treat without going down, dont let him have it until he downs.
praise in happy voice "GOOD DOWN"
repeat 7x
STAY
Start pup in down possition. say "STAY" in firm voice. walk to end of leash, backwards. if the pup moves say once only "AP" in a not pleased tone. go back do not say anything. put pup in down again repeat "STAY" walk backwards to end of leash.
pup does NOT get praise or treat untill he stays for 30 seconds, then a minute, then 5 minutes. move times up each week.
after he can do a 5 minute down/stay every time. move on to a sit/stay doing exactly what you did for down/stay.
Once on leash sit and down/stays are reliable for 5 minutes each. drop the leash and walk away from your pup, your back to the pup. about 10 feet away. wait 5 min. recall your dog. with dog sitting in front of you once he reaches you. treat and praise.
HEEL
Please do NOT train with a choke collar. i recomend martin gayles.
with dog on a short leash exactly beside you on your left side say "HEEL" if the dog starts to pull give a correction snap with leash on collar. and recomand "HEEL" the second your dog complies peaise with "GOOD HEEL" in happy voice. and continue to walk , correct, and praise for 30 minutes.
Always end training sessions on a positive note. Never get angry with your pup for not responding to a command. Praise lavishly every time pup responds to a command.
NEVER hit your dog. NO reason is an acceptable reason for physicaly abusing your pup.
Group obedience classes will help with socialization and a good instructor will be able to help with training your dog
here is an article on teaching fetch:
http://www.i-love-dogs.com/dogsarticles/...
Fetch will probably come naturally to this dog. Teach it to give up the object fetched by having 2 of the same thing.
Here's an excellent book, that is simple and easy to follow:
Family Friendly Dog Training
A Six Week Program for You and Your Dog by Dr. Patricia McConnell.
You can buy it here:
http://www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com/bo...
Repetition and reward.
Use command and hand signs to show him/her what you want him/her to do. Maybe assist a liitle at first and always reward a succesful attempt.
Puppy traing classes are also good, check it out with your vet.
ehow.com
http://www.seefido.com/html/how_to_becom...
http://www.loveyourdog.com/tricks3.html...
http://www.dogproblems.com/housebreaking...
http://www.sfspca.org/behavior/dog_libra...
ok, this is great cause I also have a chocolate lab so this sould be very similar to what you should do with your puppy. Just start off by saying this make take time but never give up.
first - also keep a treat or 2 in your back pocket while training to reward your dog right away.
sit - hold your dogs collar while rubbing its back from head to bottom pushing a little towards the back forcing her/him to sit. Say sit while doing this, when she sits say sit again and give her a treat. Keep trying till she can do it without your help
stay - when your dog has learned to sit, have her sit and then say stay and slowly back away always hold up your hands as a visual for her to stay where she is and continue to stay stay, then stop and tell her to come and give her a treat when she does. This one you must be very pacient on.
(this is also come you can do them together or just work on one at a time)
fetch - normally when you trhough a ball or something dogs naturally will go get it, if not throw it and then run with them to it and have them pick it up. What really to work on is having them come back to you. Encourage your dog to come by shouting to her to come here and clapping your hands and bending your legs so you are down low, and she should run towards you. (this next part is optional) when she comes tell her to sit and then take the ball and lay it on the ground while saying drop it or drop. She should get used to coming back everytime and sitting and dropping the ball.
I hope this helps you train your dog. Have fun and if there is one tip I can give you for training a puppy it is to ALWAYS be pacient and always stay calm. It can take alot of time sometimes and can sometimes be very fusterating, never take it out on your dog, she/he doesn't know really what she is learning until it is all done. so good luck and have fun.
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