Your Questions About Dog Training Books

Sandra asks…

Does anyone have any puppy training tips?

I have a 10 week old GoldenDoodle named Eilidh (AYlee). She’s very sweet and I recently had to put a dog down for aggression. I don’t want to make any mistakes this time. I have a dog training book (Dog Training Made Easy) but I would like to know of any other tips to train her the right way. We have been very careful not to smack her when she’s “naughty” and we just yell “NO” in a harsh voice.

She’s still not potty trained but we’ve only had her two weeks and she goes outside most of the time. When she does go inside, I know it’s because WE aren’t paying attention.

I guess what I’m asking is the proper way to punish her when she’s eating my rug, or a shoe, or one of the kids toys. Right now we just say “NO” and give her one of her “Good girl toys.”. Any ideas?
Also, I was told by my vet that she shouldn’t go to puppy training classes until she is 15 weeks, after all of her shots. Will that be too late?

admin answers:

Its not too early to start on the sit-stay and down- stay and come.. When she begins chewing, give her any of the above commands, and be persistant about her doing it..that way, when you do give her a treat, it is for a job well done…It also shows her that when she tries to create her own job, that you have a better one for her..
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 don’t 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 exercise 7x. Then take a play break and move on to something else.
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. Tapering 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, don’t let him have it until he downs.
Praise in happy voice “GOOD DOWN”
repeat 7x

STAY

Start pup in down position. 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 until 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 recommend martingayles .
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 recommend “HEEL” the second your dog complies praise 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.

Linda asks…

How can I train my dog not to bark at visitors?

I have a 9 month old shih-tzu, and every time someone knocks at the door, or when she hears something that resembles knocking, she barks up a storm. This wouldn’t be so bad, except that when I have company over (not too often) she acts afraid of the person, barking at them and hiding in her crate. She is otherwise socialized, and when we see people outside of my home (like on walks, in the park, etc.) she is fine. I know this is probably because I live alone, she rarely sees visitors except for my boyfriend (who she adores) and she is protecting her territory. But how can I get her to accept visitors?

I have read many dog behavior/training books, but none have taught me how to deal with this problem.

admin answers:

It is natural for a dog to watch out and bark when someone comes close – at least persons whom it does not know. If it barks all the time, also at people it knows – it is a problem. It is not sure you are able to protect good enough.

I had a dog once – I tried a “catastrophy-bag” (…)… Which consisted of coke-cans with small coins in it which I threw after him a couple of times when barking. It helped for as long as I had the bag in my hand. I also had a collar which squished out lemon-squirt every time he barked. I tell you; he barked and he got 10 squirts with lemon right in his mouth. Did not help. Only thing that helped was work, work and work. Making him understand I was the boss over all bosses… : ) Here’s what I did:

You will have to teach it you are in charge. The way to do this is to walk it every day – with leach or without if you really are in charge. Enter rooms first – dog second allways. Say hi to persons in room allways before dog. Let other persons say hi to you before your dog – allways. Eat first – dog last, allways. Never feed when you eat and sertainly not at table…

Good luck

Sharon asks…

Can any one tell me of any dog training books?

Can any one tell me of any dog training books

admin answers:

The dog listener by jan fennell is great and she has done quite a few books on training and understanding dogs. If you want to do more than just basic traning and go that step further then i think expert obedience training for dogs by winifred strickland is also great. You can go onto amazon and buy them for much less than in the shops plus lots of pet shops only sell books for training like sit, stay etc.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *