Your dog wants to obey you and be your best friendevery ounce of his being quivers with desire to please you. But you have to be his best friend, too, and training him to sit and stay are basic behaviors that will not only protect his life, but open the door for additional, more complex training.
Having a dog that is difficult to control or just wants to have too much fun indicates that you need to use the Gentle Manipulation method to train him to sit. First of all, be sure that your dog has a defined place..elevate him on a step, a table or a porch. At all times during the training, his collar must have a leash attached to give you complete control.
Keep in mind that praise and petting your dog are the keys to making this work. Place one hand gently on his back near the base of his tail and say "Sit". As soon as this is accomplished, use the word "Stay". Let him know that you appreciate his cooperation. Continue this method until he begins to sit without manipulation from your hand. Eventually, he will begin to sit just before you touch him as you say the word "Sit". He now knows his cue.
Most dogs respond well to the Sit training using the Treat Method. Again, place your dog in an elevated area and hold a treat approximately 3 to 4 inches over his head, moving it towards his tail. Naturally, he now has to sit in order to watch the treat. As he does so, say "Sit". Eventually, you can fade out the treat but still say the word "Sit". He now recognizes his cue, and together you have accomplished the first command.
After your dog has mastered Sitting and you have now taught him to Stay, don't make the mistake of calling him to you and rewarding him. Reward him in the Stay position. Calling him to you and then rewarding him for Staying gives your dog no reason to stay at all. Be sure to be consistent with rewarding him at the proper time.
Make sure that you limit your training sessions to 2 to 4 minutes each. Have fun with your best pal. If you notice he is becoming bored or restless, end the session. Set your goals prior to each session and be sure to end the training in a positive way. Reward your dog well and praise him for his obedience and willingness to listen.
Related posts:
Posted under Dogs
This post was written by Josh Prizer on October 26, 2008
