| Most dog owners want their pets to be well behaved. | | | | that, your dog will respond more readily to your wishes. |
| After all, an unruly dog is a headache at home and an | | | | Sparky now realizes, "This person isn't out to hurt me, |
| absolute nightmare in public. Fortunately, you don't have | | | | and if I do this stuff right, I get hugs and other good |
| to be an expert animal trainer to give your dog a basic | | | | stuff." |
| education that will make him or her more "socially | | | | Cool. We're making good progress. Let's move on to |
| acceptable" and less trouble for you. Four simple | | | | number 3: |
| commands can make all the difference. | | | | Stay |
| The order in which you teach these commands to | | | | Ah, yes, the one that many experts think should be |
| your dog is as important as the commands | | | | taught first. Granted, this a very important skill to teach |
| themselves. Although opinions differ widely on this | | | | your dog. It could save his or her life. It could keep a |
| subject, a little simple logic will come to light in the | | | | dog fight from starting. It might even keep enough |
| upcoming discussion of each command. Training a dog | | | | distance between Sparky and that skunk to avoid |
| shouldn't be a haphazard undertaking, any more than | | | | disaster. So, why not teach it first? Aside from what |
| raising a child. In fact, the two processes are very | | | | was mentioned about the last 2 commands, think |
| similar. It is worth mentioning at this stage, though, that a | | | | about the logical order of things. Let's say Sparky's just |
| mature dog without training is as trainable as a puppy. | | | | met the toddler next door and is scaring the bejeezus |
| With patience and enough positive reinforcement, you | | | | out of him. You calmly speak 4 words: "Sparky, no. |
| most certainly can teach an old dog new tricks. | | | | Down. Stay." You've just preserved your relationship |
| So, where do you start? The same place you start | | | | with the neighbors. |
| with a child. Which command comes first is almost a | | | | Alright, we're making magic here! What's next? If |
| no-brainer: | | | | you've successfully taught the 3 above, this will be the |
| No | | | | easiest command of all: |
| Why should you teach this one first? First of all, | | | | Come |
| because it covers all kinds of behavior. When your | | | | If you've been patient and loving in teaching the |
| dog hears this command, the reaction should be to | | | | previous commands, you'll have no problem with this |
| stop doing whatever he or she is doing immediately. It | | | | one. This is what your dog most wants to do. Your |
| establishes you as the boss, teaches your dog to stop | | | | reward for all the time and effort is a special bond with |
| and listen, and quickly shows your canine pal what's | | | | your dog that makes him/her want to be right by your |
| alright and what's not. This single word can take the | | | | side. You're not the master, you're a trusted friend, and |
| place of a whole arsenal of other "formal" commands | | | | who isn't going to come when their best friend calls? |
| -- everything from "Hush" to "Sparky, don't drink out of | | | | In many ways, this final essential command is a test of |
| the toilet!" Teach it gently, use it often and calmly, and | | | | your performance on the previous 3. Expert trainers |
| "No" will quickly make life with your dog easier. | | | | will tell you that when teaching obedience classes, it's |
| The other, less obvious reason this command should | | | | harder to train the owner than the dog. If your dog |
| be taught first is that it's a training aid for the other | | | | responds quickly when you gently, but firmly say, |
| commands. If you give a command and your dog | | | | "Come", give yourself an "A" and your dog the reward |
| responds incorrectly, you simply -- and again, calmly -- | | | | he or she deserves. You've made a loyal friend. |
| say, "No." When he or she responds, you can repeat | | | | These 4 commands may be all you ever need to |
| the command you're teaching. The reward when the | | | | teach your dog. Some experts will insist that "Heel" is |
| command is followed correctly and the fact that you | | | | indispensable. This, like many other advanced "social" |
| don't say, "No" will help your pooch get on track with | | | | commands, may be important in some situations, but |
| less confusion. | | | | good leash training combined with the commands |
| That was easy, right? So, what's next? | | | | above will keep your dog out of trouble. Of course, if |
| Down | | | | you plan to show your dog indoors or in field trials, |
| This one may initially seem out of place, but there's a | | | | there is no substitute for the advanced commands |
| very good reason for going here next. For a dog, lying | | | | and a professional trainer. |
| down is a submissive act. That can make this a very | | | | If you're like many dog owners, you'll find that the time |
| difficult command to teach and an important hurdle for | | | | spent in training isn't just rewarding, it's good fun. Once |
| both you and your dog. It's extremely important that | | | | you've established basic good manners with the 4 |
| you work with patience and very little force as you | | | | essential commands, you may want to have some |
| teach your dog to lie down. Your goal in this portion of | | | | real fun with commands like, "Shake", "Roll over", "Play |
| your dog's training should be to establish trust, rather | | | | dead", etc. Maybe you'll want to invent some special |
| than dominance. | | | | tricks of your own. If so, you'll have a great head start. |
| Once you've successfully taught your dog to lie down | | | | In closing, I offer my sincere apologies to any dogs |
| on command, using plenty of praise and a minimum of | | | | named Sparky who may have been offended by my |
| pushing and shoving, you'll find that other new | | | | use of the name in the examples above. I'd like to |
| commands will be more easily accepted and learned. | | | | assure my canine friends that no ill will was intended |
| Your dog should know at this stage that there's no | | | | and the name was used with the utmost respect. To |
| threat involved in your asking him/her to assume what | | | | dogs not named Sparky: You're smart, too. Woof. |
| is normally a compromising position. Having established | | | | |