Teaching commands in English to your dog or puppy
Don't know whether to sit, stand, lie down or roll over - now you know what your
dog feels like if you have mixed up your commands!
The Best Ways to Teach Your Puppy the
English Language by: Dy Witt
Puppies are eager and willing to do the right
thing. They love your happy face and the squealy noises you make when they have
done something great. They will do ANYthing to please you because of the loving
rewards they get from being a Good Dog. They just cannot get enough of your
praises and cuddles.
Moving towards "What a good dog!" from "Bad
Puppy!" is based on one thing. Your puppy does not know the English language,
and the faster he learns it, the better for all, because the minute he knows
what you want he will DO it. Make it faster and easier for him to learn by
keeping these tips in mind:
- Be consistent in the words you choose to
teach him commands. If you say, "Wanna go potty?" in the morning, and "Have to
go out?" two hours later, and "Wanna go pee?" two hours later, etc., then that
is THREE phrases you have asked him to learn in one day instead of only one.
Decide which words to use, and make sure everyone in your family uses the same
ones.
- Use his name in the command if you want
action, do NOT use it if you want him restricted from action. This is very
important. Hearing his own name makes a puppy leap into action by his very
nature. When you want your puppy to come, say, "Puppy, Come!" [insert his name
instead of the word Puppy, of course] When you want him to lie down, simply
say, "Down".
- Do not confuse your puppy
with the same words for different commands. If you are teaching him basic
obedience, the word "Down" means LIE down, usually followed by "Stay." If you
don't want him on the couch, do not say "Down", say, "Off." This word can be
used to keep him from jumping up into your lap, onto the couch, chair or bed
because it is the ACTION of jumping up you are trying to restrict. Saying
"Down" when he jumps onto the couch will just make him lie down on the couch!
See the difference?
Do not ever hit your puppy, you don't need to.
The worst punishment he ever needs to learn a lesson is your sad frown and
walking away from him. One or two minutes is the limit though, do not overdo
this. After a minute of ignoring him, give a command he knows well and praise
praise praise, with a big smile.
These three tips, used with gentleness and
consistency, will teach your puppy all the words he needs to know to be a happy
and obedient companion in a matter of days.
About the author Dy Witt has shown, bred and trained standard poodles for 25 years. Vets
and groomers of her pups send word back of how wonderfully happy and easy to
handle they are. For more on her training techniques, more free articles and
info on her new ebook on dog training, visit
http://www.DogTraining15MinsADay.com |