Small Animal Technology Canine Unit Canine Training Small Animal Technology Canine Unit

TRAINING The amount & type of training a dog receives depends on what the dog is going to be used for. Almost all dogs should learn 5 basic commands: Heel Sit Down Stay Come

WHEN TO BEGIN Training should begin as soon as the puppy arrives home. Puppies should learn: Their name The basic corrective word ‘no’ Praise words ‘good boy or good girl’

ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR Puppies must learn what types of behavior are acceptable & what types are not. Owner’s voice is best corrective tool Puppies that get hit will soon shy away from its owner for fear of being beaten. If corrections cannot be made immediately, it should not be made at all. Puppies will not realize what they are being corrected for if you wait to discipline them.

HOUSE-TRAINING House training can be accomplished by allowing the new puppy outside shortly after eating or several times during the day. Puppies will soon associate being allowed outside with relieving itself. If an occasional accident occurs, use the words ‘bad dog’ & immediately take the puppy outside. As the puppy gets older, it will make its way to the door & ‘ask’ to be allowed outside.

HOUSE-TRAINING Another method is known as paper training. This involves laying several layers of newspaper down on the floor, usually in the area where the puppy will normally be fed. Place the puppy’s food & water bowl on the newspaper; the puppy will usually relieve itself shortly after eating. Try to confine the puppy in the area of the newspaper until it relieves itself. The puppy will soon learn to associate the newspaper area with elimination. As training progresses, the area covered by the newspaper can be made smaller & moved closer to the door. Eventually, the newspaper can be moved outside & the puppy allowed to go outside to relieve itself.

SERIOUS TRAINING At about 6 months of age, puppies are ready to start the more serious stages of training; dogs younger than this lack the ability to concentrate on more demanding training. Training periods should be held once or twice a day, be short in the beginning, & gradually increase to 15-30 minutes at a time. Longer training periods will tire the dog and may bore it. Do not forget to correct the dog immediately & be generous with praise when it performs well.

EQUIPMENT Purchase a choke collar & a leash If used properly, they make great training tools. The trainer should put the collar on the dog & allow it to get used to it for a day or two. After the dog is used to the collar, the lead should be attached & the dog walked. No pressure should be applied on the collar. The trainer gradually increases control, & the dog learns that the collar & lead are used to restrain & not meant to harm it.

BASIC COMMANDS Heel: The handler will want the dog to walk on his or her left side As the handler starts to walk, he or she should use the dog’s name & give the command to heel The handler may have to give a slight pull on the lead to persuade the dog to follow. The handler should practice with the dog 2 or 3 times a day until the dog follows its own accord.

BASIC COMMANDS Sit: Typically also part of teaching the dog to heel. Once the handler stops walking, teach the dog to sit. At first, use the command ‘sit’ once the handler stops walking. As you say this, pull on the lead & push down on the dog’s rump.

BASIC COMMANDS Remaining Sitting: When the handler has the dog in the sit position, he or she will give the command stay. As the command is given, the handler will place his or her left hand in front of the dog’s muzzle & step forward with the right foot first. Gradually, the handler will increase the time for the dog to stay & the distance walked away. A well-trained dog should stay on command for at least 3 minutes.

BASIC COMMANDS Standing: While the dog is heeling, the handler will slow down, stop, & give the command stand. Don’t let the dog sit, but simply keep walking & give the command heel. After a few steps, the handler will give the command stand; the handler will also give the command stay. Gradually, the dog will associate the two terms, stand and stay.

BASIC COMMANDS Lie down: Handler will kneel down beside the dog & reach over it with her/her left arm & grab the dog’s left front leg. The handler will grab the dog’s right front leg with the right hand & gently lift the dog’s front feet off the ground & ease the dog down into a lying position. The handler will practice the down command along with the stay command until the dog will down & stay until it is called.

BASIC COMMANDS Come: At this point, the dog should be advanced in training. If the dog hesitates, the handler should give a couple of tugs on the lead to inform the dog to come.

BASIC COMMANDS The handler should use all of the commands together during training so that the dog will obey them without the use of the choke collar & lead. If the dog hesitates, appears confused, or does not readily obey, the collar & lead will be put back on & the training routine continued.