HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TRAIN MY DOG?

Two or three times a day

FOR HOW LONG SHOULD I TRAIN MY DOG?

1 to 5 minutes at a time

It's vital that they enjoy themselves and don't get bored or over-excited

 

EXERCISE

Should I take my dog out for walks on the lead?   NO.  DO YOUR LEAD PRACTICE FOR THE FIRST WEEK IN YOUR OWN GARDEN.  

Free-run your dog in a safe enclosed area (traffic is the main danger)
or

Walk your dog on a long lead using a belt round your own waist in a safe area away from traffic

 

 

RECALL

 

It is vital for your dog's safety and enjoyment that they return when you call them

WHISTLE

 

 

 

 

HOW?

SHORT DISTANCE

 

INSTANT REWARD

Why?
It gets the dogs' attention with the high pitched sound
It always sound the same, so other members of hte family can use it
It never sounds angry
You can blow the whistle even if you have a sore throat!!

 

Two short toots on the whistle, repeated after a gap if necessary

Inside the house and in your garden.  Increase the distance only when the dog is immediately coming to you

Food reward immediately they come to you

HEEL (learning to follow you).   Practice this once or twice a day for about 2-5 minutes at a time

WHICH SIDE OF YOU WILL YOUR DOG WALK?

 

TECHNIQUE

 

 

 

 

POSITION

 

 

 

EXERCISES

 

STRAIGHT LINE


CIRCLE

 

 

FIGURE OF EIGHT

Decide which side of you the dog will walk on.  Stick to that side.  

Lead should be clipped to the front of the harness, on the dog's chest

Keep the lead loose as much as possible. Do not engage in long pulling. A short sharp jerk on the lead is used to bring the dog back to the correct position.  The lead should then immediately be loose.  This rewards the dog

 

Just behind you, so that you can just see his nose is the correct position

If your dog moves away from the desired position, a short sharp jerk on the lead, followed by immediate loosening is all that is needed.  This DOES NOT hurt the dog

 

 

Walk a straight line

 

Walk a circle, large enough to be easy for your dog and you.  Reverse the direction and walk in the opposite direction on the circle

 

Place two markers on the ground (a tree is fine, or a flower pot, or a chair or a person).  Separate these so that you can easily walk through the middle.  
Then walk round the back of one marker, through the middle and round the back of the other