Quotes from Sarah Hodgson

Puppies, like people, are drawn to confidence, so you need to act with authority and self-assurance even if you have to fake it.

Seek out a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital in your area as well. Keep the hospital's number by or on your phone. Accidents

Stay cool. Frustration makes you look foolish. As you work toward off-lead control, your puppy may act confused and unresponsive because your guidance is gone. You used to give the direction and guide them with the lead.

I teach my human clients the importance of sitting or kneeling to pet or handle their puppy instead of bending over them, creating calming station for their puppy in the rooms they share, and playing with their puppy to strengthen their bond.

Approaching a door, at home, or on the road: Puppy must sit, coming in and going out. Greeting: Puppy should grab a toy from the basket and only be greeted after they've calmed down enough to sit or roll on their back Mealtime manners: Puppy must sit and wait for puppy food and also lie on a mat with a bone during your meals. After-hours TV/computer: Puppy should lie on a mat and chew a toy.

Go into an open area with your puppy and have the leader tell the players when they can start to wiggle and dance! If your puppy begins to get excited, instruct "Wait." Repeat "Wait" in a strong voice as you stop abruptly. Toss a toy for your puppy to reward their self-control!

No matter how often t has to occur, calmly insist on what puppy needs to do with stationary directions like Sit, Stay, and Down.

Buy a commercial puppy play pole or make one yourself by tying your puppy's favorite toy to a pole or stick. Bounce the toy along as you say to your puppy, "Go get your toy!" If your puppy loves to tug, teach them to release on the word Give by periodically waving a smelly treat in front of their nose and rewarding them as they release the toy.

Condition your puppy to a positive sound, such as a shaking treat cup or a clicker.

Once a day, while your puppy is eating a meal or chewing on a bone, approach them with the treat cup and reward them, at first, by tossing a treat at their feet and saying "Find it." Do not reach down or take the food or object away.

As you say the cue word hello, lure your puppy to stand sideways instead of straight into you. Now pet them shoulder to tail instead on top of their head.

Using a head collar or front-clip harness, use incentives to urge them to walk with you. Don't tug or drag your puppy, because they will resist following you even more.

Rather than console them, courageously face the distraction; reward your puppy for following your lead.

Is your puppy over on their mat, chewing a bone? Stand up — quick! Race over and reward them for doing just that.

Anytime your puppy looks, leans, or lunges at the children, either step between them (block) or move in the opposite direction as you redirect them to another diversionary game or activity (refer to Step 2).

Tell your puppy to "get your toy" as you walk to the basket and play with them.

Belly Up: If your puppy likes a belly rub (most do), pair calming rubs with the words "Belly Up!" After a week or so of pairing the word with the action, say "Belly Up!" during greetings.

Leave your puppy a favorite chew toy. Rub the toy between your palms so that it smells like you.

The reason your puppy snatches things off the countertops when your back is turned or you leave the room is that — obviously — they want to avoid being challenged by you. Basically, they're thinking, "Whatever is on the counter must be great, so I'd better grab it when all backs are turned, or else I'll have to give it up.

Hopping on the couch and standing eye to eye gives many puppies the impression that it's playtime. A better approach is to have your puppy stay on their place, looking up to you with parental reverence. As your puppy matures, you can permission-train them, as detailed later in this section.

Until your puppy learns a strong Stay

puppies learn best from an understanding teacher.

Bring out the treats (and clicker, if you're using that

treat or simply treat as you praise them. Do not take the toy away from them. The goal is to teach your puppy that "Give" means "spit it out." This action highlights your good intentions to play and not steal.