Quotes About Training

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.

To a puppy, any attention is good attention. If you focus on your puppy when they're mouthing, running away from you, or eating an unacceptable item, your body language and actions are saying "prize envy!" Your puppy will likely grab more things or, worse, grab the forbidden items only when you're not looking.

After you bring your pup to the area, ignore them until they eliminate.

You should use your puppy's name only when you're happy, not angry.

Decide early on what your puppy needs in order to feel included and satisfied in each situation (a bone, a mat, a 15-minute game of Toss after a nap), and insist on only the behavior you've outlined.

By this stage, your puppy has bladder control. Urge them to stay in their crate 15 to 30 minutes longer each morning by waking them up with a bone or food-stuffed hollow toy, until they're content sleeping in until your ideal target time.