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Training and Handling

Your puppy is going to be the joy of your life, believe me! So you really must be ready for him or her. You have to know how to train them, look after them, and make them a lovable and helpful pet. To do this, you have to teach them! Don’t worry, I’m not going to just send you away to find a training program or make you order today, I’m going to tell you all the secrets to training which I have figured out from experience.

Getting Ready

Settling In

Your puppy may be a bit scared when he is away from the place he knows best: the breeder’s. Not all are. Louiey certainly wasn’t. You can hold him to you with one of your hands holding his rear, and the other, his chest. This will make him feel secure.

Behaviour

Marking yourself as the leader

• Always sit above him
• Stare him in the eye, and wait till he looks away, even if he is growling at you
• Tower over him and stare at him till he looks away
• Spit in his food bowl – I never did this one. It is very good, but I found it pretty gross…
• Move closer if he growls or barks at you.
• Never ever move away when he growls or barks

Stopping him from biting or nipping – this one may take up to a week

When he nips or bites you take the following steps. (always have a leash on him, even in the house – only when he’s a small puppy)

1. Step on the leash so he can’t run away
2. Hold him firmly by the collar taking just a little bit of his ruff so he can’t move. You will know if you are doing it incorrectly if he turns around and bites you.
3. Hold his mouth shut.
4. If he bit you hard (I mean hard) press his lips against his teeth.
5. He may be squealing and screaming all the process, but don’t let go until he hangs his head, and goes quite. Then let go, and stroke where you were holding his collar softly, and praise him softly.

Training

These methods all have hand signals to them – the movement of the treat.

This is the order of teaching the command:

CommandSignal(he obeys – if he doesn’t, do the signal again this time with a treat)“Yes!”Reward

When he is very good at it:

Command(he obeys – if he doesn’t do the signal)“Yes!”Reward

His/Her name: This is very simple. Just say her name in a happy note when giving her a treat, playing with her, or feeding her. Also, say her name, and if she doesn’t look, lure her to look at you with a treat. When she does, say “Yes!” then hold her collar and give her the treat saying “Good Girl!”

Sit: Hold a treat right above his nose, and move it slowly backwards, to get it, he will have to sit. Say “Yes!” then hold his collar and give him the treat saying “Good Boy!”

Stand: When she is in any other position other than stand, hold a treat in front of her nose and bring it slowly forwards. She will stand up to get it. When she does, say “Yes!” then hold her collar and give her the treat saying “Good Girl!”

Down: Hold a treat, and bring the treat from his nose to his toes. Hold it with your hand facing down. He will lie down to get it. If he doesn’t stick out your leg. Hold the treat to one side of it, and slowly move the treat under your leg, so he crawls into a down. When he does, say “Yes!” then hold his collar and give him the treat saying “Good Boy!”

Intermediate Behaviour

Walking on a loose leash: This is a huge secret, which took me a long time to figure out! It is very simple, and it takes one to two weeks. Do not think about going anywhere. Walk down the street with your dog. Your upper arm should be straight, and your lower arm bent slightly forwards. This gives you more control. Make sure your dog is on a loose leash. Start walking. As soon as there is tension on the leash, stretch out your arm and change direction. Your dog will be surprised, and he will run up behind you to keep up. Your arm should be back in the starting position. If there is tension again, stretch out your arm and change direction again. Your dog will realise that every time he wants to go fast, he just turns out going the wrong way. Soon he will walk with you.