ePuppy Guide http://www.epuppyguide.com About Dog Training Barking, Tricks, Leash Training, Potty Training, Obedience, Agility, Clicker, Biting Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:16:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Dog Obedience Training – The Down Command http://www.epuppyguide.com/dog-obedience-training-the-down-command.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/dog-obedience-training-the-down-command.html#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:16:38 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/dog-obedience-training-the-down-command.html

The down command is the next lesson to teach in your dog obedience training schedule. It should be taught as soon as you and your dog have mastered the sit command.

The down command is a fundamental ingredient of your overall dog obedience training program. It provides the foundation for many other advanced commands/skills and establishes you as the leader in the relationship you share with your dog. The reason for this is that the laying down position is a submissive and somewhat vulnerable position for your dog to be in, especially when you are standing tall over the top of your dog.

The down command is a very handy tool you will come to rely on in many situations. Popping your dog down into the lying down position is great for times when you need to go into a shop or for occassions when there are small children around. It can take a bit of practice to reach this level, but it is worth the effort.

Learning The Down Obedience Command

When you are in the learning phase of teaching the down command, start out by making it simple for your dog, then slowly turn up the difficulty level.

- Move your training sessions to a public place.

- Increase the time you keep your dog in the down position.

- Bounce a ball around your dog when he is in the lying position, or scatter some food around him. The idea is that your “down” command will be so strong in your dogs mind, that none of these other distractions matter. He can only get up to chase the ball or eat the treats when you release him from the down command.

What you are trying to achieve with the down command is to have your dog quickly get down into the laying position, belly touching the ground and his front legs extended out in front.

In a familiar environment to your dog with no distractions, lets get started!

Down Command Technique 1 – Off Leash

- Put your dog into a sitting position.

- Grab your dogs favorite tasty treat and hold it a couple of centimetres in front of his/her nose. Move your hand straight down to the ground. Your dog should follow it down (you can praise and encourage him down). As soon as his belly hits the ground, with his legs out in front, lavish him with praise and give the treat.

- Repeat this action over and over in short sharp training sessions.

- When your dog is “getting it” and going down right away, you can add the verbal part of the command. I use “down” other people use “lay” or “drop”, just choose the one you are comfortable with and stick to it (make it a one word command only). Add your command just before you start to move the treat towards the ground. This step is all about building an association in your dogs mind between the verbal “down” command and the act of him laying down.

- The idea is that eventually, after plenty of repetition and praise your dog will only require your verbal command, and not the treat in your hand to lure him down. Also, in time you will be able to start the command not only from the sitting position but from standing and in any situation you and your dog are in.

- When your dog is responding well to your verbal command, introduce some other variables which make the down command a little more challenging. Try the command as you go about your daily business, around other people or dogs and increase the duration of the command.

Down Command Technique 2 – On Leash

- Put your preferred collar and leash on your dog – I just use a nice leather buckle collar when teaching the down command.

- Place your dog into the sitting position and stand or kneel right next to him.

- Basically you are trying to guide or coax your dog into the down position. How you do this depends on the size and co-operation level of your dog.

- Always say your “down” command first, then immediately guide your dog down into the lying position. Grab hold of the leash and gently pull your dogs head down, at the same time guide him down by pressing down between his shoulder blades with the palm of your hand. You can also lift up your dogs front legs and extend them out in front of him, find the method which works best for you. Praise and encourage your dog all the way down. Then of course as soon as he’s in the down position make it clear to him that you are happy with him and that he has done a good job.

- After lots of repetition your dog will respond to your verbal command only. Then try the command when your dog is in the standing position and in other settings. Make the command a little more challenging by adding some distractions and increasing the time he is required to stay in the down position.

Whichever method you choose to teach your dog the down command be consistent and keep at it.

When you are happy with your dog getting into the down position you will probably want to add a release command to it. This means that when you issue your down command, your dog goes straight down and is not permitted to get up until you issue another command. You can use “away” or “off you go” for this purpose.

Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of www.dog-obedience-training-review.com

Discover how to properly train your dog yourself, at home.

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/dog-obedience-training-the-down-command.html/feed 0 My dog isn’t responding to clicker training any advice? http://www.epuppyguide.com/my-dog-isnt-responding-to-clicker-training-any-advice.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/my-dog-isnt-responding-to-clicker-training-any-advice.html#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:16:36 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/my-dog-isnt-responding-to-clicker-training-any-advice.html Hello everyone I have a 14 month old german shepherd he is lovely and generally well behaved. I have had him since he was a puppy and he is an awesome dog we have a great bond he is one of my best friends. Anyway we joined a german shepherd training club 2 months ago and he works really well considering that short space of time. But there are bad habits he has picked up from a puppy when I tried to train him myself for example when walking to heel he will not stay right beside me and when I ask him to sit he doesn’t sit on the spot he takes a few steps back and then sits this is a pain when he is supposed to sit right in-front of me so I looked on the internet and thought I would try clicker training to mark the exact behaviour and apparently it works really well in teaching new tricks/behaviors any way bought a clicker and armed myself with a mass amount and variety of his favorite treats and as it said to do 1 click-treat-click-treat-click-treat I did this 15 to 20 times then supposedly he is supposed to look when he hears the click because he is anticipating the treat well he doesn’t take any notice! i’ve been trying for 2days now repeating that same method at least 4 times throughout the day it said the dog understands quickly! I don’t know what to do now I need some advice and will be grateful for any help and tips thank you very much :)
Im not expecting miracles i just wanted advice on how if possible to make it work better i wondered if i was doing something wrong or if there was anything i could do better and if you read it says i take him to GERMAN SHEPHERD TRAINING and this is the advice the professionals gave me so thats why I am trying it and i realise i did it wrong in the first place but now i am trying to make it better and i am doing the right thing now and we have made alot a progess and if i obviously dont know what i am doing then how come he is so well trained and such a good boy that we are competing in a nationwide gsd interbranch competition in oct he is trained fine i just want to break some bad habits thats all
and the training club is brilliant there are 3 professional trainers there all with different ideas to help with training i couldnt ask for more the people are really nice, friendly and helpful they have done wonders in helping me with my dog but i will ring up some other trainers and ask for there advice
and the training club is brilliant there are 3 professional trainers there all with different ideas to help with training i couldnt ask for more the people are really nice, friendly and helpful they have done wonders in helping me with my dog but i will ring up some other trainers and ask for there advice
what i mean is that he hasnt accociated the click with a treat and thats why he doesnt take any notice i know that the clicker shouldnt be used to get attention and only as a reward for doing something but in order to do that the dog has to make the connection that the click means a treat but my dog doesnt lol
because there really busy running this massive dog show and i didnt want to bother them i thought since they real busy i would just ask on here to see if any1 could give me some helpful advice and some one did :)

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/my-dog-isnt-responding-to-clicker-training-any-advice.html/feed 9 I clicker trained my dog to fear obeying commands and treats? http://www.epuppyguide.com/i-clicker-trained-my-dog-to-fear-obeying-commands-and-treats.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/i-clicker-trained-my-dog-to-fear-obeying-commands-and-treats.html#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:16:21 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/i-clicker-trained-my-dog-to-fear-obeying-commands-and-treats.html Help! I have a 9 month old Papillon and he’s extremely intelligent. I taught him the few commands that he knows in one training session each. He’s very bright and learns quickly.

I recently got a clicker to train him further. However, after only using it about 4 times (meaning 4 clicks) he got scared of the sound and therefore the treat that followed! Now if I tell him to sit or do anything he’s hesitant because he is scared that a loud sound will follow.

I’ve never used treats as a reward for him before- only toys. The toys have worked very well. Is there hope for clicker training him? I know it’s a very effective training method so I’d like to make it work.

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/i-clicker-trained-my-dog-to-fear-obeying-commands-and-treats.html/feed 3 How do I get my dog to stop barking when I tell her it is time for a walk? http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-stop-barking-when-i-tell-her-it-is-time-for-a-walk.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-stop-barking-when-i-tell-her-it-is-time-for-a-walk.html#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:08:17 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-stop-barking-when-i-tell-her-it-is-time-for-a-walk.html I have a dog that I adopted from a friend. She is four years old and I do not think she had proper training. She barks when she gets excited, like when I tell her it is time for a walk. She barks and barks and barks and jumps around and it is hard for me to put the leash on her. Do you have any good suggestions to help train her to stop barking when it is time for a W-A-L-K?

I read on my local SPCA website that I could shake a can of pennies or squirt her with a water gun to get her to momentarily stop her from barking then say “good dog” give her a treat. I mean, would that really work?

Do you have any specifics that you have used on your dog to help her stay quiet?
Okay, some of you think I do not like my dog or I am mean. I would like to clarify that I love Corona very much and I am not mean. She just keeps barking and barking and barking LOL when it’s time for a W-A-L-K!!
Corona is 1/2 dachsund 1/2 pug and 110% cute

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-stop-barking-when-i-tell-her-it-is-time-for-a-walk.html/feed 12 I have a big problem potty training my dog? http://www.epuppyguide.com/i-have-a-big-problem-potty-training-my-dog.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/i-have-a-big-problem-potty-training-my-dog.html#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:08:15 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/i-have-a-big-problem-potty-training-my-dog.html ive had him for three months now and he stil pees in my appartment .. my mom told me to keep him in the washroom and then take him out to pee every so often.. what do you guyz think? do you guyz have any other suggestions? the problem is that i take him out, he comes back and goes straight to his water and then pees again… hes very fluffy and its very hot here so i dont know if i should take the water away… now hes used to peeing in the house and he wont stop, he thinks its okay… :( i love him but if this continues im gonna have to give him away.. i live in an appartment so i cant just put him on a leash and let him out in the back yard.. i wish he would grow up already :P haha pls help?

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/i-have-a-big-problem-potty-training-my-dog.html/feed 7 How do I leash train my dog indoors? http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-do-i-leash-train-my-dog-indoors.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-do-i-leash-train-my-dog-indoors.html#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:08:13 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-do-i-leash-train-my-dog-indoors.html Our 3 mo. old puppy dosen’t like to be on her leash indoors. When we are sittin watching t.v. we would like her to behave and lay down beside us, but she whines, pulls, and she always wants to jump on the sofa, even when we tell her over and over not too. We also dont want her off the leash because she likes to chase our cat. Please help what can we do to make this not so stressfull for our puppy and ourselves?

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-do-i-leash-train-my-dog-indoors.html/feed 5 How can I train my dog in agility at home? http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-can-i-train-my-dog-in-agility-at-home.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-can-i-train-my-dog-in-agility-at-home.html#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:08:11 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-can-i-train-my-dog-in-agility-at-home.html So, I recently discovered that my dog who’s around a year old would be perfect for agility.
I don’t want to enroll in classes and I would like to do the training myself. What do I need, what are some tips, what do I teach it, and how?

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/how-can-i-train-my-dog-in-agility-at-home.html/feed 5 What commands and tricks does your dog know? http://www.epuppyguide.com/what-commands-and-tricks-does-your-dog-know.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/what-commands-and-tricks-does-your-dog-know.html#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:45:40 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/what-commands-and-tricks-does-your-dog-know.html The commands Cocoa knows are sit and come. The tricks she knows are shake and catch. Abby commands are sit, come, and I just introduced her to down today. We are also working on her fetch trick.

Would you agree that there is no better feeling then when you are training your dog and they suddenly give you that,”I got it!” look? Which commands or tricks do you find the most handy? Which do you find the most fun?

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/what-commands-and-tricks-does-your-dog-know.html/feed 26 emergency dog potty training! http://www.epuppyguide.com/emergency-dog-potty-training.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/emergency-dog-potty-training.html#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:06:31 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/emergency-dog-potty-training.html ok so this is a long story. my family and i adopted my dog keera almost 2 years ago. we were told that she would do best with another dog to help with her house training. fortunately we already had another dog. things seemed to be going well. keera would have an accident every once in a blue moon. then, unfortunately we had to get rid of our other dog. now keera has accidents all the time in the dining room where she use to have accidents. its too the point where keera wont even leave the deck to go in the grass unless its an emeergency. it got to the point where she pooped right in front of my mom in her bathroom! since i am the one that mainly takes care of keera. my parents are saying that this is the last draw and i need to do something about her problem. also, my mom wants another dog because keera barely barks anymore or anything anymore. anyways, i need help or i will loose my dog. HELP ME PLEASE!!!!

]]> http://www.epuppyguide.com/emergency-dog-potty-training.html/feed 4 Training a dog in agility? http://www.epuppyguide.com/training-a-dog-in-agility.html http://www.epuppyguide.com/training-a-dog-in-agility.html#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:06:29 +0000 admin http://www.epuppyguide.com/training-a-dog-in-agility.html I am absolutely clueless about training a dog in agility, but I think that me and my dog should at least give it a go before we decide that its too much of a challenge.
So, where should we start? he is a 2yr old male, neutered maltese x poodle mix, and he loves to run and jump around, he goes really hyper.

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