Preparing My Puppy for Obedience Training

There is a difference between teaching your dog acceptable behavior and training your dog to obey commands.

Acceptable domestic behavior for a dog includes house training, crate training, leash training and proper social behavior. These are the first steps that need to be completed prior to obedience training or 'trick' training.

The first thing that most obedience schools will teach you is that you need to have your puppy's full attention when training.

The only way to know that you have your puppy's full attention is if your pet is looking directly into your eyes. If something glittery catches their eye, your obedience training session may be short lived.

It's finally time to pull out the dog treats!

While I do not think it's a good idea to teach acceptable behavior habits to your dog using treats as these are things that you want your pet to do on a daily basis for survival in the house.

Tricks and concentration are another story.

There is simply no better way to get (and keep) your dog's attention than by using food. Find a soft treat that is easy to crumble, you don't want to fill your pet up. BilJak makes an excellent soft dog treat, but is relatively hard to find. Any kind of soft or jerky type of dog treat will work, as long as you can crumble it into tiny pieces.

Now, without your pet watching, crumble the dog treat into tiny (I mean tiny) pieces and put them in a sandwich bag. Put the dog treats somewhere on your person for easy access, but do not let your dog see the bag or it will be a distraction.

Pick a spot in your house or yard that can become the obedience training area, try to do all of your dog training in this area. Dogs are creatures of schedules and habits, repetition is what your pet craves. Taking your pet to this area will mean it is time for work.

Since your first obedience training session is going to be about getting and keeping your pet's attention, it will be fairly short. Great for puppies!

The 'Look' Command For Puppies (and teenagers!)

Step 1:
Take your dog to the training area in a calm manner. Do not get your puppy excited or talk baby talk. If your puppy is jumping and running around once in the training area, calm the dog immediately.

*To calm an excited dog immediately:
1.Stand directly behind the dog
2.Force the dog into a sitting position between your feet (hold the dog by the collar or scruff and push down just above tail)
3.Kneel down behind your dog , and calmly rub your dog's chest until it is calm (from behind, keep the dog in a sitting position).

Step 2:
Have a tiny piece of dog treat in your hand, but do not show it to the dog. Kneel down calmly in front of your pet and put the treat directly in front of its nose until you have your pet's attention. Do not give the treat yet!

Step 3:
Watch your dog's eyes. When your pet's eyes are locked on to the treat, start to slowly pull the dog treat back toward your eye or nose. While you are pulling away say "Look" or your dog's name in a low quick tone. (Don't sing-song through the command)

Step 4:
Make sure that your puppy is following the treat, watch its eyes, do not play games - go directly toward your eye. When you are holding the treat close to your eye or nose, your dog can't help but make short eye contact with you. Be ready! When your pet looks into your eyes, lock gazes with it.

If you made eye contact give your pet the dog treat. Do not excite the puppy. If your puppy gets excited, calm it immediately.

Step 5:
Repeat steps 1-4 until your pet looks directly into your eyes when you give the command and holds your gaze for at least 2-3 seconds. Now repeat the above steps while backing away from your pet in small increments.

Most puppies and submissive dogs will not hold your gaze longer than a few seconds at first (looking away is their form of showing no challenge). You do not want your pet to think something is wrong when they look at you.

Teaching your dog a release command will (hopefully) tell the dog there is a reason to look directly at you. Your pet should hold your eye contact until you give your release command.

Teaching Your Dog A Release Command

A 'release command' tells your dog that he is off duty. At least for that particular activity. Every obedience training command should be followed, at some point, with a release command. The release command can be as simple as "okay" or "good dog", followed by a good pat on the head.

If more commands are to follow, do not get the puppy too excited. Give a tiny piece of treat and a quick pat on the head, then right back to repetition.

Now combine the 'look' command with the 'release' command. Hold your pet's eye contact for at least a few seconds at first, but when you feel you are starting to lose it (dog's eyebrows start moving up and down), give the release command. Timing is everything, so pay attention.

Do this exercise everyday for short periods until your dog understands the 'look' command. Soon you will be able to state your command and have your dog look right at you with full attention.