Stay, Come & Follow

You need to train your dog to slow down as they approach you, especially if you have a big dog.  Eventually, it’s a good idea to train them to sit after their recalls.

With slow dogs you have to walk directly away or they’re sure to start taking shortcuts.  Get them excited and keep them focused.

Keep your puppy interested in training.  If their attention begins to lag, ask them to do something simple and give them a treat.  Be aware of your surroundings and if you’re having trouble, avoid distractions.

During recalls, the first step is the most important.  Watch your dog closely and be sure to praise them at appropriate times.

Your laughter is a powerful reward for your dog, so be careful to avoid laughing when they misbehave.

Before introducing treats, take a moment to try luring your pup by simply being fun & interesting.  Yell and clap to make them come, then praise and pet them for a reward.  Treats can be a valuable tool in training, but it can become a crutch if youre not careful.

Maintaining a dog’s attention while heeling is not easy.  It’s easiest to do in short sequences, but Leslie is very good at praising Bebe to keep her heeling by her side.

Use the power of your voice to control your dog.  If your dog ignores you, change your tone so they know you mean business.  Set yourself up for success by getting the dog’s attention before it’s released.

As your dog gets the hand of staying, you can phase out the running commentary and introduce more silly behavior.  Go slowly and increase the challenge a little bit at a time to maintain the momentum of success.

You shouldn’t expect a child to successfully train a dog all on their own, but sometimes it does happen.  Emily has clearly spent a lot of time working with Jessie, and Jessie clearly loves training with her.