Every dog should respond to simple commands such as Sit, Down, and Stay. Ten minutes of training a day (twice a day if you are especially ambitious), is all the time it takes to give a dog of any age this essential education. Always end on the happy note of success and always stop after ten minutes. More is boring, not better, and does no good at all.
Sitting is Super
If Spot is especially sensitive, use treats to teach the Sit. He will enjoy learning the meaning of the “'Sit’’ command if you begin by holding a small piece of a yummy treat in front of his nose. Say “Sit,” and move the treat over his head in such a way that his eyes follow it upward, his head tilts back and his rear reaches the floor. At that point, give him the goodie. Practice this five or ten times, twice a day, and Spot will soon know the meaning of the command “Sit.” A soft treat, such as a nibble of cheese, is the best teaching aide. It’s healthy and Spot can eat it fast so you can continue training.
No matter how good a “sitter’’ Spot becomes for treats, reinforce the command without showing him a goodie after he becomes more confident. Place your right hand on his chest and cup his rear in your left hand. Say “Sit,” one time as if you mean it—short and firm, but not loud. Then push back slightly with your right hand and slide it upward to stop under Spot’s jawbone. Tickle gently under his chin to keep his head up. At the same time, push down and forward lightly on his rear. When Spot sits, hold him in position for five or ten seconds using the least force necessary to get the job done. It’s okay to give a goodie after time is up, but don’t do it every time, and don t let him see it until after he has remained in position for at least a few seconds.
Use the “Sit” command several times a day, every day. Sit for a special treat. Sit for petting. Sit before receiving his dinner dish. Lots of practice and lots of praise means leadership for you and approval for Spot.
Teaching Bolder Dogs to Sit
A more forceful method of teaching the Sit works on more confident dogs, as well as those that didn’t respond to the milder method. With Spot wearing a chain training collar and lead (see Lead Breaking Your New Dog for fit and placement), place him beside you on your left. Take the active ring of the collar in your right hand, command “Sit,” and pull mostly up but slightly forward while your left hand pushes down and slightly forward on his rear. Relax the pressure on the chain the instant Spot sits. If he tries to move, tighten the chain long enough to reposition him, then immediately relax the pressure again. Keep Spot sitting in place for ten seconds. Kneeling beside him may make it easier for both of you.
Use only the amount of force necessary to get Spot to sit and remain in position for several seconds. Some dogs need only a slight pull on the chain and a light push on the rear. Others may need a quick, hard upward jerk on the chain, and if this describes your dog, you may have to practically sit on his rear to get compliance. Praise quietly when Spot succeeds. Loud praise can easily excite an exuberant dog, making sitting in place more difficult.
Teaching the Down
Teaching Spot to Down on command may be extremely easy, horrendously hard, or anything in between, depending on his attitude. Some dogs can hardly stand being placed in a submissive position. Because dogs react in so many different ways, there are several methods of teaching the Down. They are discussed here from the mildest to the most forceful. It's best to try them in order and give each method a chance before moving on to the next one. Then stick with the mildest method that works.
Some dogs will learn the Down with treat training. Begin with Spot in the Sit position, hold a tasty treat right in front of his nose and command "Down." Think of making a movement shaped like a capital L as you lower the treat straight down just in front of his paws and then slowly pull it outward. As Spot reaches for the goodie, the front half of his body will move downward. If it doesn’t lower completely to the ground, use your free hand to push lightly on his shoulders, but don’t mash him down. The instant his whole body is in down position, give him the treat.
A rather mild, but slightly more forceful method is the Slide Down. Start with Spot sitting beside you on lead. Reach over him with your left hand and grasp his left leg at elbow level (high up on the leg). At the same time, take his right elbow in your right hand. Command “Down,” wait a second, and then lift both his legs up just enough to slide them forward into the Down position. If Spot resists, lean on him with your chest while sliding his front legs. When he’s down, praise quietly while keeping him steady for a few seconds. Then tell him “okay,” and play happily with him as you allow him to get up.
Always remember to wait a second between giving the “Down” command and starting the Slide. Otherwise you won’t realize when Spot has learned to go down on command. Practice about ten times a day until you can easily keep him in the Down position for fifteen seconds.
If Spot doesn’t cooperate after a week of practicing the Slide Down, try the Jerk Down. Use a chain training collar and sit him by your left side. Hold the lead in your right hand close to the snap and place your left index finger and thumb on either side of his spine just behind the top of his shoulders. Command “Down,” and pause a second so you’ll know if Spot responds. If he doesn’t respond immediately, snap the lead down sharply at an angle so that your hand ends up by his elbow. Your left hand pushes down at the same time. Practice until you can easily keep Spot down for fifteen seconds, and praise happily when you give the “okay” signal allowing him to get up.
Now use the “Down” command daily. Down for petting. Down to receive a chew toy. Down to help Spot remember that he earns praise by responding to your commands.
The Anxious and the Angry
An occasional dog hysterically resists downing. If yours has this problem, practice Sneakaway Sessions (in Lead Breaking Your New Dog) first. If he still refuses frantically, or shows any signs of anger whatsoever, please do yourself the favor of getting help from an experienced trainer. (See “Aggression” in Preventing and Solving Problems.)
Staying in Place
When Spot knows how to Sit and Down on command, make your life easier by teaching him to stay in place. Use a chain training collar and lead (a nylon or leather buckle collar should do if he is tiny), and begin by having Spot either sit or down beside you. Then command “Stay” firmly, but not loud. At the same time, swing your arm just in front of his nose with your palm facing him. That’s the Stay signal. If Spot moves from the Sit, reposition correct him immediately using the forceful method of teaching the Sit described earlier. If he moves from the Down, reposition him using the Jerk Down. Don’t repeat the Stay command when correcting. The more you repeat commands, the more Spot learns to ignore them. If he doesn’t listen the first time, let your hand and lead do the talking by using the forceful Sit and the Jerk Down.
Begin with a goal of ten seconds, then slowly increase the time by five- second increments. Practice several times a day until Spot will Sit or Down beside you for thirty seconds. Always pet and praise him when he achieves the goal.
Once Spot remains steady on the Sit and Down with you beside him, step in front of him, still holding the lead. Now do a little play acting. Tie your shoe. Pull a weed. Examine the carpet. But have one eye on Spot, and be ready to correct him the instant he moves. As Spot improves, slowly work your way further away from him but hurry back and reposition him right away if he moves.
Remember distractions? You need them here. A dog that holds a Stay only when it’s bored won’t make your life easier. You want Spot to stay where he was told even if your friend’s toddler walks by dangling a hot dog. So practice Stays on lead around other animals, children, food, and friends, and continue to correct any movement immediately.
When Spot does steady stays on lead, replace his lead with a fifteen- foot long line and begin increasing your distance from him by tying him to a post or tree. Now you can move further away and use some new distractions. Just remember to return immediately to correct movement.
Eventually you will want Spot to stay even though you are out of sight. To teach this, find a corner outdoors, such as the corner of your house. Place Spot on one side, command “Stay,” and walk around the corner. Hold the long line and toss out distractions such as treats or balls. Use a tiny mirror, or ask a friend to spy and to tell you what Spot is doing. Then return quickly and silently to correct any movement. Practice in new locations with tempting distractions and soon Spot will be so well behaved that you’ll wish the same methods worked on kids.
