The following homework lessons are to be used at home with you teaching your dog the exercises.
WALKING ON THE LEASH - "LEASH BREAKING": The first thing any dog has to learn is how to walk on a leash without fear.
Start when your dog is very young. Use a non-choking type collar and leash. Put the leash on your dog each day for a few minutes and allow your dog the freedom of wandering around on a "loose leash" at first. Then, begin to restrict your dog's ability to wander and require your dog to walk the direction you want to go. Encourage and praise. Do not frighten your dog. Practice this 2 to 3 times a day.
When you have your dog leash broken enough to calmly go on walks we call this "walkies". "Walkies" is merely the ability to walk with your dog without the dog pulling or bolting to get away from your or anything else. "Walkies" is to be done with a choke or pinch collar. Buckle collars are too easy for the dog to slip it's head through and out of.
Choke collars are for training... take the choke collar off (use buckle collar instead) when not training or walking your dog.
THE SIT EXERCISE: When your dog is confident on leash, begin to teach it how to sit on command. Your dog always sits on the left hand side of the handler!
Take all of the leash in your right hand. Place your left hand on your dog's rear. Now, (all at the same time) jerk up on the collar and leash with your right hand; push down on the dog's rear with your left hand while giving the command "sit". Give praise after your dog sits. Repeat each time you stop walking.
THE HEEL-SIT: Your dog knows the sit; can walk on leash and now must learn to sit each time you stop walking.
Command your dog to "heel." Step forward, (starting with your left foot) and jerk forward on the leash. Encourage your dog to stay by your side with happy voice tones, patting of leg, and any other cute sounds you can make with your mouth. Enforce through snap/jerks on collar with leash if your dog does not maintain a position close to your left side. Stop walking; position your dog into a sit while giving the command "sit". Repeat many times. Always praise your dog for maintaining a heel position and praise immediately after each time it sits.
Training tip: When you halt during heeling and you expect your dog to sit you must always stop on your left foot. That is, stop your forward movement with your right foot and bring your left foot up next to your right making your left foot the last one to move. When your left foot is firmly planted then your dog will learn to sit immediately. For the first couple of weeks of training it is OK and maybe even preferable to exaggerate this movement so your dog can get used to it and learn what you want. You have up to six steps after the "halt" command to come to a complete stop. Do not stop abruptly.
THE SIT-STAY EXERCISE: When your dog knows how to sit, it must learn to stay in that position with you standing a short distance away.
Position your dog into a sit; place the open palm of your left hand (fingers together, pointing down and palm toward dog's face) in front of the dog for the signal command and say "stay" in a commanding voice. Step away from your dog with your right foot moving first. Stand facing your dog only a very short distance away. Be prepared!! Catch your dog if it gets up, moves or lays down. Correct with jerks and say "no, bad dog"! Reposition your dog into a sit; leave again after giving the command and signal to "stay" again. Stay away from the dog for the count of five (1-2-3-4-5) eventually progressing to one minute away from your dog. Return;(moving first to the right of the dog, circling behind the dog and ending up with the dog on your left), do the exercise finish and praise the dog. Your dog must stay sitting until you do the exercise finish. The "exercise finish" is merely moving forward two steps (your left foot moving first and last) and sitting your dog. Repeat several times, but do not bore the dog. Each time try to get a little closer to the end of the leash before turning to face the dog.
Training tip: Whenever you intend your dog to move forward with you, always start with your left foot. Whenever you intend your dog to "stay", always move forward with your right foot.
And in the "exercise finish" you will move your left foot forward and taking another step with your right foot and then bring your left foot beside your right foot and sit your dog immediately.
Watch your leash so it doesn't become wrapped around your dog as you circle it.
THE DOWN: Your dog must learn to [lay] down on command. (Read all three options before starting).
Place the leash on the floor/ground; step on the leash near the collar. Command your dog to "down", while applying pressure with the leash and collar to your dog's neck and propelling your dog to the floor or ground. Give praise when your dog lays down, but do not let it jump back up again. Repeat several times.
OR
Hold the leash in your right hand; start with your dog in the sitting position. Give the command "down" and jerk straight down. With your right hand on the leash and collar; apply pressure to your dog's shoulders with your left hand. Give praise after your dog lays down. Repeat several times.
OR
Hold the leash in your right hand; from the sitting position, pull your dog's front legs out gently, but firmly, while applying pressure to the body of your dog and propel your dog to the floor or ground with firm and gentle movements; command "down" as you position your dog. Give praise after the dog lays down. Repeat several times.
Training tip: Do not let your dog make this a wrestling match! You're in charge!
The "down" command must not be confused with the "off" command which is used if you want your dog to get off something or someone. Use only one command per desired behavior.
THE DOWN-STAY: After your dog is in the down position, give the stay signal and the command as in the sit-stay and step away from your dog with your right foot. Do not allow your dog to get up or follow you. Turn and face your dog from a very short distance away. Do not move unless to correct your dog. Try to keep your dog in the down position for the count of 10 (1-2-3, etc) to begin with. Correct your dog for errors, such as getting up or following you or coming to you. After the count of 10, return to your dog, as in the sit-stay, do the exercise finish and give praise. Your dog must stay down until the exercise finish. As your dog improves gradually increase the time your dog is in the down position until it reaches one minute. Repeat several times. Each time, go a little further from the dog before turning to face it. Practice at home daily. If possible twice a day. Make it fun for you and the dog.
You are now ready for your first "class". For an idea of the heeling pattern turn to the Field Guide section on the last pages of this course guide.
When doing the down-stay, sit-stay, and stand-stay in your "class" form a line with plenty of room around your dog and yourself to do the work.
Before Starting Lesson Two: Research your dog's breed (or breeds) and write a short report. You need to know the origin of the breed, the purpose of the breed, trainability, and temperament. Share this report with your family and discuss how your dog either fits and doesn't fit what you've learned.
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