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What should you do if your dog decides it does not want to enter? You know it will give to the pressure of a
leash, so lead it into the proper area and command “Kennel.” Once in the correct place, stroke pup on the
shoulder until you see acceptance via the swallow response. Repeat this routine until you start to develop
a conditioned response to your command. Some dogs fight this entry with a great deal of vigor. If your
dog chooses this option, be sure to maintain leash pressure until you get the desired response. Once it
understands that there is no danger in these areas, it will be glad to enter upon command.
Think about your individual training situation and see if you can create opportunities to work on the
“Kennel” command. This can be accomplished by having an airline crate with you while doing your
dog’s obedience routine or working in an area close to the entrance of your home where the doorway
becomes the area in which your dog is commanded to enter. Or, you could use your vehicle, and this will
be very handy when you take your dog to other training areas.
A FINAL OBEDIENCE COMMAND: DOWN
The next command in your obedience program will be “Down,” which tells your dog to lie down and
remain in this position until it receives another command. This command is most often used around
the home. For this reason, the easiest time to work on “Down” is at night while watching television.
Command your dog to “Sit” and stroke its shoulder when it obeys. Face the dog, grab its front paws, and
pull them toward you. When your dog’s chest hits the floor, command “Down” and stroke a shoulder
again. Most dogs will immediately rise, assuming a sit position. If this occurs, correct your dog with
“No” and repeat the “Down” process again. It generally takes around three evenings before your dog
will become comfortable with this routine. But, do not be worried if it takes your dog three weeks.
UNDERSTANDING CORRECTION
We have spoken very little about correcting your dog for making a mistake up until this time. No dog
is perfect and many mistakes are going to occur while training. In reality you want your dog to make
mistakes so you can clearly show the difference between right and wrong. It is important that you
have a correction method that your dog understands and comfortably accepts. Here is the correction
system you should use from Day One. The same correction system will be used for the rest of your
dog’s life whether you are using a leash or e-collar to correct improper responses.
1. Give your dog a command. If it obeys, use a positive reward. If it fails to obey, proceed to Step 2.
2. Stop your dog’s incorrect action with the command “No.” Repeat the command after you get the
incorrect actions stopped. If your dog obeys, use a positive reward. If it fails to obey, proceed to Step 3.
3. Stop your dog’s incorrect action with the command “No” and use the physical pressure of your
leash until the correct response occurs. Immediately release the pressure when your dog obeys,
repeat the command, and praise with a positive reward.
If you are consistent in this correction process, the verbal correction of “No” will become much more
powerful. Your dog will learn through daily usage that if it does not follow your lead after the command
“No,” there will be some form of physical pressure (leash or electronic). Your dog does not like being
corrected any more than you do. Correction will be a part of its life and it will accept this correction as
long as you give it in a comfortable and systematic fashion. This means you must be consistent and you
cannot hurt your dog by hitting, kicking, or overstimulating when you become frustrated.
