14 1-800-732-0144
WWW.SPORTDOG.COM 15
ANOTHER POSITIONAL COmmAND: SIT
The next command to teach is “Sit.” With this command, you tell your dog to sit and remain seated until it
receives another command. The leash applies pressure to the underside of the dog’s neck when you are training
it to sit. You are now working on a different pressure point. Pull straight up on the lead with your right hand and
push down on your dog’s butt with your left hand until its bottom hits the ground. Add a verbal “Sit” and release
the pressure on the leash. Pressure from the leash can be omitted when your dog is consistently sitting on verbal
commands. Later you will get into corrections and the steps you should follow to make things clear for your dog.
Repeat the “Sit” drill until your dog is happily driving nails with its rear.
Have you ever seen a dog sit sideways? It flops down and comes to rest on one hip. This is a common occurrence
for lazy dogs and needs to be corrected. Pull up on the leash until your dog sits in a proper fashion. It may become
necessary to step forward if your dog will not align itself properly at first. Fight for the proper sit position now and
you won’t have to address this in the future when you are asking it to sit in the face of overwhelming distractions.
Now your dog has learned to come to you, walk comfortably beside you, and sit on command. It must concentrate
and use its brain as it learns these skills. Pay close attention to your dog’s focus, making sure that the training
sessions are not too long. Even though your dog’s brain is a sponge at this point, it can become oversaturated and
unable to receive anymore constructive information.
A fOLLOW-UP TO “SIT”: STAy
When you give your dog the “Sit” command, you’ve told it to sit and remain seated until it receives another
command. Many obedience programs no longer use the “Stay” command, believing it is redundant and not
necessary. However, it would be good for you to know how to condition for this command if your dog struggles with
remaining seated. To reinforce sitting, apply a light amount of upward leash pressure to its collar and command
“Stay” as you start to move away and toward the end of the leash. Your dog will likely get up and try to move with
you. If this occurs, stop it with “No,” reseat the dog with “Sit,” and repeat “Stay” with another upward tug on the
leash. It should not take too many corrections before your dog figures this puzzle out. Should it continually refuse
to stay, add increasing amounts of leash pressure and stronger “No” commands until it obeys. You may need to be
more patient here than any other place. You have already conditioned your dog to move with you at heel as you
move away and many dogs think this is what you want now instead of remaining seated. Correction for mistakes,
rewards for positive responses, and repetition will quickly condition your dog to this command.
A DIRECTIONAL COmmAND: KENNEL
You will often require your dog to enter different areas and objects: airline crates, vehicles, buildings, boats, duck
blinds, and fenced areas are just a few examples. You will use the command “Kennel” to tell your dog to enter what
is in front of it. Always use the command “Sit” before you ask a dog to enter. If you give your dog a chance to sit and
look into the area it is being asked to enter, it will be far more likely to perform this skill without a fight. By looking
into this area, your dog can see that the boogie man is not waiting inside.
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.
400-834-2.indd 14-15
5/10/13 2:39 PM
