Raising a Loyal and Obedient Puppy

By Dirk Gruenberg


Did you just bring home your new puppy? And now you are thinking about raising him to become a well-trained, happy, and loyal companion? Then it is time for you to learn a few things about dog training.

To begin with, you need to understand the power of treats. You should always carry some with you. And if you are training your dog, you need to have them right on hand, so that you can give them to your dog instantly after he obeys.

Treats do not have to necessarily be bought in the store. It can be a home-made dog biscuit or a piece of meat. Anything your dog loves eating, really. So once you are all set with your treats, you can start the training.

Step one: First, you have to make a smart choice in terms of what command to teach. I always recommend starting with the command sit. You will find it quite easy to teach, and it will ensure fast success.

Teaching the sit command first also makes sense because other command (i.e. the lie down command and the stay command) build on the sit command.

Step #2: Take a treat in your hand and show it to your dog, but do not let him eat it. Then move it up over his head. Naturally, he will look up and this will make him sit down.

When he is in that position, give him the treat and praise him. Repeat this exercise several times. And then take a break. Do not make the practice sessions too long. Short periods are much easier, and you are likely to be more successful.

Step three: Of course, you still need to introduce the verbal command: "Sit". To do that, just repeat exercise two, but say "sit" right before you do so. Again, repetition is the key here.

Step four: The final step is to use the verbal command only. Success will only be achieved, however, if your dog has been successful at step three. So do not proceed to fast. When you think your dogs is ready, say "sit," and wait for your dog to sit down by himself. Again, praise him if he does well.




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