Puppy Training Basics!

Puppy Classes at Tisol in Vancouver start August 14th!

Increasing the difficulty of any exercise in dog training is based on three variables. First adding longer DURATION, more challenging time or endurance. Second adding DISTANCE and increasing the difficulty by small increments of distance travelled. Third and finally adding DISTRACTIONS to the training to proof it. However, you don’t work all those variables together or you will set the dog up to fail.

The idea is to start with easy wins to build stability!

For instance: first you teach a “sit” in a stationary position with a release word so the pup understands not to release until you say the magic word “okay!” If you do not have a release word choose one!

I use “Break” for one dog and “Free” for my other.

Then you want to add DURATION: Adding more time before you release in an area where there are little or no distractions. A stationary sit is still a sit-stay…but it’s more challenging when we walk away.

Adding DISTANCE: Once the puppy is holding a stay without being asked, I will finally name it “stay!”  Usually, a flat hand toward the dog’s face before I walk away will spatially pressure the dog to not follow me. At this point keep the distance short so you can replace the dog in a sit if it follows you. Always return to the puppy to release it, as not to confuse the pup and encouraging it to come to you. Eventually, you will use this to set your dog up for recalls, but in the beginning you will likely just make your dog anticipate the “come” and break the stay.

Don’t add more distance and more duration simultaneously or you will set the puppy up to fail. You want to get really good successful reps before you start adding distractions to the training.

Once you get a really good sit-stay and you are able to walk away and return, you are ready to start adding DISTRACTIONS: take it to busy environments with noise and lots of movement. I always drop my criteria for distance and duration when I add distractions. So start with a stationary sit-tay in a busy place to assure success and to build stability. Ultimately you can proof your stay by throwing toys or dropping treats and releasing your dog to rewards. You at this point should be ready to do successful down-stays to recalls as well.