In Week 3, we are going to focus on basic commands for all dogs. 

Watch each video and practice in short (5-10 minute) sessions at least twice a day. Record one of your sessions and watch it. Critique your technique and watch your dog’s reactions. What can you do to improve.If you are struggling with a command, record it and send it to us, we will be happy to watch and provide suggestions.

Cookie Bomb/Reinforce Sit for Greeting 

The Cookie Bomb is a “game” you can play with your dog to solidify your dog’s automatic response to sit when greeting a stranger. Remember treats are calming and physical touch elevates arousal. So work really hard to get to dog a solid sit for greeting with treats before you let the stranger pet the dog. 

 

 

Touch

Touch is a great technique to teach and perfect. Touch can be used to focus your dog when they are excited. It can be a very effective tool for reactive dogs that crave physical contact. It can also be developed over time into many other commands and techniques.

 

Treat and Retreat

Greeting strangers can be more stressful than we think for even the most social dog. It is often expected that a dog approach and nicely take a treat from a stranger, this can be stressful and dangerous. Dogs want space with strangers. Do you greet someone for the first time with a hug? We prefer to wave or acknowledge from 3-4 ft away, why not let your dog have the same option? Treat and Retreat is a great technique to give your dog space and make strangers not so scary.

 

Loose Leash Walking with Circles Part 1

Loose leash walking is a huge challenge for almost all dogs. Most of our dogs pull to get where they want to go and walks become a long game of tug-o-war. Try using circles to train your dog that pulling me there won’t get us there any faster.

 

Loose Leash Walking with Circles Part 2 

Part 2 just takes the technique out of the yard and into the real world.