TRAINING PUPPIES

In my last blog I wrote about socialising your puppy and the areas you should focus on during your puppy’s first few days in your home. It is important to be clear with your puppy from day 1. If your dog knows the rules from the outset, this will make training much easier in future. The good start your dog has been given at home must be utilised, and the transition to dedicated training can continue before your dog gets too old. That is why it is a good idea to start off with some puppy training from the age of about 11 or 12 weeks of age.

Train your puppy with commands and your tone of voice

You must work out for yourself which commands you want your dog to learn. Short commands are best – keep it simple. “SIT”, “DOWN”, “STAY” and “NO” are good examples – and I always give my dogs short names that are easy to pronounce. When you are hunting or during trials, and things may be a little heated, your dog’s name must not contain too many syllables! Your tone of voice is important – it must be firm and backed up with your body language. You should praise your dog when he does something right and tell him off when he does something you do not want him to do. This will teach your dog the difference between good and bad behaviour. Most dogs try to please their owners, so they will do everything they can to follow your instructions.

What should my puppy learn?

His name The first thing you should train your dog is, of course, his name. When he comes towards you, say his name, praise him and give him a treat. He will follow you, and you have to make the most of this. Sit down frequently and call him to you. When he comes to you, praise him and give him a treat. The “NO” command This is probably a word that you will say many, many times. It is simple and used when the dog does something you do not want him to do. Use a firm voice and be clear in your body language – your dog is doing something you do not want him to do! The “STAY” command “Stay” is a command worth its weight in gold, and it can help keep your dog calm – both at home and elsewhere. Start by practising this when your dog is tired and wants to head for his bed. Place your dog in his bed, then if he tries to get back out, put him back in it and say “STAY”. If you like, you can combine this command with showing your dog a flat hand facing towards the ground. You can also practice this in combination with “SIT”, so when your dog sits, say “STAY” and then move slowly away from him. Start by moving 1-2 metres away, then go back and praise your dog. You might go 3-4 metres away next time, and so forth, so gradually increase the distance. If your dog gets up in order to come after you, “move” him back to where he came from. The “SIT” command A command that I think is important, as I later set great store by always being able to stop dogs with a whistle. The first step when training dogs to “SIT” is to use treats. When your dog comes to you, hold a treat in your hand. Raise your hand, and when the dog sits, say “SIT” and give him the treat. Remember to praise your dog! The “DOWN” command When your dog is familiar with the “SIT” command, the next step is “DOWN”. When your dog is sitting, hold a treat just in front of his nose. Move your hand slowly down towards the ground – the dog will follow your hand with his nose. When he follows your hand, he will automatically end up in the down position. Then say “DOWN” and give the dog his reward. When your dog knows how to do this, start off with the whistle – a long tone replaces the word “DOWN”. Be consistent when practising this. When your dog knows what the signal means, he MUST lie down. If he does not, you have to grab hold of the dog, put his lead on and take him to the place where he was when you gave the “DOWN” whistle. Therefore, train this in the garden or indoors, where the dog is unable to “cheat” you. One handy tip is to remember that the more tired your dog is, the more willing he will be to lie down. Learn to walk on the lead We have all encountered dogs that pull on the lead, where the dog – not the owner – decides on the pace and where to go. Therefore, dogs should learn to follow their owner on a loose lead right from the outset. If you are to succeed in this, you need to be consistent again – and as the master you have to be patient in this regard. It may be a good idea to use a puppy harness instead of a collar when your dog is a puppy. When you go for a walk, STOP when your dog pulls. You have to do this every time! Do not continue walking until your dog is close to you again and the lead is loose. It may be a good idea to have treats with you so that your dog stays focused on you. It is a good idea to change direction so that the dog has to focus on the owner.

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