PAWS Quick Training tips. Written by Wanda Winans for PAWS fosters and adopters. “COME”: One of the most important commands to learn for the dog’s safety and for good manners. Never scold your dog for running away, just praise it when it returns. With dog in place on a long leash, 6 to 10 feet long, step away just a foot or two, crouch down to their level and give a gentle tug on leash while firmly giving the “come” command. When dog comes to you praise and love it like crazy, tell it “good come!” With practice, little by little move further away to give “come” command. Eventually you will work your way to doing this exercise off leash. Always remember to praise dog for following your commands. “SIT”: Necessary for good manners and grooming. With dog’s eyes on treat in your one hand lift treat above dog’s head while simultaneously with other hand on dog’s bottom gently push dog’s bottom down to “sit” as you say in a firm voice “sit”. Don’t be discouraged if it takes several tries to get it right, just be patient. When dog gets it right praise it like crazy and tell it “good sit!” and give it its treat. “DOWN”: Necessary to get you’re dog to lie down and for good manners. Once dog has mastered “sit” it’s time for “down” command. Place dog in “sit “ then with dog’s eyes on treat in your hand bring treat in front of dog’s nose then slowly lower treat toward floor just in front of dog’s paws while firmly saying “down”. Remember practice and patience and in no time your dog will be sitting on command. “STAY”: Necessary for safety and good manners. Place dog in “sit” and say “stay” while placing open palmed hand directly in front of dog’s nose, take one or two steps back repeating “stay”, still with open palmed hand in front of dog’s nose. If dog tries to get up during “stay” place it back in “sit” and start over. Again, be patient and praise like crazy for following your command. “OFF”: Necessary to teach dog not to jump on people or to get dog not to get on furniture and get them off if they are already on furniture. To stop jumping on people, when dog jumps up on you gently push off while firmly saying “off”. To keep dog off furniture, as dog tries to get on furniture gently push off and firmly say “off”. To get dog off furniture, gently pull dog off furniture with a tug on its collar while saying firmly “off”. As always praise dog. “LEAVE IT”: To stop dog from getting into anything it is not supposed to, such as your food, garbage, poisons, etc. On leash as soon as dog begins to get something it shouldn’t clap hands loudly, tug leash gently and say, “leave it” firmly, and then give it something it is allowed to have. Off leash clap hands loudly, give gentle tug on collar and firmly say, “leave it”. Again, give dog something it can have and praise. “DROP IT” or “GIVE”: To get anything out of dog’s mouth it shouldn’t have. Clap hands loudly saying “drop it” or “give” while gently removing object from mouth. Give dog allowable toy or etc. and praise. “NO”: Clap hands loudly to stop any behavior that is unwanted. As always praise for following your command.
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