Basic obedience training is a very important step in your and your pups lives. Through training you will have a dog you can live with. Your dog will respect you and you will bond better with your dog. Early training stimulates the pups mind the same as a child Learning things sets the course for a life time of learning.
I hope to give an overview of training to help you get started. This is not a substitute for joining an obedience class where your dog can socialize with other people and dogs, and you can get first hand correction as needed. But, to get you started in the right direction. It can serve as the full course but you will lose the benefits gained from interaction.
you will need: a chain collar that fits your pup, a soft 6 foot long leash of either leather or nylon with smooth edges, a regular buckle on collar for your pup, a lounge line ( long leash 30 to 50 feet long ). When choosing the leash - pull it harshly through your hands to check for rough or sharp edges. When choosing a chain collar get one with links that fall easily through the loop. ( the idea of the chain collar is to be able to pull a quick correction with it and have the chain release instantly with out hanging up.) Loop the chain through one ring and pull and release as you would if the collar were on the pup. The regular buckle collar is what the pup will live in and can be whatever design or color you prefer.
To start with let you pup get used to the regular collar for a few days. He will most likely scratch and dig at it a while getting used to it.
Next step is to let the pup drag the leash around the room a little to get used to the weight of it and the feel. This is done a little at at time during regular house play time, but should of course be supervised. You may then hold the leash to give the pup the idea of confinement. He will most likely fight it wanting to go his own way. With a young pup tell him no and reassure him he is not choking. When he quits fighting you may let him off the leash.
ALWAYS end all training sessions on a good note. When the pup has done something right is a good time to praise him and end the session.
Once your pup is not fighting the buckle collar it is time to try him on the chain collar. The chain collar always go on so it will release with the pup on your left. ( it is customary to walk the pup on your left side so training is done that way ).
To correct your pup using the chain collar you give a quick yank on the leash coupled with the correction needed ( e.g. sit ) and an immediate release of the tension on the collar. The most common mistake people make with the chain collar is to maintain pressure; hence the old fashioned misnomer choke collar.
The first lesson is usually heel. To heel is to have the pup walking along beside you - not in front or lagging behind. ( show standards would be the shoulder of the dog in line with the seam on your pants leg at normal standing position ) If your pup gets out in front of you give him a correction along with the heel command and bring him back into the area he should be in. The same applies to lagging behind. When he has walked along with you in the correct manner stop and praise him and perhaps offer a goody ( do not give a snack every time ) then begin walking again. Some dogs when first starting out will try to make you think you are killing them with the leash. You must make them walk along even if it is a fight at first or you will not have complete control over your pup. ( this could result in the dog yanking the leash from your hand and chasing a cat under a semi truck.)
The next lesson is normally sit. The have your pup sit give a small jerk upwards on the collar along with the command sit. You may have to push down on your pups rear also in the beginning. Many people like to have their dogs sit every time they stop while walking. ( we are not going for show standards here but it is a good idea )
The down or lay command is next. While facing your dog tell him to down with a small yank downward with the leash. You may have to help by pulling yours dogs front legs forward or pushing down on the the shoulders.
Stay is perhaps the hardest lesson of all but can also be the most important thing you will ever teach your dog. Tell your pup to stay. Put a hand in front of his face and back away from him, reinforcing the stay command. Try to get to the end of the leash away and walk back to him to tell him he was good.
You can get a long leash for this training ( e.g. 30 foot for training purposes) so you may get farther away and back. You could tie the leash to something and walk away a little farther or just drop the leash and back away. It is good to walk all the way around the pup while he is on stay. You may spend good deal of time taking your pup back to where he was told to stay and redoing the lesson until you can end on a good stay. I like to be able to walk a good 50 feet away and back on stay. You will also want sit-stay and down-stay.
As you and your pup progress with training you should be able to forgo the yank on the collar and just use verbal commands only. and visa versa. Once your dog is doing well with the basic commands it is time to mix them. Walk away telling him to stay then call him to heel. when heeling turn towards to dog so he has to slow down for your turn and then turn away so he has to hurry to stay at your side. Finally the ideal would be to work without the leash through all the commands mixing them. You should be able to tell your dog to stay - walk away hundred feet and tell him to come stop him part way to down and then come and then sit until he gets to you and heels at your side.
There are many good books on the market. I prefer the Koehlers Method of Dog Training that has been around for many years as it covers all the basics for many breeds. He also has training books on other aspects e.g. hunting and guarding.
You may also contact our help desk for any aspect of dog training or care. We will help with what we can. You know your dog best. We are not a replacement for your veterinarian.