Dog Training

picture found at http://cutedogpix.com/beautiful-white-chihuahua-baby/

A love hate relationship...

When my chihuahua was a puppy:
 We didn't know what was good or bad for him...

We went to the store to buy food and supplies for him... at the store everyone wanted to pet the little white chihuahua.. A trainer from the store walked by and told us that he must be trained and the sooner the better.  Honestly, we didnt know that having him train with adult dogs was a BAD idea.

 GOOD HINT: puppies should be train with other puppies and not with adult dogs. Also toy dogs should be train only with toy dog breeds as they are to little in size.

We agreed to the puppy being trained by the dog trainer from in the Pet store... the adult toy dogs would do their thing and my puppy would just whimper. Every time we went to the dog training class he would vomit and have diarrhea because he develop a nervous stomach.  He graduated from the class because we showed up every week. In my opinion my chihuahua graduated from class because the trainer couldn't show that she tricked us to join the Store Class as he was to darn young.

I believe that his fear to be with other dogs was helped by being in the class.

How to avoid doing the same errors we did with our Chihuahua.

Socialization: while he is young take him to lots of different places as pet stores and let EVERYONE PET HIM. The more socialization the better.

   DO: invite friends over to meet your new addition to your family.  

   Dont invite lots of people at one time as you cant monitor who is playing with him.  here is why i say this.  My Family invited friends over for Barbeque both families that came had children (ages ranging from 6 to 15). We didn't worry about my Chihuahua as he was sweetest little puppy. People would ask for him and would hug him and take him with them. After a while we heard him whimper the new sound got our attention. we rushed to the backyard and there he was with 2 boys that were playing catch the chihuahua. One wouldn't be able to catch him and they would drop him down the floor.. Oh poor baby.. how many times had they drop him on purpose! that anger all of us and I exploited and lets say his parents are not our friends any more!!!

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_SocializationPup.php

Remember:  The more new sounds he hears the better. Why? so he is not afraid of firecrackers, ambulances, police cars, horns... etc...

Training your dog

for more signs to teach your dog:
http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/pets-animals/89857-deaf-dalmation-given-new-lease-life-after-learning-sign-language.html

Barking: show treat and put it close to his nose.  He will stop barking as dogs cant smell and bark at the same time. Dont scream at them to shut up. Praise when dog is silent. it takes time, just wait until he focus on the treat.. he will get it to be silent when you say "calm"

Touch Command: say "Touch" wait until the dog touches your hand with his nose.

Yes Command: (this command lets your dog your approval). start by saying the word "Yes" and give him a treat. The word "yes" is the same thing as using a clicker with your dog, every time he does something right, you say yes or click the clicker.

Finish Command: (relase word so dog know that the training is finish)

Sit Command: hand command and raise your hand slightly above your dog head.
      step 1: When your dog sits, say "YES" and give treat.
                 While walking say sit in every corner and wait for him to sit and give treat. 
                 Say Sit before you feed him, wait until you put his bowl down and then wait until you say "yes" or "eat" so he knows that you are giving him permission to eat. 
                Say sit before you or someone else is going to pet him.

     step 2: When dog is in a sit command a few min use the release command as Finish or Go or Done to let him know that he can move any where he wants.

                Say sit before greeting at front door: Ask dog to sit, then pet dog.

Hint: when dog stands up, you stop petting and go away.

Loose Leash Walking: No Treats for walking as walking is the treat.
      step 1:  Dog must stand nice next to you. (dont scream at him to follow you). When he pulls just stop and wait for the dog to return next to you so you can keep walking.

      step 2: Say "dog name, lets go" and take a step.

[Lie] Down Command: Help dog to relax when you have guest.
      step 1: Lower your hand slowly toward the floor. When the dog is down, say "Yes" and treat. Later, when he has learn the down command wait a few seconds and then treat.. remember we want to stop treating when he is on the down command.

      step 2: When your dog is down wait a few seconds and use the release word "finish" to let him know that he can go and do whatever he wants.

Take it/Leave it: (this is good when playing ball so he takes the ball and leaves the ball when he returns)

      step 1:  open hand, show treat, and then say "leave it".
      step 2:  show the other hand where the other treat is at and say "take it".

I personally hate that he eats from the outside floor... It took my family and me a few tries but he learn to not pick up/eat anything from the floor and he only takes treats from our hands.

Drop it Command: (this is a good as when he has something he shouldn't have in his mouth you can say leave it so he has to give it to you with no problem). LIFE SAVER..

      step 1: offer toy and say "take it", play a few minutes.

                 stop playing and wait until dog to release toy, say "Yes" and give treat.

      step 2: Now that you know when dog will drop toy when you stop playing with him you will add the drop it command.  Say the word "Drop It" stop playing and wait, when he drops the toy, say "yes" and give treat.

Watch Me or Look at me Command: first say "watch me" and put your 2 fingers close to your eye and wait until they see you.  Remember the treat is between both fingers.. the first few times pass your hand slowly close to his nose so he can smell the yummy treat and that will get them to follow your hand up to your face.
Name of dog: only use their name when you need to call them as "baby, come". Dont use their name when screaming at them as this will get them to not care for their name and ignore it.

 TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO WALK ON A TREADMILL PLEASE READ "THAT DARN WEATHER" ON MY BLOG

all dogs can learn as http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2009/01/deaf-puppy-learns-sign-language.html