Helpful Commands for your Dog
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Here at Fog City Paws, we believe in Positive Reinforcement Training. It is a training method that uses praise, treats, or toys to train and reward a desired behavior. FCP focus on giving dogs motivation to work on good behaviors for treats and praises. We believe in building and improving the relationship you have with your dog.
With any new command, you will need to pick a quiet place without too much distraction. Pick a place and stick to it. Dogs loves routines and are comfortable with them. When it is time to train, it helps your dog to know it is time to work by going to the same spot it always go. Always be encouraging and positive. Keep the training sessions short and fun. Dogs can get bored with the same thing over and over again for more a long period of time. 5-10 minutes at a time, 2 to 3 times a day for a few weeks should do it. Remember to have lots of patience, be consistent, and give lots of treats or their favorite toys and praises. Only phase out the treats and toys after they get the command and are 90% after a couple of weeks. If they are offereing less than 90% at any time, go back a step and make it easier for them.
Before you attempt to teach a dog anything. You will need to use classical conditioning to teach your dog that a specific sound means treat. You may use a clicker or a word. Some people might find it bothersome to use a clicker and remember to bring it each time you train. So most people chooses to use the word "yes." Remember, what ever you choose, you will being using it as a marker to mark the moment your dog offer the behavior you are trying to teach.
Associate your dog with the word or clicker
To do this, you must use a high value treat, a treat that your dog absolutley loves in small portions.
Click and treat randomly throughout the day. For example, on commercial breaks while you watch your favorite show on TV.
1) Call your dog to get him near where you are, there is no need for Fido to do anything special.
2) Say "yes" or click the clicker and immediately give him the treat.
3) Repeat this so he may associate the treat with the word "yes" or the sound of the clicker
4) He will get this quickly, but to strengthen this association, you have to keep it up for a week or two.
Focus Command A command that is THE base for other commands:
1) Hold the food-treat in your hand in a way that Fido can smell and maybe lick, but can't get to it.
2) Stick the treat in front of Fido's nose to show Fido what they are working for .
3) When Fido's attention is on the treat, lure him to look at you by move the cheese in smoth and quick motion towards your face.
4) Once Fido focuses at you, immediately say "yes" to mark that behavior then give them the treat and don't forget to give lots of praises!
5) When you are sure he will focus his eye on you when you do this, add the word "Look" to the action.
Challange: When you feel that Fido knows the command, you may give him more of a challange by adding a few seconds, in increments, before you release him with "OK" then reward him with a treat and or 3 second belly rub.
You may begin to phaze out the treats and give him a toy or belly rub instead. You may reward him with a jackpot (5 treats in secession) if Fido is faster than usual in responding to the command or for extraordinary performance. This way he will have incentive to do it faster for you.
*if your dog is not big on treats, you can use his favorite toy or 3 second belly rub OR anything that he sees as high value.
If you have more than one dog in your home, work on one dog at a time in the beginning while you are acquiring the behavior.
How to House Train your dog
Young Puppies needs to go every 2-4 hours. On a schedule, such as after eating, napping, before bedtime, and first thing in the morning. Once the puppy reaches 4-6 month old, you may begin to gradually leave him in the house for longer period of time because he can "hold" it longer.
A) Food Schedule: This is very important. A good foundation to house training is managing your dog's eating schedule. This way you can estimate and anticipate when your dog will need to go potty. Place the dog food in the bowl and give it to the puppy on a schedule. Only give your puppy 30 minutes to eat his food. Take the bowl away after 30 minutes even if there are dog food left. There is a saying "if a dog is hungry it won't starve it self" Pretty soon your dog will learn to eat when he is being fed.
Supervise play time: Always supervise your puppy's playtime. When there is lots of sniffing and going in circles then it might be time to take him out.
B) Walking your puppy:
Morning, Take your puppy out first thing in the morning to a designated spot you've picked. Give him 10 minutes to go. If the puppy goes, praise him and give him some free time to sniff and play with you. Do not take your puppy home right after he potties or he will learn very quickly to "hold" it so he can have more time to play. You will wait longer and longer for him to go as a result. If your puppy does not go, take him back in the house. Have the puppy on the leash and tethered to you so you can watch him. Wait 10-15 minutes and take him out again. Feed him, give him 30 minutes, take him out again.
Mid day: If you have a puppy and you can not make it home to take him out for a walk, or don't have access to a dog walker, you may want put the puppy in a play pin just big enough for his crate and wee wee pad. Do not use fabric, dog bed, towels, or any coushion in the crate or it will encourage the puppy to potty in the crate. Dogs like to relieve themselves on absorbant surfaces. Remember, we are trying to take advantage of dog's natural instinct to keep where he sleeps clean.
Evening: Take your dog out for a walk, Give him 30 minutes to finish. Take him out for a walk again. Remember to praise your dog when he does go.
Dealing with accident: If the puppy has an accident in the house and you did not see it, do not rub it's face in it. Dogs have short memory and will not know why you yelled at him. If you catch him in the act, do not yell, simply clap your hand and make a noise to interrupt him and take him out right away. Yelling will only traslate to your puppy "don't go while mom or dad is around." Your puppy might start to hid his poop or pee around the hourse. When you do take your puppy out, he might take longer to potty from fear of getting into trouble with you.
Remember, Puppies often forgets to go when he is playing. So when it is time to go home and he hasn't gone yet, leash him and tether him to you while you are home for the next 15 minutes. Then take him out to potty again.
To prolong your morning sleep and or if you want your dog to hold his pee longer in the morning, do not feed him water 2 hours before bed time and/or walk him right before you go to bed.
