Preschool Puppy Training (Part 3): Sit & Come

As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to use food treats in addition to a simple excess of praise. Praise hasn't been firmly etched on the chalkboard of your dog’s young mind. And until you get to the point where it is, be sure to give your pup something he’s guaranteed to understand it a reward: food!

You may be wondering if training take place in the head, and therefore not be food based. To a point it certainly is, but if your dog is very young and you’re using games to teach that you have to keep it as pleasurable as possible for him.

You are going to want to have at least three fetching games of ten minutes each three days in a row. These games should be in addition to the ten minute walk on the leash. And while the puppy is playing games we’re going to sneak two more commands past his radar, so to speak, and before your dog even realizes what's happened, he will have been learned to respond to “come” and “sit” as well.

While playing fetch, when your puppy has returned the play toy to you, place your left hand on his rear end and your right underneath his chin. At this point press lightly with your left hand while exerting a small amount of upward pressure with your right and say “sit”.

Once he has sat down go heavy with the enthusiastic praise, then toss the play toy out again. When the puppy returns with the toy in his grip, withhold praise until after you’ve gotten him to sit. If the puppy should squirm away from you without sitting, do not throw the play toy, do not praise, and above all, do not give up!

Stay Upbeat!

Do not entertain thoughts such as “he just won't do it”; such negativity has no place in dog training. Simply use the leash to bring the puppy back to you, say “sit” again and place the puppy in the sitting position. And, of course, remember to reward him with food at the end.

By the time you finish your third session of fetch-sit games, your pup should sit with little to no hand pressure. Now recall that you have a 10 minute leash walk scheduled for each of the days four through seven. Follow the same routine as on preceding days, except take four tiny treats with you. And be very sure that your dog can’t see or smell these treats as you head outside.

After you begin this routine daily outing (we know it to be an important part of his socialization training), take the treat out of your pocket, kneel down to his level and say his name, followed by the command “come.”

Now use the leash to gently pull the puppy towards you. Give him the treat, and at the same time pour on the praise. By giving the treat with the praise, your puppy will begin to learn that praise is synonymous with the reward.

Other recommendations: investing in dog steps so your puppy can have access to areas you deem appropriate as well as pet gates to keep your puppy from going into areas where he/she shouldn't.