Installation Guide

without deviation. This
command is very easy for
your dog to learn if you
speak its language. Most
dogs make a beeline to
any person who kneels
down and opens up their
arms. In this position
you are using postural
language to welcome
your dog. While you are
kneeling and your dog
is running to you, add
the verbal command
“Here.” Shower your
dog with positive verbal
rewards while stroking
its shoulder.
Let’s take a second, again,
and discuss how much
positive reward to give a dog when it follows your commands. Do you remember
how your dog communicates to you that it understands and accepts your actions?
When your dog swallows, it says, “I understand.” So, back off the positive rewards
when your dog says it understands and accepts your thank you by swallowing.
Continually stroking your dog’s shoulder and praising it will eventually lessen the
sincerity of your reward and that could be a huge mistake. Training your dog to
come to you with the “Here” command is done along with the postural position of
kneeling and opening up your arms.
The leash (or lead) should be used in training your dog on the command “Here”
as soon as it is comfortable with the leash. Give the command “Here” and apply a
slight tug on the leash. Be sure to release the leash pressure the instant the dog
starts coming toward you. Many people try to maintain leash pressure until the
dog is at their side. While this works, it can be too much pressure and your dog
does not get the reward of turning the pressure off while it’s coming to you. If your
dog hesitates or fails to come directly to you, give another tug with the lead and
repeat “Here.”
When your dog arrives at your side, stroke its shoulder until it gives you a swallow
response. Your dog has learned what you want and now it’s time to condition the
response with repetition.
A POSITIONAL COMMAND: HEEL
“Heel” is a positional command that instructs your dog to assume a position beside
your leg whether you’re walking, standing, running, or riding a horse. People seek
professional help in teaching their dog to heel properly more than for any other
command. These folks always explain that their puppy is a great dog but it will
always work for you, because you are the most important relationship in its life,
and pleasing you should be at the top of its priority list. The positive reward any
dog appreciates most from a trainer is a thank you in the form of a loving shoulder
stroke, affectionate eye contact, and a sincere, “Good dog.” If your dog doesn't
light up on any of those three, you need to reevaluate your relationship. Each
command should be followed with a positive reward of some fashion when your
dog follows your lead.
THE FIRST
COMMAND: NO
The first command
your dog will learn is,
“No.” Usually your dog
will understand this
command by the end of
its first day with you.
Your dog hears this
command each time it’s
doing something wrong
and it comprehends the
command by the way you
say it. Your dog may have
been running around the
house with your wife’s
pantyhose in its mouth
or chewing on your prized
decoy when it hears that
dreadful word. Intonation expresses your feelings to your dog in a language that
is universal. The tone of your voice tells your dog that it’s in trouble and through
repetitive use, the word “No” comes to mean the same thing. Voila! Our first
conditioned response! (Thank you, Dr. Pavlov.)
“No” means stop what you are doing immediately. Put yourself in your dog’s
place when it hears this command and understands it. The dog is thinking it must
quickly stop what it’s doing. Your dog would gladly obey you, if it only knew what
you desired. For this reason, when your dog does stop doing whatever it was that
bothered you, you must give another command expressing what will please you.
“No” is always followed with something that will make you happy. When you are
happy, your dog will see it through your eyes, feel it by your touch, and hear it in
your tone. And, that is your dog’s positive reward. Even when it makes a mistake
and is corrected by the word “No,” it receives a reward by following your next
command. This is a simple and foolproof method.
THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMAND: HERE
“Here” is the most important command your dog will ever learn. It’s an escape
from almost any trouble. “Here” tells your dog to come to you immediately and
TRAINING YOUR DOG
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