Installation Guide

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maintain leash pressure until you get the desired response. Once it understands that there is no danger in these
areas, it will be glad to enter upon command.
Think about your individual training situation and see if you can create opportunities to work on the “Kennel”
command. This can be accomplished by having an airline crate with you while doing your dog’s obedience routine
or working in an area close to the entrance of your home where the doorway becomes the area in which your dog is
commanded to enter. Or, you could use your vehicle, and this will be very handy when you take your dog to other
training areas.
A FINAL OBEDIENCE COMMAND: DOWN
The next command in your obedience program will be “Down,” which tells your dog to lie down and remain in
this position until it receives another command. This command is most often used around the home. For this
reason, the easiest time to work on “Down” is at night while watching television. Command your dog to “Sit” and
stroke its shoulder when it obeys. Face the dog, grab its front paws, and pull them toward you. When your dog’s
chest hits the fl oor, command “Down” and stroke a shoulder again. Most dogs will immediately rise, assuming
a sit position. If this occurs, correct your dog with “No” and repeat the “Down” process again. It generally takes
around three evenings before your dog will become comfortable with this routine. But, do not be worried if it
takes your dog three weeks.
UNDERSTANDING CORRECTION
We have spoken very little about correcting your dog for making a mistake up until this time. No dog is perfect
and many mistakes are going to occur while training. In reality you want your dog to make mistakes so you can
clearly show the diff erence between right and wrong. It is important that you have a correction method that your
dog understands and comfortably accepts. Here is the correction system you should use from Day One. The same
correction system will be used for the rest of your dog’s life whether you are using a leash or e-collar to correct
improper responses.
1. Give your dog a command. If it obeys, use a positive reward. If it fails to obey, proceed to Step 2.
2. Stop your dog’s incorrect action with the command “No.” Repeat the command after you get the incorrect
actions stopped. If your dog obeys, use a positive reward. If it fails to obey, proceed to Step 3.
3. Stop your dog’s incorrect action with the command “No” and use the physical pressure of your leash until
the correct response occurs. Immediately release the pressure when your dog obeys, repeat the command, and
praise with a positive reward.
If you are consistent in this correction process, the verbal correction of “No” will become much more powerful.
Your dog will learn through daily usage that if it does not follow your lead after the command “No,” there will be
some form of physical pressure (leash or electronic). Your dog does not like being corrected any more than you
do. Correction will be a part of its life and it will accept this correction as long as you give it in a comfortable
and systematic fashion. This means you must be consistent and you cannot hurt your dog by hitting, kicking, or
overstimulating when you become frustrated.