Training Tips

Teaching your dog basic obedience - such as sit, wait, come, and leave it gives them the freedom to do the things they like to do, like running off lead and coming with you to meet friends and family, while being safe under control. What's more, dogs are intelligent animals and love to learn, so training can be a great way of stopping boredom.

Top Tips:

Minimise distractions - always start lessons for new tricks in a quiet room in your house away from any distractions
Break training up into short but regular sessions so your dog isn't overwhelmed
Be patient - just like us, dogs all learn at different rates so don't worry if your dog doesn't pick things up straight away
Always end with something your dog knows, so the session finishes positively
Have fun - training is a great way for you to bond with your dog!

Teach Your Dog To Sit

1. With your dog in a standing position, hold a tasty treat near their nose.

2. Keeping the treat near your dog's nose, move your hand in an arc over his head. As the dog raises his head to follow the treat, his bottom will go on the floor. The instant he sits, praise him and give him the treat.
3. Practice this a number of times in short but regular sessions.

Teach Your Dog Down

1. With your dog in a sitting position and a treat in your hand, move your hand from your dog's nose towards their chest, then straight down towards the floor.
2. Your dog should follow the treat into a lying down position. Praise and reward them with the treat immediately.
3. Practice this a number of times in short but regular sessions.

4. Practice often and in different places. Once your dog is happily lying down on command in your home, start to practice in more distracting environments, like the garden or your local park.

Teach Your Dog To Come

1. You need an incentive to encourage your dog to come back - a really tasty treat or a fun game with a toy. Show your dog the toy or food.
2. Run away a couple of paces then call your dog's name and say "come" in a friendly, exciting tone - getting down low can also encourage them to come back.
3. As your dog comes to you, gently hold their collar and either feed them the treat or let them play with the toy.
4. Gradually increase the distance that you are from your dog, until eventually you can call your dog in and out of the garden or from room to room.
5. Ask a friend or partner to help take it in turns to gently hold your dog's collar whilst the other one walks a distance away and then calls the dog over. (Don't forget to praise the dog each time this is a success.)
6. Once your dog is consistently coming to you when called around the house and garden you can start to practice in safe outside spaces. Long training leads can be helpful for practicing recall when outside as they allow your dog some freedom without giving them complete free-range at this stage.

*** Only call when you are going to praise your dog - do not call your dog and then tell them off as it means they will be less likely to come back next time you call.
*** Don't only call your dog to put them back on the lead - they'll soon make the association and be reluctant to come back.