My Pup's Friend

Call Now!

Obedience

General Rules for All Commands

Say Their Name

This flags to them that we need their attention and that they should be listening for that next command!

Ask Once

Expecting your pup to do it the first time you tell them to is how you get reliability out of what you ask of your pup!

Mean It!

When you ask them to do something, enforce the rules we have discussed during training!

Daily Work

Working with your pup daily is the only way to proof anything that they have learned.

Be Strict

Whatever commands they do not listen to, we must enforce as detailed for each command below.

Praise Them!

The most important part is praising them when they do what you ask! This is what makes them WANT to do it!

Heel

Purpose

This is the foundation for everything! Trust and respect is our main goal initially, but this is a critical tool for calming in excitable, anxious, fearful or any other situations where your pup is lacking focus. Having your pup focus on walks is important for helping with their mental stimulation that they are looking for. We are asking them to use their brain!

Command Instructions

1) Say your pup’s name and tell them to “Heel” while patting your side to encourage.

2) Utilize directional tugs to fix the positioning of your pup.

3) Repeat “Heel” every 2-3 tugs you give to give meaning to the word and tugs.

4) Utilize turns as necessary to help calibrate your pup’s positioning.

Rules

– 90% of our walks, we want in the “Heel” position

– The remaining 10% we can allow sniffing, potty, etc.

– We set the pace, when to stop/start, where we are going, etc.

– Start out each walk strict, as this is what sets the standard!

Tips

– Right Hand Turns: makes sure your pup is paying attention

– Left Hand Turns: helps calibrate the heel if your pup is in front

– Start in low distraction environments

– Daily walks and continual progress are key to success

Sit

Purpose

This command is great for short term situations including: tying our shoes, picking up their poop, having a conversation with a friend on our walk, properly greeting people, front door manners, etc.

Command Instructions

1) Say your pup’s name and tell them “Sit.”

2) Praise them if they sit all the way!

3) If they do not sit, tell them “No” and give a tug up while saying “Sit” again.

Rules

– Don’t repeat commands. Ask once!

– Keep them in the “Heel” position.

– They must sit, not down!

– Implied stay while leash is in hand

Tips

– Structure: Use your tools as needed.

– Enforce the implied stay!

– Sit when greeting people.

– If they are struggling, make it easier.

Down

Purpose

This is useful for getting your dog in a more comfortable position for a longer term. It is also another way to get them to think when they are unable to focus, as are all of our commands! This is useful for when we are making/eating dinner, changing the baby’s diaper, etc.

Command Instructions

1) Say your pup’s name and tell them “Down.” (You can point down as well.)

2) Praise them if they down all the way!

3) If they do not lay down, tell them “No” and give a tug down while saying “Down” again.

Rules

– Don’t repeat commands. Ask once!

– Keep them in the “Heel” position.

– Elbows down, hips splayed out.

– Implied stay while leash is in hand

– No chewing or playing. Sleep is ok!

Tips

– Structure: Use your tools as needed.

– Enforce the implied stay!

– If they are struggling, make it easier.

– Practice when you can work them through it

Stay

Purpose

This is a useful command when we are busy, but we need to train. Utilizing this when we are doing activities such as sitting at the computer, making dinner, prepping your pups dinner, eating or anything where we need them to be out of our way, whether it is for us or for their safety.

Command Instructions

1) Have them “Sit” and then “Down” as described above.

2) Say your pup’s name and tell them to “Stay.”

3) If at any point during the “Stay” command, they leave the “Stay” position:

Tell your pup “No”, “Heel” them back to the original spot, give appropriate corrections for “Sit/Down” and give a tug to the side for “Stay”

4) When your pup stays and we are ready to release them, say “FREE!!!”

Rules

– Don’t repeat commands. Ask once!

– Release words: Free, Come, Heel

– They cannot release themselves.

– No chewing or playing. Sleep is ok!

Tips

– Start with easy distractions

– Advance duration, distance, distractions

– If they are struggling, make it easier.

– Make it fun! Incorporate into play!

Place

Purpose

This is an extension of the “Stay” command. We are using a designated “elevated” area for your pup. This can be a bed, cot, bench, etc. It is best to keep this consistent, but we can teach a new place in new environments/rooms/homes/etc.

Command Instructions

1) Say your pup’s name and tell them “Place” while pointing to the area.

2) Praise them if they “Place!”

3) If they do not place, tell them “No,” “Heel” them to it and give a tug toward the place area.

4) When your pup stays and we are ready to release them, say “FREE!!!”

Rules

– Don’t repeat commands. Ask once!

– Release words: Free, Come, Heel

– They cannot release themselves.

– No chewing or playing. Sleep is ok!

Tips

– Start with easy distractions

– Advance duration, distance, distractions

– If they are struggling, make it easier.

– Make it fun! Incorporate into play!

Come

Purpose

The “Come” command is the most important command your pup can know reliably! This is more for their safety than anything. We want to be able to call them away from a ball rolling towards the street or the neighbor’s not so friendly pup. This is something we need to work consistently and enforce the rules at all time so we can use it when we need it most!

Command Instructions

1) Say your pup’s name and tell them to “Come.”

2) If they make any suggestion they are coming to you, we can give them a little praise.

3) Once they get to us, we want them to “Sit”, whether we tell them or they auto-sit.

4) Praise them when they finish in the “Sit”

5) If at any point they do not “Come” directly to us:

Tell your pup “No”

Calmly grab the leash and give them two tugs towards you while taking a step back and repeating the “Come” command with each tug.

Give one tug up as you say “Sit” for them to finish the command. 

Rules

– Don’t repeat commands. Ask once!

– Don’t praise until they sit.

– Do not allow angling

– Implied stay upon sit.

– Focus should be on you!

Tips

– Start with easy distractions

– Structure: Use your tools!

– If they are struggling, make it easier.

– Make it fun! Incorporate into play!

– Advance distance and distractions!