Student Reference
Hand Lures
Teaching your puppy to follow hand lures enables handlers to physically direct puppies. This skill will help you guide your dog into just about any position.
Start with food in hand, then present that food to your pup. When your dog digs in for the treat, mark “Yes”. Then set up for another repetition.
Many times moving your hand in a prey-like fashion can help lure a disinterested dog.
Markers
Verbal markers serve as the most clear and effective form of communication with our dogs. They allow humans to let dogs know when they are doing something good or bad. In your training protocol you will be using three different verbal markers. These are…
YES!- “Yes” is used as a transitional marker. We will utter this word anytime our dog completes a behavior correctly. This is almost always followed up with a reward. The “yes” marker tends to be followed by movement as well. Allowing your dog to break command, and transition into the next repetition.
Gooooood- This marker will be used to mark duration. We use duration markers to let dogs know that we like what they are doing, and to continue doing it. So basically, we can scrap the “stay” command and use good instead. Good will enable us to keep dogs engaged with out the constant flow of rewards. All while your dog is performing a durational command, like “place.”
Unh-Uh!- “Unh-Uh” will be our verbal reprimand. We use this word to mark bad behavior. Instead of rewards we will add negative stimuli, such as a leash correction or a buzz on the e-collar. This will ensure that our dogs know and understand what they are doing is wrong. After applying a correction paired with, “unh-uh,” we tend to follow up with a reward for compliance. This is marked with, “Yes!”
Dog Training Commands
Sit- with food in hand, raise your hand over your dog’s head until his bottom touches the ground. Work on holding “sit” until released with the, “yes” marker.
Place- Command for your dog to go to bed. Use a food lure to guide him onto a bed. Release with “yes,” then redirect back onto bed with, “place.”
Crate- Use this command while using food to lure your pup into his crate. Reward him heavily for going into the crate. Use “yes” to release him from the crate.
Come- recall; come when called. Anytime your puppy is a couple feet or more from you, you can practice this command. Once given the command, leash and food in hand, back away from him. This is done with arms open, as if to give him a hug. Once he returns to you, marks “yes,” and reward!
Heel- Walking at your side. Practice this training command anywhere in the house. Long hallways work best. Anytime dog walks in front of you, turn and walk the other way. Reward him for following you.
Unh-Uh- this means “NO.” Any time your dog is being naughty use this reprimand. Then attempt to redirect into either play, or food reward. Reward should be delivered promptly after bad behavior ceases.
Leash Pressure- Teaching your dog to yield to the leash is crucial to communication. A leash is a form of communication, not a restraint.
What comes after a command or a correction???
Remember the importance of having a planned follow up behavior for any command or correction. For instance, redirecting your dog into “place” after correcting them for jumping on a guest. Rewarding the place command will help the dog understand what the ideal reaction to greeting guest would be.