Give your dog the command to heel and begin walking,
remembering to start out on your left foot, in a straight
line. Make a few right-about turns as necessary to make
sure that you have his full attention. Then, as you
prepare to come to a stop, shorten your hold on the
leash just a bit. As you stop, not after and not before,
pull up the leash with your right hand and press gently
on the dogˆ‚s rear as you say the command ˆ¨SitˆÆ!
As soon as he sits, praise him and give him a pat on
the head. Remember, dogs learn by associating their
actions with a pleasing or displeasing result.
Next, give the command ˆ¨HeelˆÆ and begin to walk briskly
in a straight line. As you prepare to stop, shorten
your hold on the leash. When you stop, pull up on the
leash, pressing gently on the rear with your free left
hand, at the same time giving the command ˆ¨SitˆÆ.
Always follow a correct behavioral response by your
dog with praise, even if you caused the behavioral response.
Even though you are placing your dog in the sitting
position, this should still be followed by warm praise.
This will be the pattern throughout the course. You
will show your dog what he needs to do and follow it
with praise. After the learning process has taken place
within the mind of the dog, then will you correct for
disobedience.
Your training program at this stage should still be
limited to fifteen minutes per day and consist only
of the commands ˆ¨HeelˆÆ and ˆ¨SitˆÆ. Give the command to
heel, walk about ten feet, do a right turn, then come
to a stop, placing the dog in the sitting position while
giving the command to sit. Follow each sit-placing with
warm praise.
Dogs with above average intelligence will absorb what
you are trying to convey in less than four days and
will begin to sit by themselves before you have a chance
to place them. However, you must be firm with your decision
that, regardless of how fast your dog appears to be
catching on, you will continue to place him in the sitting
position each time you stop for a period of one week.
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