With any dog obedience training can be an exciting chance to bond with your pup. With an APBT,aka Pit Bull obedience is a necessary task that for your dog's safety should not be taken lightly. It doesn't have to be a painful or boring, as a matter of fact it SHOULD be fun for both of you. Teaching your puppy to sit on command is a great way to begin familiarizing your puppy with training.
Instructions
1. My husband and I have our very first puppy. A beautiful black and white APBT, aka a Pit Bull. While he is just over two months now, he began his obedience training at 6 weeks. This early start has been a great help in getting our puppy used to daily training sessions. As I test and try training methods with Gator, when I come across one that works I'll be sharing those tips with you.
2. Choose the right treat. You want a treat that is tasty to your dog, but soft and very small for quick and easy eating. The last thing you need in a training session is a big crunchy treat that takes more than 5 seconds to eat. It will distract your dog for too long. I've found that tiny bits of hot dog, or cheese work well from the kitchen. Or you can purchase soft small breed dog treats from the pet store. However, I've often found that even these treats can be a bit hefty for training a puppy. Don't hesitate to break treats up to about the size of your pinky finger nail. The goal is to reward your puppy without distracting him from you, and without replacing his dinner.
3. The perfect timing. Choose a time to begin your training session when your puppy is neither tired nor too full from eating. Begin by getting your dog to associate the words "Good Boy/Girl"/"Good dog"/ "Good (Dog's name)" with good things happening. Do this by saying the phrase in a high pitched vice (high pitches excite dogs, low tones take on a more commanding sound)each time you say the phrase immediately reward the dog with a treat. Repeat this several times until your puppy looks at you expectantly each time you say the phrase.
4. Once the puppy has made this positive association you can begin teaching him what you want him to do. To get your puppy to sit hold a treat in your fingers and slightly raise your hand over his head. As the puppy lifts his head and leans back his bottom will hit the floor. When this happens immediately say the phrase and allow the puppy to have the treat. Now do it again, this time say " (puppy's name)sit" just before luring your puppy into the "sit" position. Repeat this ten more times.
5. Once your puppy seems to be getting the hang of it, test his ability, by asking him to "sit" with only the hand motion and no treat. If he does remember to say the reward phrase. If he doesn't go back a step and try again. Remember to keep your patience and keep it fun. Don't let the training session go on for more than a few minutes at first. While you may have several sessions a day you don't want your puppy to get tired or bored with his training.
6. Once your puppy will "sit" with just the hand motion, go to the next step. Begin giving the puppy a treat every other time that he sits with just the hand motion. (Tip, keep the treats in your other hand)Then start occasionally asking him to sit with no hand motion, when he does, reward him quickly each time. So to clarify, if you use a hand motion with the command, treat him every other time, but give the reward phrase right after the act no mater what. If he sits without the hand motion on the command alone, treat him every time up to ten times in a row.
7. Once your puppy will sit on command without the hand signal begin to treat him every other time approximately 10 times. Then switch it up until he only gets a treat every two times and so on until he is happy to sit on command to please you. But don't forget, you want your puppy to enjoy his training, so when he does well feel free to treat him here and there. Another great thing to do is always follow a training session with a 15 to 20 minute play time afterward.
8. Beginning this early familiarity with training will help set your puppy up for future obedience training, as well as a good step towards eventual trick training. Above all remember to be careful and not confuse your puppy or lose patience with your puppy. Training takes time and consistency. Always use the same command for each action. Therefore if you teach your dog that "Down" means lay down, be sure and use something different when you want him off your bed. Such as "off".
9. Do not repeat commands over and over. The command is "sit" not "sit, sit, sit". If your puppy does not respond to your command the first time, say "WHOOPS!" wait 10 seconds and try again. Only give treats and reward phrases AFTER a command has been followed. Not before or during. If you or you think your puppy is not up for training, just skip it all together and try again later or the next day so your puppy won't feel like he's doing work. Keep it fun!
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