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Writer's pictureLisa Sheppard

Superdog Training Techniques

Updated: Jan 23


I buy all my dog equipment off Amazon because i love the free next day delivery, if you want to sign up here's a link for a free 30 day trial for Amazon Prime

once signed up you can get free next day delivery and if you don't want to carry on with Amazon Prime after the 30 days just cancel and you wont pay a penny.


First off get your equipment, these are gonna make your training days a lot easier:


Bumbag


Treat Pouch


Clicker and a Whistle

Use the whistle for long recall instructions below in recall section) here's the one i brought:


CLICKER TRAINING

Clicker training helps your dog to understand what he done right so he will repeat it, on the click clack sound the dog knows he earned a reward.

For example if you command the dog to sit you must press the clicker as soon as his bum touches the ground and the reward must be given within two seconds to become effective. First teach your dog that the click clack means good things then go onto these commands.



TEACHING "SIT"

Hover a treat over the dogs nose then arc back over the head the moment his bum hits the ground press the clicker and use your cue word "sit" and then reward.

Once your dog is sitting on cue all the time, stop rewarding every time and eventually do the same with the clicker.



TEACHING "DOWN"

Command the dog to "sit" then move the treat down to the floor in front of the dogs feet then move it towards your feet just slightly, the dog should shuffle down onto his tummy once he does this use your clicker then cue word "down" and reward.



TEACHING RECALL

(Start this in your garden or a secluded area first then progress onto public outside areas)

Put some distance between you and your dog then slap you legs and call them if they come straight away press the clicker and use your cue word "come" or "here" (choose your cue word) and then reward.

If they didn't come, put some distance between you and your dog drop a treat at your feet, when your dog bounds over show them another treat and call "come" or "here" and run for a short distance the dog should run after you, remember to reward greatly and make it loads of fun.






ADVANCED TRAINING - Do these once you dog has mastered the above.

TEACHING LONG RECALL (WHISTLE)

Get some distance between you and your dog then use your recall cue "come or "here" when they are running towards you blow your whistle (try to always use the same tone of the whistle blow) once your dog is at your feet press your clicker and reward greatly, do this a few times then take away the old cue word and just blow the whistle, if your dog comes, press your clicker and reward greatly. Practice makes perfect.



TEACHING "BARK"

Does your dog’s barking drive you crazy? Then put his barking on cue and then you can teach “Quiet” on command.

Step one is to teach the dog to bark! Obviously a crazy idea…but it works.

Find something that makes your dog bark that you can reproduce at home eg knock on door or wall, doorbell do that and your dog should bark, use your cue word "bark" after the knock but before the bark,press your clicker on the bark as well, then reward.



TEACHING "QUIET"

Command your dog to bark, press your clicker and reward as normal, now while the dog is chewing the treat use cue word "quiet" press clicker and reward.

Practice regularly in different locations.



TEACHING "COME AWAY"

Are you wondering what the difference is between recall and “Come away”?

The difference is that you’d use recall at a distance, to get a dog to return to you. Whereas, with “Come away” the dog is already close by but you need him to move towards you and away from a threat.

Get your dogs attention (excited noises works well) and run backwards away from him as soon as your dog turns in your direction, press your clicker and reward.

Practice the above and once your dog has the idea start adding the cue word "come away" (in a happy voice) add this cue word as soon as the dog turns to come in your direction then, click and reward.




TEACHING "LEAVE IT"

Hold a treat in your fist let the dog nuzzle your fist but don't give him the treat, after a while the dog will pause and back off for a moment trying to work out whats going on, press your clicker and reward, repeat.

Once you notice the dog is backing off regularly add your cue word "leave it" as soon as he backs off/pauses then click then reward.


Now you can up the ante by putting a treat on the floor and covering it with your hand the dog will nuzzle your hand once he loses interest use your cue word "leave it" then click and reward.


Once you get to the above stage you can remove your hand and try the leave it cue, if the dogs leaves it bingo! If not go back to the beginning.



TEACHING "GIVE"

Put your dog on a lead and place the lead under your knee, give your dog give him a toy let him mouth it a bit then get a super tasty treat out once the dog drops the toy use your cue word "give", press your clicker as soon as they toy drops too then reward.

Practice.


Once your dogs got the hang of it just increase the amount of time the dogs dropped the toy before giving the reward.



TEACHING "EYES ON ME"

Hold a treat in your fingers so the dog can see it, bring it up to your third eye area on your face hold it there use your cue word "eyes on me" (dog must be looking at you), press clicker and reward. Repeat this many time, once a pro don't use a treat use your cue word and just use your finger follow the same path to your third eye if dog does this, press clicker and reward.




TEACHING TARGETING

In fact, you already know how to target because “eyes on me” is a form of targeting, only this time you ask him to touch with his nose an object such as your fist.

Hold a treat in your fist. As he moves toward the goodies, click and give a cue word, such as “Follow”. As he gets the hang of this, stop rewarding when he moves toward the first and only click when he touches it. Then click and let him have the treat. Now you’ve got him interested in your fist, stop holding treats (these will now be delivered by your free hand).


Show him your (empty) fist and as he touches it, click and reward. You want him to understand the action you are rewarding is touching your fist. This means you stop rewarding a mere show of interest and only click when he touches the fist. Hold your fist out and be prepared to be patient, he may fool around and then only touch by accident as he sniffs to double check there’s no treat inside, but that’s enough for you to click and reward.



TEACHING "NO" (PREVENTING ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIOR)

Ask the dog to sit. Once he is calm, give him a treat and click. Repeat this 5 – 10 times, then say “No” with calm authority (no shouting necessary) and turn your back on the dog. It helps to then have a friend call the dog over. They do exactly the same thing, giving 5 – 10 treats then saying “No” and turning their back. At which point you call the dog over, give 5- 10 treats then say “No” … and so on.

What you’re teaching the dog is that saying “No” means “No fun to be had here,” which saves the dog the trouble of pestering you to find out if you’ll play.





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