Basic Training For Puppies?

[~Aimee~]

We have a 10 week old Cavalier puppy and plan on taking her to formal obedience training after she has her next vaccinations. As we need to wait 10 days after her vaccinations to take her out, Ruby will be at about 13-14 weeks before she can start. I am wanting to teach her some skills in the meantime. So far we have done sit and drop and she is getting really good. What other things can we teach her? I'm trying to teach shake hands atm but she doesn't really get it yet. What's the best way to teach this skill? Also we are using the word drop to get her to lie down. I'm thinking of maybe changing it to another word. Maybe just "lie down" as we also say drop when I want her to drop something from her mouth so I don't want her to get confused. What command to you say to get your dog to lie down?

[TerraNik]

We have a 10 week old Cavalier puppy and plan on taking her to formal obedience training after she has her next vaccinations. As we need to wait 10 days after her vaccinations to take her out, Ruby will be at about 13-14 weeks before she can start. I am wanting to teach her some skills in the meantime. So far we have done sit and drop and she is getting really good. What other things can we teach her? I'm trying to teach shake hands atm but she doesn't really get it yet. What's the best way to teach this skill? Also we are using the word drop to get her to lie down. I'm thinking of maybe changing it to another word. Maybe just "lie down" as we also say drop when I want her to drop something from her mouth so I don't want her to get confused. What command to you say to get your dog to lie down?

I wouldn't change her drop command to something else if she knows it now. There are plenty of other words you can use to give something out of her mouth... We use "give". For drop we use "down", but that's just personal preference. Try not to use two words for commands such as "lie down" - you want short, snappy words (that don't sound like something else).

What else can you teach her? Have you started doing lead training? If not, I would start that with her.

I would also be teaching her recall ("Come!"). Never call her when you want her to come inside (always go get her) and always make it the happiest thing ever that she came to you. A fun game when they are little is to play puppy ping-pong. You have another person and you stand a few metres apart and take turns calling her. She should run between the two of you and each time she comes, give her a treat and a mega fun tummy rub or something that she loves. She'll soon learn that coming means good stuff!!!

[Gayle.]

I also use the word "give" to get them to drop something from their mouths.

Walking nicely on a lead is a good thing for them to learn and you can easily do it up and down your driveway or backyard. You can also teach her to stand on command (very handy for grooming!) and also start working on a short on-lead stay.

[ZEPING]

LOL i use mine!!

doest always works he usually runs aways when hes got something in his mouth!

[LoremIpsum]

Starting lead training is a great idea. I wish I'd started with loose leash training much earlier.

I'd also teach "stay" — I taught Martha this when we was very young and have found it invaluable.

Someone on DOL (sorry, I've forgotten who) put me on to this book, and I am basically working my way through the levels. Level one is excellent for basic training.