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To break this down all animals can be measured by the
following three MOTIVES: The will to Serve The will to Power The will to Survive Normally labs are high
in all three of these, Meaning their thinker never turns off. Labs are one of the smartest types of dogs out there. Sit is
the most common of all commands and the root of communication. Once a dog understands they are being taught something, it
changes in the relationship, The teacher becomes the leader and the student the follower. Labs are a very "high will
to serve breed" and do extrememly well in homes that take the time to train them. First off training does not always have
to be on a leash, I often start training off leash. I start with "SIT" by putting the puppy up on a chair, I do train with
food rewards and then lessen them... but for many food is a great motivator. Once on the chair I show the puppy the treat,
I make sure they "want it" and I will give them one or two small bites, when I say small I mean like the size of a pea. Then
I will say "SIT" now here is where you knowing your dog comes to play, a shrinking violent dog needs a soft firm tone, but
a devil in a fur suit may beed a firmer verbal "SIT"...... their is a lot of power in the TONE of your voice. So with that
said you place your dog in a sit and reward, they will have NO CLUE, so to steal a phrase from Keith "WASH RINSE REPEAT" that
means you will do it three to five times, of giving the verbal "SIT" putting the dog in the sit and then offering the reward
along with verbal praise. The you will say "Rover , SIIIT" and watch your dog think for 3 seconds, put your dog in the sit
and reward, Again you will say "Rover, SIIIT" and you will wait five seconds, if they sit on their own very high praise and
reward, if they don't place them in a sit. And do it again "Rover, Siiit" and wait another 5 seconds . and so on, most terriers
get it on the 5th to 10th try, Once they get it, practice it ALL DAY, Your standing at the fridge and the dog is at your feet
you say "Rocky SIIT" wait 5 seconds, if he doesn't sit put him in it and say "GOOD JOB" , your eating a snack
and Jedi is staring at you and you say "Jedi, SIIT" if he sits, "GOOD JOB" , like I said training isn't just
for when the collar and leash are on it's an all day thing.
The stay is easy to teach a dog, but difficult for them
master.
Ok so you have taught the sit, Ask for a sit, Now with your palm facing the dog's face and held fingers
facing upwards, say "Rover, STAAAY" and take two steps back, wait three seconds and step back toward the dog, with your hand
always held up and out in upright postition. Lower your hand and Praise the dog...... and he will be happy but he will have
no clue what he just did right.
Repeat but each time take a step further back.... and again return to the dog lower
your hand and Praise the dog, That is the end of the first lesson, Now when you hit six or so feet and the dog is not following
you try to make a circle around the dog, again hand held out fingers pointing upwards, once back in front of the dog lower
your hand and praise them. If the dog breaks the sit place them back in the sit, and repeat the lesson. Once you can make
a full circle without the dog breaking the stay, Step two is complete. Next lesson is Ask for a sit, give the "stay command"
step back 6 plus feet turn around so your back faces the dog, lower your hand at the same time, count to three, turn back
around, return to the dog , if they did not break the stay "WONDERFUL" they are starting to understand what "stay" means.
You need to practice the stay on and off leash. For instance you need to walk to the kitchen and the dog is following
if you get to an area where the dog will still be able to see you ask for the sit, and give the stay command, once your back
is turned lower your hand and go about your task, if the dog stays wonderful if not, place them in a sit where you asked for
the stay and repeat the stay.... Once they get this it will be the most powerful set of commands , the major trick is
to get your dog to do this not just for the adults but the children as well, once the adults master this get the children
involved in practicing this as well.
No lesson should be longer than 5 minutes long. But You can have 5+ lessons in
a day.
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