How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks: The Sirius Puppy Training Manual by Ian Dunbar

Author:Ian Dunbar [Dunbar, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pets, General, Training, Dogs
ISBN: 9781888047066
Google: JkOssaXKccwC
Publisher: James & Kenneth Publishers
Published: 1996-10-14T22:00:00+00:00

"OFF!" "TAKE IT" AND "THANK YOU"

These are three very useful commands which may be conveniently taught during your dog's dinner time. By hand-feeding the initial portion of your puppy's supper, it learns to take the food gently, and it may be taught the instructions " Off!" and "Take W." "Off!" means don't touch the food unless told to "Take it!" Initially, the pup is trained that it will always eventually be allowed to take the food, so long as it doesn't touch for progressively increasing time intervals. By far, the best approach is to praise the cessation or absence of contact.

Give your pup a couple of pieces of kibble, then hold a third piece firmly between thumb and fingers. Let the pup sniff and lick, but say "Rover, Off." Allow the puppy to worry at the food treat in your hand for as long as it likes; eventually it will give up and withdraw its muzzle. The instant your pup breaks contact with your hand, say "Rover, take it" and offer the kibble by letting it fall into the palm of the hand, i.e., the pup has been rewarded for ceasing contact. Repeat this a couple of times. Next time, try for just a fraction of a second of non-contact before offering the food. Then delay offering the food for a full second after the pup breaks contact. On the next trial go for two seconds of non-contact. Praise your pup all the time it does not lick or paw, "Good dog, one; good dog, two" and then say "Rover, take it!" Now try for three seconds, then five and then eight and so forth. The pup develops confidence once it realizes "Off' does not mean it cannot touch the food at all, but if it waits for the "Take it" command, not only will it get the kibble but also plentiful praise and maybe even an additional tasty food treat into the bargain.

As soon as your pup learns not to touch the food for only a couple of seconds, you will proceed in leaps and bounds. The secret is to start with extremely short time periods, so that the puppy can succeed early on in training. If your pup noses or paws at the food during the forbidden time period, simply repeat the "Off!" request, and start the count from zero again. Your pup will learn that the quickest way to get the treat is by not touching it at all.

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