Dogs may spend the majority of their day sleeping but sometimes their schedule just doesn't match up with yours. To teach him when (and where) you want him to hit the sheets, make sure there's a well padded spot for him catch some zz's.
Start by going to the area you want him to sleep and using your ever handy treats, bring him over to the spot and when he joins you, give him the treat, say "time for bed" (or "go to bed", "lights out", etc.) and then praise him. If you see your dog heading for the bed on their own to take a nap, give the "time for bed" command and when he lays down, praise him. Like all of our other commands, this will take some practice but it is another great tool to make life with Spot that much easier!
P.S. - If you are crate training your puppy (a great idea) simply guide your dog to the crate instead of a blanket or pad on the floor.
This might be a command that you never
thought of teaching your dog but it can be a life saver. There will be
times when you need your dog to do their "business" ASAP. Maybe you're
standing out in the rain or snow. Maybe you're about to go on a car
trip and don't want any unfortunate "accidents". Either way, you'll
want your dog to "get to work" quickly.
To teach this command, grab a few of
your handy dog treats, put your dog on it's leash, and head outside. As
soon as your dog starts to relieve themselves, give the command "go
potty" (or whatever command you choose like "do work", "boom time",
etc.) and when they finish, praise them and give them a treat.
When teaching this command, don't spend
to much time outside with the dog. If they don't need to go to the
bathroom after a few minutes, go back inside and wait until you think
they may need to relieve themselves. You want them to connect the treat
with going potty on command and not just getting a treat while they're
out for a nice walk and then they just happened to take a leak. Be sure
to use this command with either "number 1" or "number 2" so they know
either one is praiseworthy.
Once you have "Sit" and "Stay" down, the next one is "Go"! This command let's your pup know that he can leave your side and go have some fun. Allowing your dog to go burn off some energy will be good for both of you.
For this command, start with the dog in a sitting position and give the command to "stay". Stand next to him (with treat in hand) and his attention on you. Now, let him smell the treat and repeat the "stay" command so he doesn't take off on this next part. Now, throw the treat a few feet away and then quickly give the "OK go!" command.
Bring him back with the "come" command and then do it all over again. You'll want to gradually increase the distance you throw the treat and also replace the treat with a hand motion or pointing in the direction you'd like him to go.
"OK" let's your dog know "mission accomplished" after he's successfully completed a your command. This isn't a praise (like "good boy", etc.) but instead let's him know he's done. Start by asking your dog to sit and after he does, then stay (sit-stay). When you've decided that he's satisfied the command long enough, say "OK" and snap your fingers, slap your thigh, or some other gesture to get him to move.
Don't say "OK" if he moves BEFORE you decide he's done. If he does, it's "No" and then start over. Use "OK" after any of the "Sit", "Stay", "Down", etc. commands to let him know it's ok move on.
This is possibly the most important command you could teach your dog. Begin with your dog in a small
room on a leash and a pocket full of dog treats. Start walking and get your dog's attention by saying "Spot, come," and let him see the treat. As he comes toward you for his treat, praise him and give him his treat. Do this for a few laps around the room.
You'll need to get the help of some family or friends for the next step. Give everyone a few treats and be sure they keep them away from the dog. Have them spread themselves around the room, away from your dog and when the dog looks at someone, they give the command, "Spot, Come" and show the treat. Every time he follows the command, he gets praise and a treat. However, the command should only be given once. You want your dog to respond to this command the first time it's made.
From here you'll move to working outside with a leash. Begin walking on the leash and when he isn't paying attention, give the "Come" command. He should quickly come to you and if he doesn't, give a gentle tug on the leash, showing him the treat. As he gets better at this command, begin working with a longer and longer leash with more distractions. This is easily reinforced once your dog knows this command by simply saying "Come" when your dog is already on his way toward you.
This command shouldn't be taught until after your dog knows the "sit" command. With treat in hand, have your dog sit and instead of then giving the dog the treat, say "stay" (make sure you have his attention.) Give this command firmly. If he "holds" the command for even a few seconds, praise him and give him the treat. This command can be given in a sitting position or lying down but is easier to teach when sitting.
This command takes some patience as you'll have to work at gradually lengthening the time of the "stay." Be sure to reward your dog for even small increases in the time they hold their "stay" position. If he moves too soon, simply start again with the "sit" then "stay" commands.
Sometimes it's nice to be able to get some things done around the house or yard without having Fido "underfoot". At times like this, "down" is a great command to use. While this is a fairly rudimentary task for your dog to learn, it can be difficult to get all dogs to cooperate, at first. The reason for this is that the "down" position is a one of submission. This means that your dog is openly admitting that you are the "Boss".
Therefore, for starters, break out those handy treats you used when teaching the "sit" command. Begin this with the "sit" command but after your dog sits, hang on to the treat. Now, holding your dogs attention and the treat near his nose, slowly bring the treat down towards the ground and towards you. The dog will have to lower his chest towards the ground with his paws out in front of him. When he assumes a lying position, praise him with a "good sit" and the treat.
This command will definitely require some practice, probably more than the simpler commands. Don't get discouraged and just keep on trying. Personally, I've found that working for short periods (10 or 15 minutes) on this, or any command, works better than long drawn out training sessions. If your dog is having an extra difficult time with this command, try starting with your dog in the "sit" position with his butt up against a wall to prevent him from backing up or raising his haunches (like in a "play" posture.)
Almost any dog you choose from a shelter can provide you with unconditional love and companionship, and every dog deserves a lifelong, loving home. However, some dogs are better suited for your lifestyle than others.
Size and Temperament
A dog's size, exercise requirements, friendliness, assertiveness, and compatibility with children should all be considered when making your decision. An active, energetic dog might catch your eye, but a quiet or reserved dog might be easier to live with and care for. Also, a dog who likes to be touched and is not sensitive to handling and noise will probably do well in a house full of kids.
Puppy or Dog?
Puppies usually require much more training and supervision than mature dogs. If you lack the time or patience to house train your pup or to correct problems like chewing and jumping, an adult dog may be a better choice.
Purebreds or Mixed Breed?
Purebred dogs generally conform to a specific "breed standard". Mixed breeds are simply combinations of different breeds, and are less likely to have have genetic disorders due to the diverse gene pool. If you can recognize the ancestry of a particular mixed breed, you have a good chance of knowing how he'll turn out.
When Visiting a Shelter
There will always be counselors available to help you choose the perfect pet. A shelter is an unfamiliar place for any animal. If you walk past a dog that seems unfriendly or aloof, don't dismiss it. This particular dog may just be frightened or lonely. Ask the counselor to let you visit the animal in a quieter part of the shelter.
This information is from North Shore Animal League
Teaching your dog to sit is a very important command for your dog to learn and fortunately, a very easy one. to teach. Start with a small piece of meat or cheese, pea sized is plenty. Then, make sure your dog can smell or see the treat. Once you have their attention, keep the treat firmly in your grasp and close to their nose and slowly lift your hand up and over the dog's nose towards the back of their head.
As the dog lifts their nose to follow your hand, they will automatically lower their back legs into a sitting position. As soon as they do, praise them and give them the treat. Continue this and gradually your dog will learn how to sit! Remember, with any task you teach your dog, practice makes perfect.
"No" is one of the first and most important commands to teach your dog. When you need to use this command, you should only use it once. If you say, "Spot, no. No. Quit it right now. No!" your dog will learn that you don't really mean no when you say "no". Obviously, you don't want them to think that.
However, you don't want to overdo it either so save it for when you need it. For example, if you are teaching your dog a more complicated command and he isn't understanding it, don't use a harsh "No", simply start over again. The best time to use this command is when your dog is doing something overtly wrong like getting in the garbage or climbing on the furniture. A curt "no" as you refocus your dog's attention should do the trick.
