Go Hunt Everywhere

In my article titled Dog Training Basics, I explained that the fast way to establish that you are the pack leader is by using the "DOWN" command.  First, we cover "why", then we'll cover "how."

When training, the decision between using treats or not is important.  Your dog needs to be rewarded when she does something right.  The question is, "How?"

Rewarding with treats sets an expectation in your dog that she will get a treat every time she does what she is told. 

To cause a dog to do your bidding, you first have to get its attention.  That is normally done by calling its name.  If you have used a natural tone of voice in communicating with your dog, using an unnatural tone might cause it to cower.

Deciding on the commands is probably the easiest part.  Consistency is the key.  Once you select a command, stick with it. Everyone who will be giving commands to your dog needs to use the same commands.  If they aren’t willing to, you will need to ask them to not give commands to your dog.  The quickest way to confuse your dog is to give two or more commands that mean the same thing.