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How To Teach Your Dog ‘Leave It’

By Beth Frumkin

It is important to teach your dog at the beginning of his life to set him up for a happy and obedient life! One of the most universal commands taught to dogs, “Leave It” works effectively in a host of different situations. And it keeps you away from the negativity of always using the word “no”. Whether you’re telling your tiny pup to stop chewing on your slippers or you’re trying to get your larger dog to stop sniffing at your neighbor’s rear end, the command “Leave It” works effectively if you know how to train him to listen and obey.
 
If you want to learn how to teach your dog the “Leave It” command, let me tell you – it is fairly simple and straight-forward. This command can be taught incrementally, in just four small steps combined with a significant amount of repetition and patience. By the end of six or eight weeks, even the most tempting treat or satisfying slipper will be left to lie when you tell your dog to “Leave It”. Follow these steps for dog training success:
 
Step One. Begin indoors. Start by putting something on the floor that your dog might want. This may be a piece of food, a shoe, or something else that your dog might usually be interested in. Have some treats available and bring your dog over on a leash to the item. Be ready for when your dog first notices the object (as he will!) and give a firm “Leave It”.  Combine the command with a tug on the leash, using your foot to keep the object away from him.
 
You’ll likely need to repeat this step many times. Possibly over and over. The goal is to get your dog to look at you at some point during this process. Once he looks at you, take this time to reward him with a treat and verbally praise him. If he goes for the object, put the treat under his nose and lure his face away from the object while repeating the phrase “Leave It”. Practice this repeatedly with various objects while you teach your dog what the command means.
 
Step Two. When your dog becomes successful while on the leash, then you’ll know it is time to take the leash off. To make it more challenging, set up a sort of obstacle course. Walk with your pup off leash, navigating through the objects. Repeat “Leave It” each time he looks at one of the items. When he understands, he’ll look at you for a treat each time you say “Leave It”. At this stage, treat and praise him each time he obeys. If he does grab something, pull it out of his mouth immediately—making it unpleasant so he won’t repeat this.
 
Step Three. Once your dog has mastered the “Leave It” command inside the house, feel free to move outside. Use the same technique for any type of outside distractions, keeping treats ready. At first, if your pup is attracted to something you may have to give his leash a tug. Get him to focus his attention on you. If your dog doesn’t succeed well at this stage, go back to practicing inside until he gets it.
 
Step Four. These steps may take approximately six weeks from the start until your dog can obey your leave command without needing a treat for reinforcement. As time passes, wean your pup off the treats by giving one every second time. Never stop using verbal praise to reinforce your puppy’s new obedience trick. When he gets it without a treat every other time, pare it back to every third time and eventually stop giving treats altogether.
 
Effective obedience training for your dog required a great deal of patience, firmness, and repetition. Eventually your dog will defer to the “Leave It” command every time you say it. You’ll find yourself on the way to an obedient, happy dog in no time! And you will get immense satisfaction when you teach your dog these easy, but essential commands.
 

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4 Effective Ways to Mentally Stimulate Your Active Dog

By Beth Frumkin

Dogs. A human’s best friend. Sometimes they are the joy of our lives, and sometimes the bane of our existence. We love having healthy and active dogs, but sometimes they wear us out with their activity and energy. You know that your dog needs to have physical exercise to stimulate him and keep him healthy. Did you know that your puppy can be mentally stimulated in order to wear him out and calm him down?
Bored puppies tend to get into trouble and mischief, finding ways to entertain themselves that are likely not your preference. Dogs who dig in the yard or chew on shoes may simply be searching for something interesting to do. Provide dogs with access to mental stimulation to keep them interested in “appropriate” activities and stay out of trouble.
 
Practice these four tips to mentally stimulate your dog and keep him in good health:
 

  1. There’s more to teaching your puppy tricks than simply entertaining your friends. When dogs practice and perform tricks, they are exercising their minds to stay sharp. Many dogs know how to “roll over”, “play dead”, or “shake”. If your dog has mastered these, now is the time to try the literally hundreds of other tricks you can teach your dog.

Try teaching your dog tricks that require multiple steps to complete. More complicated tasks may take more time to complete, but will keep your dog mentally stimulated for a longer time. If you are not sure which tricks to attempt, do a simple online search. You’ll find dozens of options including how to give a high-5, jump through a hoop, spin, fetch, open and close a door, or even put his own toys away.
Work on tricks with your puppy at a time of day when he is not already exhausted. For instance, after a long walk is a bad time to practice tricks. But in the morning after breakfast might be a good time.
 

  1. Take just one step into a pet store and you will easily see that toys are great for stimulating puppies. Many mental stimulation toys require your dog to get food out of something. For instance, the “Kong” toy allows you to put peanut butter, soaked dog kibble, or some other treat inside. (Kong toys come in different sizes and strengths targeted at your dog’s particular needs and abilities by age and breed.) Your puppy will ideally spend a great amount of time trying to get the food out of the narrow end. Once he has mastered that, consider freezing your filled toy overnight before giving it to him. This will require him to work at it even harder and stimulate him mentally. And because this is not very interactive, you can use this toy as a way to mentally stimulate your dog while you are engaged in a separate activity.

 

  1. Some dog breeds enjoy games and activities more than others do. If your dog breed is smart and active, you need to supply him with mentally stimulating games. One of the simplest games to play with your puppy is hide-and-seek. Using dog treats, of course. Simply command your puppy to sit and stay while you place some treats in plain sight. Release your dog while telling him to go and find the treats. If you need to at first, lead him to some of the treats until he finds them all. Once he has an understanding of the game, begin to hide the treats to make the game more challenging. Puppies are great at using their noses to sniff things out. This game allows him to be physically as well as mentally active.

 

  1. Training your puppy to obey works as a fun, mentally stimulating activity. Practice a very strict heel that requires your puppy to stay directly beside you while walking. If you walk more slowly, your dog must slow down too, meaning he has to concentrate very hard. Add in turns and twists to keep him on his toes—literally!

 
A long “stay” or a “down stay” requires the dog to stay still while you are moving around. Try sitting, squatting, standing, jumping, or even moving in and out of the room as he is required to “stay”. While this may seem cruel, it helps to mentally stimulate him as he must pay careful attention. Not only that, but this works as a good reminder that you are the “alpha” in any situation. The more your dog become accustomed to this activity, the longer you can extend the time you expect him to stay.
 
Physical exercise clearly works as an important part of keeping your dog active and healthy. And, of course, you must always be kind to your dog and allow him to have plenty of time for fun and freedom.  But including mental exercise and stimulation in his life actively works to aid your dog in becoming well-trained, focused, calm, better behaved in various situations. Ultimately, mental stimulation allows your dog to be happier. And that’s what every dog owner wants!
 
 

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Does Your Dog Embarrass You While Walking On A Leash?

By Beth Frumkin

Dog Leash Training Made Simple

When you get a puppy, you imagine how wonderful your life will be! Playing fetch in the park, cuddling, and going for walks. You dream of carrying him in your large handbag where he is perfectly well behaved, much like the girl in Legally Blonde. Maybe you’re even planning to have him as the ring bearer in your wedding. Everything is beautiful in this imaginary world with your new puppy.
Reality, however, hits you a bit differently. Basic commands, house training, and dog leash training work less effectively than you originally anticipated. And the idyllic scene of you and your sweet dog walking in tandem? That turns into something more like a disastrous chase scene from a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Maybe your puppy constantly sneaks off of his leash and into other people’s cat doors, maybe he decides to curl up in a ball for a rest at the end of someone’s driveway, or maybe he has a habit of jumping up at people on the sidewalk and ends up pulling down their pants!
Whatever the case, now is the time to instill some dog leash training into your life.

Getting Started with Dog Leash Training
The idea of teaching your dog to walk nicely on a leash may seem simple, but anyone who has tried will likely find it’s a bit more difficult than it sounds. Harnesses typically do not work well when trying to walk with a large breed dog. Harnesses allow dogs to use their full body weight to pull you forward. Eventually this means that they will be walking you rather than the other way around! Collars made of heavy metal must be avoided because they may give your pup too much control.
Begin dog leash training your pup at as young an age as 10 weeks. Use firmness, consistency, fairness, and praise to encourage your dog to develop an understanding of dog leash training within several weeks.
These two main commands teach your pup while he is learning dog leash walking: Heel and Leave It.

Dog Leash Training Command: “Heel”
Teaching your dog to heel requires a leash that is somewhat short, helping to keep him in control. Set the goal of keeping the leash hanging loosely next to you. Begin while standing still and then step off slowly, at the same time commanding your dog to “heel”. If needed, use dog treats to lure him forward while keeping him in the right place next to you. If your puppy tries to lurch forward without you, quickly say “no” and pull shortly on the leash. Gently place him in the correct position. Once you return him to the correct position, praise him very quickly so he hears the positive feedback right away.
Another option when your dog starts moving ahead of you: turn around and walk in the opposite direction. Use this to teach your pup to be constantly paying attention instead of trying to wander off on his own. When you do this, you also reinforce the idea that you are the master and he needs to obey you.

Dog Leash Training Command: “Leave It”
The second main command to accomplish dog leash training is “Leave It”. Use this command for a variety of scenarios. For instance, when on a walk your dog gets very distracted when approaching another dog. When this happens, get your dog’s attention as quickly as possible by using the command “leave it”. Combine this with making eye contact.
Continue to say “leave it” as the approaching dog gets closer. Then step aside and command your pup to “sit”. If you choose, continue saying “leave it” while urging his face toward you with a treat. Keep his attention this way until the other dog passes by. Then immediately praise him and give him the treat.
While you are teaching dog leash training by exercising the command to “leave it”, use the treats in the beginning. As your pup improves his behavior, aim toward weaning him off of the treats. Otherwise you’ll end up with one fat doggie! To do this, continue to use the “leave it” command as well as the verbal praise. But don’t give a treat every time to see how he does. Eventually cut out the treats altogether and your dog will obey you simply for the praise.

Dog leash training is not a magical overnight process, but it can often be accomplished in a matter of several weeks if you are dedicated to the task. Start early, be patient, offer positive reinforcement, distract with treats, and use the commands “heel” and “leave it”. These steps guarantee to take you and your puppy far. Eventually, this will accomplish that ideal picture of you and puppy strolling happily along the boulevard with grace and style!

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5 Important Commands to Train Your Puppy During the First Month

By Beth Frumkin

Have you ever met a dog who was simply ill-behaved and awful? Chances are, this is because their owners were not serious about training them when they were just puppies. When you first receive him, begin to train your puppy as soon as possible. Brand new puppies come into your home ready to learn and grow. But whether they learn good or bad habits is entirely up to you!
Some of the most important habits you train your puppy will likely happen within their first month of life. This builds a foundation which you can use to add further training. Here are five of the most critical training points for your puppy’s first month:
 

Sit

First things first. Pups need to know that you are the Alpha in the relationship. This may be accomplished partially when you train your puppy to “Sit”. This idea of sitting helps to instill self-control into your puppy (because we all know that puppies have none on their own!) without asking too much of them. “Sit” is a basic command that allows your puppy to follow a simple instruction and be rewarded easily.
Teaching your young dog to sit is the perfect scenario for him to learn positive reinforcement. You can do this by using a treat, holding it close to your pup’s mouth (so they can smell or even lick it) but make sure they can’t get it. Lure your pup’s nose into the air by using the treat. And what happens when his nose goes up? His bottom goes down! Once he sits, he can have the treat. Eventually you can change your positive reinforcement from treats to praise and he’ll be just as happy.
 
 

Down

It might be cute when your tiny puppy won’t listen and simply crawls all over you. But that quickly stops being so cute when your puppy has turned into a large dog. Starting your dog early with the term “Down” helps to establish your control over the situation as the Alpha.
 
The technique for teaching a dog to lie down is similar to that for sitting but this one might be harder to train your puppy to master. When your pup is seated, place a treat near his nose, letting him smell and lick it. Then slowly try to lure his nose to the ground without giving him the treat. Be sure not to move too far away or he’ll stand up again. If this happens, tell him “No” and start over with the “Down” command. Be patient. When your dog eventually gets it, reward him with the treat and praise. Release with an “Okay” command.
 
 

Stay

Anyone who has ever met a puppy knows that they have a hard time sitting still! Using the “Stay” command can be difficult and this step should be taken very slowly. This command requires a great deal of patience and building a strong foundation of commands.
In order to train your puppy to Stay:

  • Begin by having your puppy sit at your side.
  • Tell your pup to “Stay”. (Many puppies respond well to a stop hand sign.)
  • Slowly pivot around so that you are in front of him.
  • Repeat the command “Stay”, but don’t step away.
  • After one second, repeat the command again and return to your pup’s side.
  • If he has remained still, offer praise, give a treat, and then release with “Okay”.

Repeat these steps and increase time and distance in extremely small increments. Make it a goal to get up to 5 seconds and two steps away. If your dog can’t quite handle this, then back off until he can master it. Then move on.
 
 

Heel

Practicing good leash manners is important to prepare your pup to eventually go for walks. Teach the “Heel” command by remembering that it literally means to follow your heel. Showing your puppy how to walk strictly at your side helps him learn not to pull on the leash. Eventually they can then walk more comfortably beside you.
 
Again, in order to train your puppy to “Heel”, your best bet is to use treats. As you step off to walk, say the command “Heel” and then lure him along with the food. The purpose of this is to keep his focus on you so that he does not run ahead. If he does move ahead, say “No”, stop walking, and put him back where he belongs next to you. Walk very slowly at first, guiding your pup the whole time and commanding him, praising him, telling him “No”, or guiding him back to the proper place. As he begins to understand what you are asking, stop luring with treats and use them as a reward.
 
 

Come

 
Getting your puppy to come to you willingly works as a critical part of his training. This is particularly true if he is ever off leash (playing in a dog park) or gets away from you accidentally. Difficult for puppies to learn, the “Come” command may take up to six months to master. But beginning in his first month of life is still important.
Many small pups won’t stray very far away from their masters. Use this to your advantage by only saying the command “Come” when you are certain that your pup will obey. Or if you are willing to actually go over and retrieve the dog yourself. Make sure your dog knows that “Come” is not an optional command.
One way to be sure that your puppy will come is by being more interesting than whatever he is doing. Bend down to his level, use a very excited voice, and be extremely encouraging. As soon as he comes, sit him at your feet, offer praise, and give a treat. This will positively reinforce his good behavior. At this stage you are trying to get your pup to believe that coming to you is the very best thing in the world!
Practice training your pup to “Come” in an area that is contained, such as in a hallway, our in a secured area. You need to be prepared to go get your puppy if he chooses to ignore you. Then praise him as soon as you touch him, so he associates this with something positive.
 
 
Puppies in their first months of life are small and sometimes silly. But they are never too young to start learning to behave and obey. The sooner you begin to train your puppy, the better a foundation you will lay. And your pup will appreciate your efforts to help him live a happy, obedient life.

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4 Common Puppy Training Troubles – Which One Do You Need To Solve?

By Beth Frumkin

When you first see your puppy, you will probably find yourself enamored by how cuddly and adorable he is! However, puppy training requires a great deal of work and consistency to get your puppy to the status of being a mature dog. We’ll address some of the more common puppy training problems such as housebreaking, jumping, chewing, and biting.
 
How to solve the 4 common Puppy Training Problems?
 

Housebreaking

Housebreaking your puppy acts as one of the most important parts of training a new canine member of your family. Few things cause more frustration than finding a “gift” that your little pup has left on the carpet or flooring of your home! But with a strict routine—and a lot of patience—you can housetrain your puppy in a short time.
Here are some tips for housebreaking your puppy:

  • Choose a “potty spot” to be the place you take your dog when it’s time to pee or poop.
  • Beginning at just eight weeks old, take your pup to the potty spot every thirty minutes, as well as within just a few minutes of eating. Then wait long enough for the puppy to go.
  • Choose a word or command that represents this action such as “go potty” or “go out” to reinforce this part of your puppy training.
  • When your pup relieves himself in the right place and time, praise him and actively use positive reinforcement.
  • Sometimes your dog doesn’t go when he has the opportunity. When this happens, keep him on a leash or in a crate and try again in 15 minutes.
  • Don’t leave your puppy unattended while you are housetraining him. If you watch your pup at all times, you’ll be able to catch him if he starts to go inside. When this happens, tell him “no”, and take him out to his “potty spot” right away.
  • Use consistency and prevention in puppy training to encourage your dog to “hold” his urine or feces for longer periods of time and expand the time in between trips to the potty spot.

 

Jumping

Tiny, cute pups grab at your heart and jump on your lap! And as they get more and more excited, pups want attention and affection, which means that they jump even more. While you might find a jumping puppy to be adorable, a full-sized jumping dog doesn’t have the same attraction.
Some tips for breaking puppies of jumping:

  • Breaking a dog of jumping works much better if you can start when he is very young. This allows you to stop bad habits before they start.
  • Never touch your pup unless all 4 feet are touching the ground. No love or affection at all. Otherwise you offer a positive reward for negative behavior.
  • Insist that your puppy sits before being introduced to a stranger who wants to say hello. It won’t take long until your dog realizes that the best way to get attention is to keep his feet on the floor.

 
 

Chewing

If you’ve ever found you designer shoe with teeth marks on it, then you know how upsetting a puppy with a chewing pup can be! They really come by it honestly, but that doesn’t make it any less destructive. In an effort to exercise their jaws and practice using their teeth, puppies have a tendency to want to chew. They may also chew out of stress or to explore. Teach your pup from an early age the appropriate types of chewing in contrast to inappropriate chewing. Here’s how:

  • Prevention works as the best possible cure in any puppy training adventure, including chewing.
  • Work hard to avoid leaving anything lying around within the reach of your pup.
  • For furniture, take advantage of a chew-deterring spray such as “Get Off” or Bitter Apple. Apply daily.
  • Just as with potty training, never leave your puppy unattended. If you catch your pup trying to chew, use a firm “leave it” command and remove the item. Praise him immediately when he stops.
  • Provide appropriate chew toys for your dog to get out his aggression and cut his teeth on.

 
 

Biting

Without proper puppy training, your dog is likely to bite or nip. This behavior not only annoys but it can also be dangerous as your pup grows larger. Over-excited puppies particularly have a tendency to use their mouths. They can also end up eating things (like socks) that their bodies don’t digest well.
Some tips to get your pup to stop biting or nipping:

  • If your puppy bites or nips while you are playing, then get up and walk away. This will teach him quickly that play time ends when he bites.
  • When he wants to chew on your hand, have a chew toy handy to show him where he can appropriately bite.
  • Praise your dog for choosing to bite on his toy instead of you.
  • If your pup gets over-excited, try to get him out of the fray. Move him to a quiet corner or put him on a leash to help him calm down.
  • Work on some obedience training activities. Re-grouping your dog’s thought process may allow him to get away from the excitement and re-focus on a training task.

 
Training your pup can prove to be difficult, but also very exciting! Dogs thrive well and feel safe when their masters provide them with consistency. As you teach your dog to understand your expectations, build good habits, and follow rules and structure, you provide him with a great foundation to grow into a well-behaved dog. And into your very best friend.

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Announcing the New Dog Training Method To Make Training Fun And Enjoyable

By Beth Frumkin

Finally the day has come! You are ready to bring home your new dog home and introduce him to your family and friends. Whether you have just got your new puppy home or you have adopted an older dog, dog training can be an exciting adventure. But it can also be pretty overwhelming—especially if you have never trained a dog before.
 
At first new dogs are sweet and adorable, especially puppies. Then come the chewed-up shoes, doggie doo piles on the carpet, trash from the can strung out everywhere, or even sleepless nights. A few weeks in and you will begin to wonder exactly what you have gotten yourself into by bringing this new pet into your life. You may feel desperate. Even ready to call in the professionals to help you with your new puppy or adopted dog. But, wait!! Read this.
 

RAPT Dog Training Method

Before you begin the process of training your new dog, first you need to remember that it doesn’t have to be an upsetting chore. You can make training fun for the dog and for yourself. In order to do so, however, you need to understand a few things about how dogs learn and how to get your dog to respond the way that you want.
 
One of the best ways to train dogs effectively is a simple method called RAPT: Re-enforced Alpha Positive Training. The RAPT method of dog training puts into practice the idea that the human is the master, or the Alpha, and uses positive reinforcement of good behavior to do so. Although this may seem obvious and simple, it is sometimes a shift in thinking for some people.

Becoming the Alpha

Re-enforced Alpha Positive Training encourages you, as the dog owner, to be the dominant personality — but without yelling and intimidating. A dog owner who uses screaming and intimidation will more likely cause the dog to shut down, disobey, and even become fearful of you or other dogs.
 
Instead of using your position as the “Alpha” to your dog to wield power, consider your relationship more along the lines of that of a parent and child. You create the structure, instill rules and boundaries, and encourage your dog to live within the safety and convenience of this structure. Just as a parent sets rules so that a child does not run out of control, a dog owner does the same.
 
One of the most important parts of RAPT is showing your dog that you are in charge. Have you ever observed a situation where it looked more like the dog was taking the human for a walk? The dog leads, pulls, and goes wherever he wants. The poor human being dragged like a screaming toddler is being taken to bed. This typically happens because the dog believes that he is in charge.
 
Here are some examples of how to help your dog understand that you are in charge:

  • Always making sure you walk out the door ahead of him
  • Always require your dog to sit at the door and patiently wait until you invite him to go through it.

This reinforces positive behavior in the dog that when he sits obediently, he gets to go for a walk. And he’s happy!
 

Rewarding Positive Behavior

While teaching your dog that you are the Alpha, also focus on rewarding good behavior rather than scolding bad behavior. This positive reinforcement motivates a dog to learn much more quickly than negative reinforcement.
For instance, if your dog has chewed up the remote control, has pulled the roll of toilet paper around the house (again!), or has been having crate training mishaps, it is much better to find the good behavior to reward rather than scolding bad behavior. (And you’ll also want to get into the habit of shutting the bathroom door to save on toilet paper costs!)
 

Dog Training Principles

Dogs very much want to please their humans. They seek to earn praise from their masters, while affection working as a great motivator and reward for dogs. Positive reinforcement for good behavior should have these qualities:
 

  • Dogs have short memories. If you wait even just a minute or two to reward your dog for good behavior, he will forget what he is being rewarded for. Similarly, you can only shout and startle your dog when he is in the act of some wrong doing. There is NO point yelling at him later.
  • If you tell your dog to “fetch the ball”, he may get confused. Instead, keep your commands down to one word such as “fetch”. Then reward him immediately.
  • If you have a rule that your dog is not allowed on the furniture, then you’ll confuse him by letting him jump on the sofa with you when you want to snuggle. Keep the same rules all the time and make sure everyone in your household follows the same rules.
  • Instead of correcting negative behavior, simply ignore it and go for extra praise on the positive side. This will help your dog to seek your praise and obey you. You should also be able to wean your dog away from treats this way and only reward with praise.

 
Training your dog can be a fun and exciting adventure that will certainly keep you on your toes! But it also comes with the great responsibility to teach your dog that you are in charge. You can easily do that through consistency, positive praise, and simple commands. When you teach a dog to obey, not only you will be happier, but your dog will be happier as well. And a well-trained dog? Well, they didn’t get the reputation of being man’s (or woman’s) best friend for no reason!
 
Practice these RAPT dog training tips and you’ll find a happy, healthy life with your obedient dog.
 

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