How to Start Training by Wendy Volhard © 2000

Sit on command.

Use only one command, then reinforce     

  1. Teach your dog to sit with a treat. Hold treat slightly in front of dog’s head, say "Sit," and bring hand slightly above his eyes.
    Give treat when he sits.
  2. Use a treat in one hand, and apply some upward pressure on the collar with the other as you say "Sit."
  3. Say "Sit," and apply a little upward pressure of the collar. Lots of praise when dog sits.
  4. Without touching your dog, or showing him a treat, say "Sit." When he responds correctly, reward him with a treat. If not,
    review Step 3.

Down on command.

Use only one command, then reinforce   

  1. Teach your dog to lie down with a treat. With your dog sitting at your left side, put your left hand on top of his withers. Show
    him a treat, held in the right hand. Say "Down," and lower the treat to the ground between his feet and slide it forward so
    he has to lie down to get the treat.
  2. With the treat in your right hand, and your left hand through his collar, say "Down," lower the treat and apply downward
    pressure on the collar.
  3. Say "Down," and apply a little downward pressure of the collar. Give lots of praise when he lies down.
  4. Without touching your dog, or showing him a treat, say "Down." When he responds correctly, reward him with a treat. If not,
    review Step 3.

Recall - coming when called

Play the Recall Game as often as necessary. Be sure you can touch your dog’s collar every time he comes to you and before you
give him a treat.    

  1. On leash, inside.
  2. Off leash, inside.
  3. Off leash, outside in a confined area.
  4. On leash with distractions.
  5. Off leash with distractions.

Safety - yours and his

Practice having your dog stay before he can go in or out of a door, go up or down stairs, or get in and out of the car.

Sit Stay - not jumping on people

Use the Sit-Stay exercise to teach your dog not to jump on people.   

  1. Teach him to stay on leash with you directly in front.
  2. Increase the distance to 3 feet in front and introduce distractions.
  3. Practice until your dog will stay on and off leash around distractions.
  4. Reinforce the sit stay every time your dog greets you.


Want to learn how to train the Motivational Way?

If you can give your dog a cookie, you can teach him anything!


Developed by Joachim and Wendy Volhard and reprinted here with permission of Wendy Volhard. © 2007 Wendy Volhard.
Sassy as a puppy
Breeder of AKC Standard Poodles in Black, Cream, Silver, and Cafe Au Lait in Clovis, California