Hi Everyone

What a fantastic website, I've just bought my first puppy (an 8 week old cockerspaniel) last week and had to join the forum - I've got lots of questions to ask so please be patient with me. I've read all the training/puppy books but I still have some unanswered questions. Can anyone advise me. I want to train puppy to sit, but whenever I call his name and and ask him to come, he runs over to me and pops his bottom on the ground - bless him. I can't get him to stand up infront of me, he always sits down. Any suggestions??? Thanks

Welcome to the forum, I am sure you will find it full of useful advice as your pup grows up.

You just need to teach him the sit command and the stand command separately. When he comes to you and sits automatically say 'sit' as he does it and good boy, give him a treat. To put him into a sit from standing, take the treat to his nose, just out of reach and put it to the back of his head with the sit command, he should automatically sit. To teach him to stand, bend down next to him, sideways on and put a treat infront of his nose, say 'stand' and gently touch his stifle (the rounded bit on his back leg) and gently push it away from him into the stand. Praise and treat. For the down, take the treat to his nose again and bring it down between his front legs towards his chest.

Hope that is clear, most important thing is you only say the command once or he will start obeying it after 2 or 3 attempts which you want to avoid.

Good Luck with your new pup and make the training sessions fun.

Sandra

Hi Jax, first you need a clear objective and remember pups are just babies and easily confused. When you call him and he comes praise and reward him well as hes been a good boy :) So hes coming when called. FAntastic :D To get him to stand, hold a treat or toy before his nose and say Stand then quickly reward him as his bum rises. You add a little more action to the movement each time before the reward is given until he stands before the reward. You need to vary your tone or add a signal to cue him in to what you want. For example DOWN is a low piched command with a palm flat to the floor always my right hand for my dog, and STAND is STA_AND in a high voice with a left handed signal.

When hes trotting about with you get his attention with his name and hold a titbit or toy at his nose just beyond his reach and move it up. As his nose goes up his bum will come down and as soon as it hits the floor say SIT and reward. Repeat it often when playing or at the door until he gets it. At his age I would spend a lot of time playing with him, carrying him out to see the world and keep training really short - 2-5 minutes a couple of times a day, always end with success. Playing develops the bond you need to train him and socialisation is the most important thing at his age. Have fun. :)

When your puppy site just gently put your foot underneath him under his stomach and legs whilst offering him a treat with your hand at the side of you. Then when you lever him up give the command stand. When he does this praise him and gently tell him stand again. Try using different hand signals for different actions like sit hold your hand above his head, stand hold your hand out to the side with a treat in the palm of your hand..puppies are smart things and soon learn what you are asking. Good luck!