This may seem like a very silly question, but should you train one thing at a time, or is it possible to train a few things at once? For instance, we are teaching Cracker to SIT, to come when called with 'Cracker Come' and also to a whistle (3 blasts). He seems to be doing ok. Can I teach him to STAY and more, without him having learned other things thouroughly? Thanks everyone! Lisa :-)

Oh yes! Teach lots of different things, or you'll miss out on the prime learning age. Also it'll stop him getting bored doing the same thing over and over, and boredom is the kiss of death to training! Keep it interesting and fun!
:)

    Yes you can train more than one thing but train a sit five times and maybe a down five times and stand five times. I wouldn't train for hours instead I would train short lessons so your dog doesn't get brain fry. If you train maybe three times a day instead a long time. Your dog will learn faster and be a happy dog. If you train every day do differn't things do dog won't get board. But if you want better dog you might try taking your dog to Obedience Classes. I find your dog learn to deal with other dogs and if you have any problems the trainer will help you. I hope that helps you.

                                                              Kate 05501,Chandler,Phantom

Cops is an older dog but it took me all of 2 minutes to train him to give a   paw for a treat!!  He has his doggy shrink on Tuesday and I think training him for other things will be a challenge.  I'll let you  know.  But for your dog -  yes, I think dogs need to have a few things to think about so go on ahead.  Dogs are surely like us - they hate to be bored!

CG

Hiya

Please, pleeease share how you taught your dog to 'give a paw' for a treat :D 
Think mine is a little bored of the 'sit', 'lie down', 'stay' lessons etc and I'd love to impress hubby with this one!...also an excuse for Rosie to get extra treats :) :)

Cheers
Jo

A good way to teach a dog to give a paw is to ask for a sit and then tease them with a REALLY yummy treat in a closed hand.  Most dogs will eventually hit your hand with their paw or at least raise a paw off the ground slightly.  That is what you reward and repeat until they have got it.  Wait until they've got it before adding the command.  You could go for the traditional 'give a paw'  or 'high five' where they hit your palm facing them or 'wave' where they paw the air.  Works really quick with most dogs and even quicker with a clicker.  Have fun.

Sally

I train the stay (although I just use sit) on it's own to get it steady before I introduce anything else.  By that, I mean I do other things like heeling and then drop her, walk away and then go back to her.  I don't recall her from the sit until she knows exactly what it means.  Does that make sense?

Helen

I sounds like you train like I do I train the position not the stay

Basically I train my dogs to sit down etc & not to move unless I give them another command be it come or that'll do(the finish command) or close(my heel work command) It just makes life easier for me

Moonmaiden/Helen, how do you stop your dogs fidgeting or changing position before you release them? I try really hard not to repeat the command and use a Look followed by a tasty treat for looking at me, in the fond expectation he will still sit/down whatever. And I try praising/rewarding while he maintains the position and switching attention off if he moves. Any suggestions? Bet you two dont use leads either.

By not letting them start basicly I do it literally a few seconds at a time(counting to 5 the 10 etc )& as soon as I notice any slight movement or lack of attention I go back & release. It's easier with a young dog that hasn't any bad habits, but with an older dog like my rescue(who I got at around 7 to 9 years old)I treat them the same as a puppy but do slightly longer training sessions

I never repeat things over & over & over. If I lengthen the time & the dog gets it right I finish there so that the last thing we do is done right

It's imporatnt to get your dog to relax as well & I've posted lots of times about T Touch massagebefore & after training for the dog & it does seem to work for mine & also on my pupils dogs

OK thanks. thats how I teach him to stay by counting elephants and releasing as soon as I see a twitch. Hes quite good on stays its really when getting collars and leads on/off or sitting to let someone pass on the paths, where I think he anticipates a move. Will persevere and do a search on the TTouch thing - liked the article on lead training and TTEAM in Your Dog. Thanks agian.