I've been fairly easy on Dizzy as she had a problem with her front legs and needed lots of rest and pampering to recover properly (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) but now she's standing straight again and is turning into a holy terror!

We're persivering with the house training and when she gets it right (about 25% of the time) it more than makes up for the puddles on the floor :D

Where do we start with everything else she has to learn? Should we be doing 'formal' training of the basics or should we concentrate on play where she will learn not to bite etc

We'll be going to a class at the end of january where she will learn obedience and ringcraft - apparently they can teach both :) - but I'd like to get her on the right tracks before she gets too much bigger!

You can teach the basics straightaway - sit, down, stand, heel, leave etc etc... It will help to occupy her mind... :)

If I were you though, I wouldn't teach her to give a paw - because Willis uses it ALL the time to get what he wants and nearly knocks me out

:rolleyes: She seems to know that one already!

She also knows not to jump up but when she's excited her front feet leave the floor by about 1/2 inch repeatedly... very funny :)

He is really bad for it...he comes and sits by my desk when I am working, and then WHACK - and I try to ignore him, but he redoubles his efforts and whacks harder, and repeatedly, until I stop and give him a fuss and he puts his face up for a kiss - then he goes off again :rolleyes:

I've raised a wuss.

My youngest has learnt all the basics and more besides, during play.  I'm sure if you could ask him he would say that he's never had a training session but lots of fun play sessions.  I try not to separate training a dog and living with a dog.  Sally

We'll be going to a class at the end of january where she will learn obedience and ringcraft

WRONG :)

You may be going to class but you will be going so they can teach you to teach her not so she can learn :)

Praise and Release words - these are (or should be) different.  Praise indicates she is doing something correctly, release words indicate the end of the exercise and can be something like "okay" or "go play"

Stay generally indicates - stay there till I return.
Wait generally indicates - wait there till I tell you to do something else (recall for instance, or to wait so you can go though a door first)

Things to teach now -

Recall. 
Sit on floor with legs spread and encourage her to come right into you - use tit-bit to encourage her closer and praise - lots
Wait till she is doing something that is really holding her interest and call her to you - "name" and "come" - again lots of priase and treats and if she likes to play do this as well.  Keep your body as upright as possibly when training your dog, if you loom over her she will probably stand a few steps back from her.  You can crouch down but make sure it is your knees doing the bending and not your body

Heelwork
Never let her start to pull you - if you never let her pull it won't become a problem.  Again use treats or a toy to show her where you want her.  You wil be at a funny angle but hold the toy just in front of you and close to your body (so her head comes into you NOT so it goes outwards).

Retrieves
Be careful with these and tugging games whilst she is teething

Sits, Downs, Stands

Stay - put her on lead in sit position.  Tell her "sit-stay", and STAND UPRIGHT and count to three out loud then praise and release words.  Repeat three times.  A little later on repeat again but the second time count to 5 (out loud interspercing a "STAY - good girl" where appropriate)  You can use the counting to reinforce the stay command if you pitch your voice correctly.

The next session you can start at 5 seconds and then 8 for the 2nd and 3rd of the three.  Repeat up to five times a day increasing buy a few seconds each time.

At the end of a week she could/should be doing a minute sit stay with you standing beside her.  The next week still stand beside her but drop some of the numbers - ie  1, 2 ------ 5 6 7 --- 10 11 etc.

The next week take one step to the side and start from three seconds again to reinforce the "stay"  You should be able to increase the numbers faster this time as she will be learning what you want.

The next stage is to take two steps away - don't always stand still, move your arms around but NEVER make eye contact during a stay exercise.

Repeat as above for the down stay

Is that enough for a while?

Christine

I don't remember even thinking about training Sal we did it in play; I sat on the floor as Kerioak suggested  and called her name and when she came toward me I called "Sal Quick" in an "exciting voice" I did the same with her "baby" toys throwing it down the kitchen and encouraging her to bring it back and then to give when told to give (She still does) she immediately releases anything she's got even now on being told. Call her when she's doing something that interests her occasionally make yourself the MOST interesting thing in the world well her world.

Same with sitting she sat for her dinner and still does not moving until she is told "okay"  and the same with doors she waits until she is "invited" through. You can't have a Staff pushing through doors same with a great dane I would think :)

All this was done in fun she didn't have set training times just try to remember puppies are sponges and they soak up everything GOOD or BAD. If you don't want her on the sofa make it consistent not "Oh this time it won't matter" dogs don't understand. Make it CONSISTENT and CLEAR.

Don't loose your temper, remember she's a baby and will get bored quickly. But consitencey throughout will win in the end       

Praise always and loads of it don't set her up to fail. Always let her get it right.:)

Go on it;s fun and when you see her tail wagging you will smile too :)

Karen

**At the end of a week she could/should be doing a minute sit stay with you standing beside her.  **  This is Dizzy with the concentration span of a gnat ;)

She really only has 2 major awake and play times in the day so we'll use these to play/train. At the minute she's spending lots of time with Sam (my other dog) so I want to instill that I'm much more fun and rewarding to listen to than she is so there's no confusion over pack leader.

I'm over the moon with how quickly she's catching on with the toilet training - I just hope I can get everything else right.

I tried the 'Tail wagging Game' suggested in the perfect puppy but she doesn't seem to like making eye contact or wagging her tail :rolleyes: For now she's being rewarded as soon as she looks in my eyes, we'll work on holding contact as she gets used to that. I'm doing silly puppy voices and my neighbours do think I'm mad when she does a wee on command :o

Edit - meant to say thanks for all the tips :D

:D She's getting good at the 'sit' and recall (especially if there's treats involved) and we've had her walking around on the lead a little - she's unsure but only pulls in response to my pulling her. If we walk alongside eachother (again with treats in view) she does great :D