TRICKS AND TREATS OR SOCIALIZATION
AND BONDING GOAL: To have a dog who entertains you, loves you, beguiles you, and communicates with you with a look, a gesture or a behavior.

METHOD You will use the Clicker and treats, or hot dogs cut up in small pieces lure or bait your puppy into performing tricks. A clicker is available at almost any pet store.  You will find that once your puppy knows what the treats are, and hears the clicker. It will raise his IQ by a factor of 10! The correct term for this type of training is “Clicker Training”.  It is without a doubt the very best training method we have ever used.

Insight:     When you Click with the Clicker, it Marks the behavior for the puppy.  Read that sentence again! The clicker lets the puppy know what behavior you want from him to get his treat. When using just Bait training the puppy is so focused on the treat.   The few seconds between the time, that you give the command and the time that you treat them, a puppy forgets what he has done to get the treat in the first place. Usually as soon as he sees the treat all he is thinking about is getting it in his mouth. With the clicker you “click” and the puppy thinks “Oh that is what she wants! Ok, that’s easy. Let’s do it again.”

           The first step is, to teach the puppy that the clicker means I get a treat. It’s very easy.  First click, immediately give your puppy a treat. Now do it again, click, treat, and repeat.  This step takes about 3 sessions 30 seconds long, and then presto, he has it. You will know he has it if he reacts when he hears the click. Remember dog language can be very subtle, so pay attention. 

 Now that you have the secret dog training weapon in hand.  Don’t forget his treats, its time to teach our first trick...

The SIT

Hold the treat 1 inch above his nose. When he raises his head and nose to get it, move it back and up. As his butt hits the floor Click repeat, and then give him his treat. After you have done this about 3 times add the voice command “Sit”         

1 Say “sit”

2 hold the treat 1 inch above his nose

3 When he raises his head and nose to get it,       move it back and up.

4.      As his butt hits the floor  click

This does not have to be perfect the first time.   You will be shocked how quickly a puppy can sit. Now remember that sentence. You know the underlined one. Well this is what I mean. You say “Sit”

THE DOWN

Your puppy should be sitting. Hold the treat with your thumb, ring, and pinkie fingers; your hand should form a cup. Let him know you have it and bring your hand down between your puppy's front legs. His head should follow. Drag your hand slowly forward. His head should again follow and he should `reach' by going down. Then Click and treat. Do it again. After a few times, add the Voice command “Down”

THE FETCH: Use the puppy's scented nest toy I gave you for this one, as the puppy is already fixated on it. Simply toss it out wait until he picks it up mouth then call him in. Don't give him the treat until he surrenders the toy. Actually when he comes in he'll smell you have the treat and will automatically open his mouth to get it, hence he surrenders it more or less automatically. It is much easier to teach fetching to a young puppy than an older dog.

THE STAY

1)      Put your dog in a spot.

2)      have him sit

3)      Put your hand up palm facing your dog.

4)      Click

5)      Give him a treat.

6)      Move him to a different spot.

7)      Put your hand up.

8)      Tell him "sit" put your hand up; take one step back.

        10. Click, step forward, and give him a treat. If he moves, don't click and return him to the same exact spot, repeat. After you can step about 5 feet away add voice command “Stay”

Don't let the lesson take too long. Only train any behavior for about 5-10 minutes an important rule to remember is always returning to the puppy never calling him to you to give him his treat.