One of the first things to teach your puppy is to lie down upon command or signal. If you can teach him to do this at an early age, life will be much easier for both of you. There will be many times during the course of the day when this simple exercise will prove its worth.

Have a nylon choke or buckle collar on your puppy and attach a short leash to it. Have your puppy Sit as you stand directly in front of him. Hold the leash short in your left hand as you give him the verbal command “Down” in a quiet but firm tone of voice. Also give him the Down signal by raising your right hand where he can see it as you pull him down with the leash. Quickly place a treat between his paws as you stroke him on the withers saying, “Down, good. Down, good.” Try this three more times, giving him a treat each time and praising him in a happy tone of voice.

The fourth time you try it he will probably go down by himself. Get excited and tell him what a good boy he is, using a very exuberant tone of voice accompanied by a treat. Just be sure that your puppy looks at the palm of your hand when you give him the Down signal.

This exercise will make your puppy feel very special. Just be sure that he doesn’t crawl forward but Drops straight down. Try this several times the first few days so that he will learn to Drop on either your voice or the hand signal. A week or so later try giving him the Down command a few feet from you. Then gradually increase the distance until you are about ten feet from him. You must continue to run up each time he Drops and praise him very enthusiastically and give him his treat reward.

When you have accomplished this, try training him to lie down off leash. You must continue to praise him extravagantly and give him the treat. At first it is best to train him to Down indoors. Then, when he is reliable, train him outdoors. Several months later you can teach him the Drop on Recall, but be careful not to overdo it. Puppies should be very eager and willing to do straight Recalls before they are taught the Drop on Recall.

In the beginning it will be necessary to bend over a little as you give the signal. Later when he knows the exercise, you can stand up straight and give the signal. When you pull the puppy down, you should pull the leash either straight down or slightly back away from you. If you pull the leash down toward you, the puppy will move forward. You do not want him to do this or he will crawl between your feet. He should go down exactly where he is sitting without moving forward.

Coming when called, or the “recall”exercise, is an important step in a dog’s training school. If the class is working in a circle, it is done the first time toward the center of the circle and the second time away from the center toward the outside walls. To teach the recall in class, the instructor tells the group:

“Handlers face the center of the room with dogs sitting at heel position. Command your dog to stay. Face him to the full length of the leash. Hold the leash in your left hand. Stand up straight with your feet spaced apart to prevent the dog from darting off to one side! Call your dog by name! ‘Sparky, come!’ or ‘Sparky, front!’ Gather the lead up with both hands and when he is close, command ‘Sit!’ Praise and pat him immediately! Say ‘Stay!’ and move back again to the end of the lead. Call your dog! Keep your voice happy! Coax your dog to come!

When he obeys, tell him with more authority to sit! Praise him! If the dog doesn’t respond the moment he hears his name and the command to come, snap the lead quickly, but loosen it at once. It is done with a motion similar to snapping a whip. You will hear the collar click when you do it correctly.

Don’t pull or drag your dog to you or he will never want to come! Use a cajoling tone of voice after the command and after each correction. Use the lead to make the dog sit square
and as close as possible, and to prevent a dash in the opposite direction. Next, make your dog go to heel position! (The handlers will now have their backs to one another, ready to
call their dogs in the opposite direction.) Tell your dog to stay and face him to the full length of the lead! Now circle back to heel position. We’ll alternate the recall with the sit-stay exercise.

This will teach your dog not to anticipate your command by coming before he is called. Tell your dog to stay and face him again. Stand up straight! If you lean over, the dog will crawl in instead of coming gaily. Call your dog! Use his name! If your dog doesn’t come on your first command, snap the lead hard and then coax him in the rest of the way! Keep your hands low and in front of your body. Gather up the leash in a hand-over-hand motion.”

The instructor should watch to see that the command to come is given first, followed, if necessary, by a sharp snap on the lead, which is loosened immediately. The dog must want
to come of his own free will. Remind the owners: “Stand erect with your feet apart to discourage the dog from darting off the one side. Gather up the leash as the dog comes forward. Command ‘Sit!’ when the dog comes in front and correct him if he sits crooked. Don’t forget to pat him.”

Puppies and dogs that jump up on you are only looking for attention, and it is your duty to give it to them. If, when you enter a room, your puppy dashes over to greet you, bend over to pet him. If you simply stand where you are, he will probably want more of a greeting from you and speaking to him is not enough. Remember that this display of affection is one of the ways your puppy will show that he loves you, and your affectionate response will assure him of your devotion.

If your puppy jumps on your friends or strangers when they come to visit you, another
method must be employed. Have the puppy on a leash when a caller comes to the door and as the puppy starts to jump up, pull him back. Ask your friend to reach down and pet him.

Any time you pull your puppy back off balance, say “No, easy,” to him. It is best to have a collar on your puppy at this time. The collar should not be heavy and it should fit properly. If you wish to teach your dog later on to stand up against you, try this. Encourage him to stand against you by saying, “Up,” and patting your chest. If the dog jumps and leans on you too heavily, gently tap him in the chest. Encourage him to try again, and when he leans against you lightly, praise him with your voice and pet him.