North Country Dog

Training

🐾 Basic Dog Training Guide

⭐ 1. Name Recognition

Goal: Your dog looks at you when you say their name.
How to train:

  1. Say your dog’s name once.
  2. The moment they look at you → reward (treat, praise).
  3. Keep sessions short (1–2 minutes a few times a day).

⭐ 2. Sit

How to train:

  1. Hold a treat to their nose.
  2. Slowly move it up and back over their head.
  3. When their butt touches the ground → “Yes!” + treat.
  4. Add the word “Sit” once they get the motion.

⭐ 3. Down (Lie Down)

How to train:

  1. Ask for sit.
  2. Move a treat from their nose down to the floor, slowly dragging it outward.
  3. When elbows hit the floor → reward.
  4. Add the word “Down” later.

⭐ 4. Stay

This takes patience.

How to train:

  1. Ask for sit or down.
  2. Hold your hand up (like a stop sign) → say “Stay.”
  3. Take one step back → step forward → reward.
  4. Slowly increase time and distance.

⭐ 5. Come (Recall)

How to train:

  1. Start inside or on a leash.
  2. Say “Come!” in a happy voice.
  3. When the dog comes to you → jackpot reward (treats + praise).
  4. Never call them for something negative (like a bath or punishment).

⭐ 6. Leave It

One of the most important commands for safety.

How to train:

  1. Put a treat in your closed fist.
  2. Let the dog sniff/paw/lick → ignore them.
  3. When they back off → “Yes!” → give a different treat from your other hand.
  4. Add the word “Leave it.”

⭐ 7. Loose-Leash Walking

How to train:

  1. Start walking.
  2. When the dog pulls → stop moving.
  3. When they return to your side → reward and continue.
  4. Be consistent; pulling should never get them where they want to go.

🐶 Training Tips for Success

✔ Short sessions: 5–10 minutes, a few times a day.
✔ High-value treats: Chicken, soft training treats, cheese pieces.
✔ Be consistent: Same words, same rules every time.
✔ Reward the good, ignore bad behaviors when possible.
✔ End on a win even if it’s small.

🐾 Obedience Dog Training: Step-by-Step

🔹 1. Foundation Commands

These are the core skills every obedient dog should know.

• Sit

Basic control; helps stop jumping, excitement, and chaos.

• Down

Creates calm and teaches impulse control.

• Stay

Teaches patience, stillness, and safety.

• Come (Recall)

The most important lifesaving command.

• Heel

Walking at your left side without pulling.

• Leave It

Prevents dangerous or unwanted behaviors.

If you want, I can show you how to teach each command in detailed steps.

🔹 2. Structure & Rules

Obedience training works best when you add structure to your dog’s daily life:

• Scheduled meals

No free-feeding — helps focus and motivation.

• Short training sessions

5–10 minutes, 2–3 times a day.

• Crate training / Place training

Helps eliminate separation anxiety, overexcitement, and bad habits.

• Consistent rules

Same boundaries every day. No exceptions.

🔹 3. Reward-Based Training (Most Effective)

Use:

  • Small soft treats
  • Praise (happy voice)
  • Toys for high-drive dogs

Reward immediately so the dog knows exactly what they did right.

🔹 4. Introducing Distractions

A dog isn’t truly obedient until they can obey even with:

  • People around
  • Other dogs
  • Sounds
  • Food
  • Movement

Work in stages:

  1. At home with no distractions
  2. Backyard
  3. Quiet public area
  4. Busier environments

If the dog fails, go back one step.

🔹 5. Leash Training & Recall Reliability

Two of the toughest obedience skills.

Heel Training

  1. Keep treats at your left side.
  2. Reward for staying beside you.
  3. If they pull, stop moving.
  4. Reward for returning to your side.

Recall Training

  1. Start on a long line (15–30 ft).
  2. Call once: “Come!”
  3. Make yourself exciting (kneel, open arms, cheer).
  4. Reward big.
  5. Increase distance and distractions slowly.

Never punish a dog for coming to you.

🔹 6. “Place” Training (Huge for Obedience)

Teaches the dog to go to a bed, mat, cot, or crate and stay there.

How to train:

  1. Point to the bed and say “Place.”
  2. Lure them onto it with a treat.
  3. When they settle → reward.
  4. Build duration (1–20 minutes).

This solves:

  • Rowdiness
  • Begging
  • Jumping
  • Anxiety
  • Door chaos

🔹 7. Correction vs. Positive Only

You can choose your style:

  • Pure positive (treats, rewards, no corrections)
  • Balanced training (rewards + gentle corrections like leash guidance)

If you want, I can tailor it to your preference.

🐾 Leash Training Breakdown for Dogs

🔹 PHASE 1: Foundation Skills (Before Walking Outside)

1. Get the Dog Comfortable With the Gear

  • Let them sniff the leash/harness.
  • Put the harness/collar on for short periods.
  • Reward calm behavior around the equipment.

Goal: Dog accepts the gear without excitement.

2. Teach “Focus” (NAME → EYE CONTACT)

This is crucial for good walking.

How to train:

  1. Say their name once.
  2. When they look at you → “Yes!” + treat.
  3. Practice until they look at you immediately.

Goal: Dog checks in with you often during walks.

3. Teach “Follow Me” Indoors

Walk around your house with the dog off-leash or dragging a leash.

  • Reward every time they walk near your side.
  • Change directions often.
  • Keep sessions 1–2 minutes.

Goal: Dog learns that staying near you is rewarding.

🔹 PHASE 2: Beginning Leash Skills (Low Distraction Area)

4. Teach Loose-Leash Basics (The Stop Rule)

This prevents pulling before it starts.

If the leash gets tight → STOP.

When the dog comes back/loosens it → MOVE FORWARD.

No yanking, no jerking.
You are simply showing a rule:

👉 Pulling never leads forward.

5. Reward the Right Position

Any time the dog is:

  • By your side
  • Walking on a slack leash
  • Glancing up at you

→ Give a treat OR verbal reward.

Start with frequent treats.
Fade over time.

6. Practice Turns

To teach the dog to pay attention:

  • Do left turns
  • Right turns
  • 180° turn-arounds
  • Sudden stops

Reward the dog when they follow your movement.

Goal: Dog stays mentally connected to you.

🔹 PHASE 3: Beginner Walking (Quiet Yard or Empty Street)

7. Short Practice Walks

  • 3–5 minutes
  • Calm area
  • No rushing

Keep reinforcing:
✔ Loose leash = forward
✘ Tight leash = stop

8. Add Mild Distractions

Examples:

  • A parked car
  • A bird far away
  • A quiet person across the street

Use:

  • Higher-value treats
  • Focus cue (their name)
  • Direction changes

Goal: Dog can maintain a loose leash with small distractions.

🔹 PHASE 4: Real-World Walking

9. Add Distance Before Difficulty

Don’t go straight into busy places.

Upgrade slowly:

  1. Quiet side street
  2. Moderate foot traffic
  3. Park with distance from people/dogs
  4. Slowly approach distractions closer

Distance is your best tool.

10. Practice Engagement on Walks

Every few steps:

  • Ask for “sit”
  • Ask for “look”
  • Change direction
  • Reward check-ins

This prevents the dog from getting lost in the environment.

🔹 PHASE 5: Fixing Pulling Problems

11. If Your Dog Charges Ahead

Use a turn-around:

  1. Dog surges forward
  2. Immediately turn 180°
  3. Reward when they come back to your side

This teaches the dog to watch your movement.

12. If Your Dog Zig-Zags

Guide them to one side (usually left)
Reward only when they remain on that side.

Consistency is key.

13. If Your Dog Lunges at People/Dogs

Go back to:

  • More distance
  • High-value treats
  • Focus cues

Never correct a scared or excited dog harshly — it makes reactivity worse.

🔹 PHASE 6: Generalization & Reliability

14. Practice in Many Places

Dogs don’t generalize well.

Practice in:

  • Home
  • Yard
  • Street
  • Park
  • Parking lot
  • Trails

Each new place reinforces the same rule:
Loose leash = keep walking.

15. Fade Treats Over Time

Move to:

  • Praise
  • Occasional treats
  • Sniffing as a reward
  • Walking forward as a reward

Sniff breaks are HUGE motivators.