Family Pet Consulting; Teaching Commands FAQ1

Teaching Commands
Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: My dog only sits if I’m standing very close to it. How can I teach it to sit at a distance? What if it got across the street and I wanted it to sit and wait for me to come and get it?
Question 2: Is it OK to give the pup a treat when it obeys a command?
Question 3: Is it OK for my puppy to sit on my lap while I watch TV?
Question 4: I let my dog run loose at night. We live in a quiet neighborhood, and it gives the dog a chance to go to the bathroom and get some exercise.
Question 5: I take my dog for walks along the canal bank near my house. After we’ve been walking for a few minutes and the dog is settled down, I snap the leash off and let it walk free. What do I do if it takes off and won’t come back?
Question 6: My dog goes to the front door with me and when I open the door it either drags me out or mows me down as I’m going through it. Help!
Question 7: When I’m petting one dog, the other dog keeps pushing between us because it’s jealous.
Question 8: I hit my dog.
Question 9: My dog knows how to "stay" really well. In fact, he will stay for ten or fifteen minutes, except when the doorbell rings or company knocks at the door. Then he goes crazy.
Question 10: I’m a senior citizen. All the dogs I’ve ever owned in my lifetime have been well behaved, but this one is a maniac.
Question 11: When will my dog be able to go to the park without a leash and stay close to me?
Question 12: How soon can I teach good behavior at the door when people come to visit?
Question 13: If I train my dog, will it lose its personality?
Question 14: When will my adult dog stop acting like a puppy?
Question 15: I’ve read lots of training websites and they sound great, but when I try to do the things they say, it doesn’t work as smoothly for me.
Question 16: I have two dogs, and they don’t listen to me when they’re together.
Question 17: My dog doesn’t know its name.
Question 18: I’m in training with my dog now and I’m enjoying it, but how long will I need to use all these training techniques?
Question 19: I feel sorry for my dog when I have to correct it or go to the training classes.
Question 20: I’ve tried everything on my dog and nothing works. He’s untrainable!
Question 21: It takes my dog ten to fifteen minutes to settle down when I get home from work.
Question 22: My dog doesn’t like to sit when we’re walking on the leash and I stop.
Question 23: My dog pulls for the first block or so when we go for our daily walk and I hate it.

Question 1: My dog only sits if I’m standing very close to it. How can I teach it to sit at a distance? What if it got across the street and I wanted it to sit and wait for me to come and get it?

Question 2: Is it OK to give the pup a treat when it obeys a command?
Answer: As a rule, I give praise and affection instead of treats. Some dogs get too distracted by the food to listen to commands. I do use treats when teaching the dog to come.

Question 3: Is it OK for my puppy to sit on my lap while I watch TV?
Answer: Of course, but don’t let the pup jump up on your lap. Pick it up and put it onto your lap, then put it back on the floor when you want it off. No jumping on and off furniture. Many dogs are injured when jumping.

Question 4: I let my dog run loose at night. We live in a quiet neighborhood, and it gives the dog a chance to go to the bathroom and get some exercise.
Answer: That is just not acceptable. Your neighbors are probably upset with you and if they aren’t yet, it’s just a matter of time. Stop doing this! That’s why you have a yard. If you continue to do this, I suggest that each night when you turn your dog loose, you hug it and kiss it goodbye, because one of these days it won’t be coming back to you. Shame on you!

Question 5: I take my dog for walks along the canal bank near my house. After we’ve been walking for a few minutes and the dog is settled down, I snap the leash off and let it walk free. What do I do if it takes off and won’t come back?

Question 6: My dog goes to the front door with me and when I open the door it either drags me out or mows me down as I’m going through it. Help!

Question 7: When I’m petting one dog, the other dog keeps pushing between us because it’s jealous.

Question 8: I hit my dog.
Answer: It may stop the behavior, but it will teach your dog to be afraid of hands and destroy its trust in you. Is it worth it? Why not train it the right way?

Question 9: My dog knows how to "stay" really well. In fact, he will stay for ten or fifteen minutes, except when the doorbell rings or company knocks at the door. Then he goes crazy.

Question 10: I’m a senior citizen. All the dogs I’ve ever owned in my lifetime have been well behaved, but this one is a maniac.
Answer: As we age, everybody seems younger and things we did with ease when we were younger are a little more difficult, such as raising children and dealing with puppies. Hire a trainer.

Last Updated July 15, 2000
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