Arden Moore - Come, Sit, Stay

VP, Chief Content Officer: June Kikuchi

VP, Kennel Club Books: Andrew DePrisco

Production Supervisor: Jessica Jaensch

Production Coordinator: Tracy Burns

Art Director: Brian Bengelsdorf

I-5 Press: Jennifer Calvert, Amy Deputato,

Lindsay Hanks, Karen Julian, Elizabeth L.

McCaughey, Roger Sipe, Jarelle S. Stein

Copyright 2004, 2009 by I-5 Press. Bulldog cover photos by Seth Casteel/www.littlefriendsphoto.com. Interior photos by Seth Casteel/www.littlefriendsphoto.com (pages 3, 5, 11, 13, 26, 29, 40, 45 and 48) and Isabelle Francais/I-5 Publishing, LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of I-5 Press, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the earlier edition as follows:

Moore, Arden.

Come, sit, stay / by Arden Moore ; illustrations by Buck Jones.

p. cm. (Simple solutions)

ISBN-10: 1-931993-42-4 (softcover : alk. paper)

ISBN-13: 978-1-931993-42-5 (softcover : alk. paper)

eISBN-13: 978-1-62008-060-3

1. DogsTraining . I. Jones, Buck, ill. II. Title. III. Series: Simple solutions (Irvine, Calif.)

SF431.M818 2004

636.70887dc22

2004003346

I-5 Press

A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC

3 Burroughs, Irvine, California 92618

Printed and bound in China.

15 14 13 12 11 10 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Contents

Lets Get Started

I f only we could wave a magic wand over every dog on this planet so that with one swish canines from all continents would automatically heed these three vital cues: come, sit, stay. There are many reasons why these three cues are so doggone vital. First and foremost, they can be lifesavers.

Say, for example, you have a dog whos determined to chase a squirrel into the street. If he had learned to heed the come cue, he would hit the brakes, stop, turn around and return safely to you after hearing you call Come! Also, if your dog learns the come cue, youll never again have to coax, beg or chase your dog home. Simply say Come!

Dog owners love to show off their dogs, whether theyre at home, in public or visiting friends. Secretly, they want their well-mannered dogs to earn compliments for good behavior from their friends, family and even the general public. For their part, the dogs unabashedly solicit head pats and treats.

Having a dog who understands these basic cues will do wonders for both of you. For instance, when the doorbell chimes and your dog bolts ahead of you to the front door, imagine the praise you both will receive when you simply ask your dog to sit, and he resists the urge to jump on your visitor. Instead, he quickly complies with your cue, allowing your guest to enter without being tackled.

When you are consistent with these cues and your dog learns to obey them, theres no longer any confusion as to who truly ranks as top dog in your household. Dogs understand and even appreciate hierarchy. They like to know exactly where they fit in the family ranking; and, it doesnt upset them if they realize they are ranked behind you. A clear pecking order is illustrated when you ask your dog to stay and he obediently stops in his tracks.

Mastering these three cues can act as a springboard for your dog. Because dogs are always eager to learn, they will feel confident about conquering new behavior cues and cool new tricks. Learning how to come, sit and stay lays a foundation for other actions your dog will perform willingly on cue, whether you hold a tasty treat in your hand, a dog-loving visitor awaits in anticipation or he simply wants to please you.

Throughout this book, youll also find helpful training tips to use whether youre teaching your dog the basic cues of come, sit and stay or more complicated tricks. Training your dog should be fun, so be positive, be consistent and be patient, and you and your dog will thoroughly enjoy your training/bonding time.

Nothing impresses visitors more than a well-mannered, obedient dog, so start training yours right away!

Come, Canine, Come

S ome puppies excel at performing fancy tricks in front of a crowd. They can show their belly, perform a figure-eight maneuver between your legs, do a classic roll over and play dead, or retrieve a dropped writing pen. But, if your dog doesnt always return to your side when called, he needs to learn the come cue.

First, you have to learn how to outsmart your puppy. If you are a consistent leader, he will race toward you when you tell him to come, even when hes in mid pounce with a Jack Russell Terrier at the local dog park. Dont be dismayed if your puppy or newly adopted dog initially struggles with this command. Be persistent.

Training Tip

Ahem: attention, please! The only way to get your dog to comply with your training is to have her undivided attention. Dogs are easily distracted just like children. When you begin any training session, pick a place and a time where distractions are minimal. When youre ready, say your dogs name, and wait for her eyes to meet yours. Clap your hands or whistle if you have to, and make sure she is watching and waiting for your cue to see what to do next.

Avoid using the come cue when you need to bathe your puppy or to scold him. Come should have positive associations.

Treat the come cue like its magic. Resist the temptation to call your dog only to reprimand him for digging in the garden or chasing your cat. That will only make him associate come with a prelude to punishment or, at the very least, a signal that playtime and fun over. Each time your dog heeds your come cue, praise him so that he will associate compliance with positive feedback.

In teaching the come cue, prepare your dog to succeed by holding the initial lessons in locations where distractions are few. As your dog shows proficiency, gradually add distractions on purpose so that you can continue to remain the top attraction in your dogs mind. Whatever his learning level, there are many ways to teach the come cue.

Try a game called Pass the Puppy . Young puppies, especially, enjoy learning the come cue this way. With the aid of three or four friends, sit in a circle in a room or enclosed outdoor area. Make sure everyone in the group has a handful of small treats. Place your puppy in the middle of the circle. Start by calling your pups name and asking him to come. Coax the puppy to you by holding a treat in your extended hand. When he scoots over, give him the treat and some praise. Then, have someone else in the circle call your puppy. Again, finish with a treat and praise. Keep your puppy guessing which person is calling for him so that he must pay attention. Eventually, hell start associating the come cue with positive payoffs. Limit this game to five minutes or so, but repeat it daily.