The First 7 Things You NEED To Teach Your Puppy, by McCann Dog Training on YouTube. 19 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 19 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Start with luring. Hold a treat right at your puppy's nose and slowly move it so your puppy follows. Reward the moment your puppy moves with the treat.
Teach sit by moving the treat up and slightly back over the head. Mark and reward as soon as the rear touches the floor. Repeat five times.
For lay down, lower the treat from the sit to the floor and draw it forward. Reward when elbows and belly rest on the ground.
Add a release word such as free or break. Say it, then toss a treat away so your puppy learns the cue ends the exercise.
Practice a gentle collar hold. Slip a finger under the collar, feed a treat, and let go. Build up to a few seconds without your puppy pulling away.
Say your puppy's name once, then reward any look toward you. Repeat in different rooms so the name always means pay attention.
Play tug with a long toy. Say out, hold the toy still, and reward with a treat when your puppy lets go. Restart the game after each out.
For the restraint recall, have a helper hold your puppy gently. Step back, call the name and cue come, then reward warmly when your puppy reaches you.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep sessions to two or three minutes and end while your puppy is still keen.
Reward the exact moment your puppy gets it right, not a second later.
Never pull or yank the collar during the collar hold practice.
Practice each skill in several rooms so your puppy generalizes the cue.
Questions
How often should I train a young puppy?
Short sessions of two to three minutes, several times a day, work better than one long session. Puppies lose focus quickly.
What if my puppy won't take treats?
Try a higher value treat or train before a meal. A tired or overexcited puppy may also ignore food, so settle them first.
When can I start these exercises?
Most puppies can start simple luring and name games in the first week home. Check with your vet about group classes and vaccinations.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
