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Preschool Puppy Training (Part 5): The Stay Command At 10 Weeks
The next step in preschool puppy training begins at around 10 weeks of age. We are now going to introduce your pup to the stay command.
But first, a quick word of caution from the last training article. It involves the rewards given to the puppy when playing the fetch-sit game. As you near the end of each 10 minute game time, you may notice your puppy tiring. If he poops out and refuses to retrieve, do not give the tidbit reward and end the game. To do otherwise would be to reward the puppy for giving up and quitting. Always end each game session by commanding sit and placing the puppy in that position, followed by praise in the tidbit reward.
Now on to this week's training session; keeping firmly in mind that kindergarten training is primarily for teaching a puppy how to learn, we can introduce the command to stay when the puppy is but ten weeks of age. Thus far, we've written the words sit and come on the chalkboard of the puppy's mind.
We've given the puppy no opportunity to do otherwise when those commands have been given. Therefore, the puppy cannot have been guilty of any disobedience in response to those commands. He certainly didn't perform any of those behaviors on his own, of course, but at that age he shouldn't be expected to. We're teaching the pup how to learn, so always keep that in mind!
Introducing The Stay Command
At 10 weeks of age, and during your fetch-sit games, you can introduce the word stay into your puppy's vocabulary in the following manner:
With the puppy in a sitting position, and prior to throwing out the fetch toy, place your left hand on the puppy's rear to assist in holding him in that sitting position. Give the command stay in a firm, authoritative voice, placing your other hand (palm open) at his eye level for added emphasis. Then throw to fetch toy.
If the puppy does not move in an attempt to go to the toy, praise him immediately and release him with Okay, get the toy. If the puppy moves in an attempt to retrieve the toy, tell him No! Lead him back to the exact spot and reinforce the command to stay. Have him hold that sit-stay position for a few seconds, then release him to retrieve the toy, followed by the usual praise and, at the conclusion of the training period, his treat reward.
BONUS : Preschool Puppy Training (Part 6): Building A Strong Foundation
A ten-week-old puppy should not be expected to respond upon command like a pro, anymore than would a child being taught to add and subtract while attending preschool. A puppy has the ability to learn upon completion of the seventh week of his life. Since that ability is there, it is important that the things he does learn are constructive.
The more he learns though he may not perform well the more solid the foundation for future training will be. A child plays with building blocks and builds a house one block at a time until, finally, one block causes the house to fall. The next attempt at building that block house will result in a much firmer foundation than that of the preceding house.
Each time a puppy is taught a new word and given no opportunity to respond in any other manner except the proper one for that word a foundation block is being added. Later, as the puppy's mind expands, the opportunity to disobey can be introduced; correction for that disobedience will put the pillars into place, thus providing a solid foundation for the dog's future behavior.
Weeks 11 and 12 will conclude the puppy's preschool kindergarten training, and should begin with you controlling the direction of your short daily walks. It is at this point that you will for the first time exert your direct influence regarding walking with the puppy. Up to this point, he's had no form of absolute control placed over him, with the exception of your command come (wherein you gently pulled him to you and rewarded him with a tidbit treat).
Because he has not had absolute control placed over him during his daily walks, you may encounter some signs of attitude or a temper tantrum when you decide to go in a direction that the puppy just doesn't happen to want to head towards. If he balks, backs up, or acts like a wild bull on the rodeo grounds, just stand calmly, holding firm to the leash, and let him get it out of his system.
Don't make a big deal out of it. Simply let him throw his tantrum but do not give in and go in the direction that he wants to go. He'll tire from his own antics in a very short period of time, especially when he sees that such behavior gets him nowhere.
When he finally calms down, speak lovingly and assuredly to him. Make him think that everything is going to be okay and that you've got things under control. Do a few come maneuvers as explained in previous puppy kindergarten tips and be sure to follow them with the treat reward. So far, the word come always culminated with something good, and you will be the recipient of benefits of this later on in your dog's training.