The 'Bed' Command As Critical to Labrador Training

PetsDogs

  • Author Richard Cussons
  • Published November 5, 2009
  • Word count 526

Giving your puppy Labrador Training to go to bed on command is more than just a convenient thought, it keeps the dog safe too, for example, from broken glass in the kitchen that the dog may tread on if not warned. Other reasons for the bed command is in case visitors drop by, or when you need your puppy out of the way for some time.

Before starting the training, ensure that the dog's bed does not rattle on the floor. Choose a command that you can use consistently, such as "bed."

When you are ready to teach the dog, you will need to have treats in handy to make training fun and for the puppy to understand what behavior is expected from it.

Attract your puppy's attention and show it the treat you are holding. Go to the bed, and toss the treat in. Ideally, the puppy should jump right in. If your puppy does not go for the bed, you will need to be patient. Encourage it, and praise its efforts to work what it is you are trying to communicate to it.

When do you make the "Bed" call? Once you know the puppy can get into bed its own, give the command as you throw the treat it. All the while, ensure that the puppy is aware of the treat, and you really need to get its attention. As your puppy grows in familiarity with the call, it is eventually not needed anymore to show the treat before giving the command. At a point in time, hearing the command is sufficient.

Eventually also, there will be less and less need for putting in treats. The rationale of the treat in training is first to send the message to your puppy that there is a reward for following what you want. Obviously, using a treat all the time will result to a puppy that fails to obey unless it gets a treat (indeed, some crafty dog breeds will play hard ball if they can remember that there used to be treats).

After several days of practice, and when your puppy has a good grasp of the command, pretend once in a while to throw in a treat into its bed while giving the command. By now, the puppy will need to have the habit of getting into bed, and ought to be praised cheerfully, but there is no need for a treat. Rather, sometimes a treat accompanies the command, sometimes only a pretend-throw.

Sooner or later, most puppies will try standing at the door of their bed looking, but not making a move towards. If you wait for a moment, most puppies will proceed to the bed on their own. Give rewards if necessary. When vague occasions like these happen (a pause or hesitation), do not give a treat since the dog will think the pause is being rewarded. Instead, move away and try again, praising the dog if it cooperates.

Through these simple steps it is possible to give your dog Labrador training to get it to perform a convenient act (getting into its bed) that is also very helpful as well.

Richard Cussons shares information about dogs including advice on labrador training. His site labradorsavvy.com contains valuable labrador training tips.

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