Dog Obedience Training
dog training tip: Before beginning dog obedience training, review positive reinforcement training and all our dog training tips, if necesarry!
Consistency Timing Treat Repeat
A few final training tips - In the beginning, it’s important to offer treats as reward but you don’t want your Miniature Schnauzer to follow commands only because food is on the way. Use praise & affection as other forms of reward during dog obedience training, so your Miniature Schnauzer doesn’t become dependent on following dog commands just for the treats.
- If your Schnauzer refuses to follow a command, repeat and try again. If he seems totally distracted or is misbehaving... walk away and end the session. Do not play or interact with your dog for about 5 minutes. After 5 minutes of no interaction, try again.
- It's important that your Mini Schnauzer learns - YOU are in charge - the leader. In the canine pack the leader is the Alpha Dog. The Alpha dog makes all the decisions for the other dogs in the pack (when they eat, sleep, etc.). You must be sure your Miniature Schnauzer views you as the Alpha Dog.
- Don’t repeat the same command over and over. Sit, sit, sit! Just say SIT firmly once. Give a hand cue (if you like) then wait 15 seconds to see if your Schnauzer sits. If he does, reward your dog and repeat the process. If he does not - try again.
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important dog obedience training tip: Do not yell at your Miniature Schnauzer during the training process. This will only make it that much harder to train your dog. Your dog could being to associate training or the command to getting into trouble or being yelled at, and you don't want that.
And finally, if you work on the obedience commands, in the order I have the listed here, it will be easier to train your Miniature Schnauzer on how to do each one.
Dog Obedience Training Series
SIT - Start with your Miniature Schnauzer on all fours.
- Get a small treat and place between your thumb and index finger. Hold it in front of your Miniature Schnauzer’s nose.
- Slowly move your treat hand about 6 inches above your Miniature Schnauzer’s head and slightly move it towards his back. Flip your hand over so that your palm is now up facing you. This will be the hand signal for SIT.
- Your dog will move his nose toward the treat and his butt will touch the ground.
- The very second his butt touches the ground – command SIT and then give your Miniature Schnauzer the treat.
STAY - Have your Miniature Schnauzer sit in front of you.
- Raise your hand - palm facing your Miniature Schnauzer’s nose- and command STAY
- Take one step back and command again STAY. If your dog does not move – drop a treat in front of him to get. He may get on all fours to eat the treat and that's okay. When he finishes however, command him to SIT & give a verbal praise upon compliance.
- Now take 2 more steps backwards away from your dog – use the hand signal & command STAY.
dog training tip: If your Miniature Schnauzer tries to follow you say uh-uh or no & return your dog to his mark; have him SIT; and start over. - Go back to treat your Miniature Schnauzer – drop the treat in front of him and say OKAY.
OKAY will be the release word you give your Miniature Schnauzer dog – to let him know its okay to move out of the STAY position.
When practicing STAY, continue to build on the distance between you & your Miniature Schnauzer. Then begin to build on the length of time your Miniature Schnauzer must remain in his STAY position. Once this is mastered, begin adding distractions to your Schnauzer's training.
COME - Command your dog to SIT-STAY (ie command your dog to sit & then command him to stay & use the hand signal)
- Back up 3 feet away from your Miniature Schnauzer.
- With treat in hand – raise your hand just in front of your chest and then quickly lower it to your side and command COME.
Your dog may not move from the SIT-STAY position so repeat this step once more: raise you hand to chest - lower it quickly to your side and command COME. - When your Schnauzer comes to you command SIT and treat him.
Slowly build up the distance between you and your dog. Then practice COME with distractions. Eventually your Miniature Schnauzer will come sit directly in front of you no matter what he is doing.
dog obedience training tip: Some people find it helpful to begin dog obedience training commands with their dog on a leash. The steps are the same as above except when you command COME you also give a little tug on your dog's leash. You may practice this way for a few days but then begin practicing without the leash.
DOWN - Have your Miniature Schnauzer SIT in front of you.
- Hold a treat between your thumb & index finger in front of your Miniature Schnauzer’s nose.
- Slowly move the treat downward & hold it between his paws.
- Your Miniature Schnauzer’s nose will follow the treat down. Now slowly slide the the treat - across the floor - back towards you.
- Your Miniature Schnauzer will lay down to get the treat. The very second he does – command DOWN & give your Miniature Schnauzer the treat.
dog training tip: The dog obedience training command - DOWN - is not to be used when your Miniature Schnauzer is jumping on you - that command is OFF. Don’t forget: You must be consistent in your dog commands, or you will confuse your Miniature Schnauzer.
HEEL It's best to teach this dog obedience training command off the leash: - Have your Miniature Schnauzer SIT.
- Stand directly next to him - both of you facing the same direction.
- With treat in hand and lowered to your side - take 2 steps forward - stop - and command HEEL. Most than likely your dog will follow the treat. If your Miniature Schnauzer does move with you and remains in the HEEL position (by your side) treat and praise.
- Slowly increase the number of steps your Miniature Schnauzer must walk by your side before treating him.
dog training tip: If your Miniature Schnauzer runs ahead say 'uh-uh' or 'no' & return him to his mark. Have your Miniature Schnauzer SIT and start over.
Training HEEL with a leash:- Attach a leash to your Miniature Schnauzer's collar and hold it taut - ie. with very little slack.
- Starting with your Miniature Schnauzer at your side – Give a slight tug on the leash and command HEEL as you begin walking. As soon as your Miniature Schnauzer begins walking say: Good Boy HEEL!
- Repeat this process over and over. Take a few steps commanding HEEL - stop - & praise.
- Continue walking and begin adding turns to the left and right.
- At each new turn – slightly tug on the leash – command HEEL – and say Good Boy!
Since there is no give in your Miniature Schnauzer's leash, he will be forced to stay close by your side. If he tries to pull forward, slightly tug him back into position and command HEEL along with the verbal ‘Good Boy’ reward. Once your Miniature Schnauzer begins to HEEL – during the turns add the direction of the turn into the command as well. (ie when you plan to turn right command 'HEEL RIGHT' Or if going left – command 'HEEL LEFT')
Now that your Miniature Schnauzer has learned all the basic dog obedience training commands, continue to practice all of them daily.
Dog Obedience Training Aids
Training should be reinforced throughout your dog’s life
Miniature Schnauzer Dog Training Series
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