At the risk of being redundant, it is important that you get to know the dog before determining which training methodology will work best. Also remember that there is no clearly definable point in time when it is just right to discontinue training at one level of complexity and proceed to the next. Although I have pointed out the advisability to combining some commands such as come, sit, down, and up, there is no clear cut schedule for the typical owner to follow. I would presume, however to offer this general format for the order of the commands being taught as well as the use (or withdrawal) of food treats.
First week:Call his name with food treats. Second week:1. Continue calling his name with food treats. 2. Start Sit command with food treats. Third week:1. Call his name without using food treats. 2. Include Sit word command with food treats. 3. Start Down command with food treats. Fourth Week:1. Say Sit, without food. 2. Start Down word command with food treats. 3. Begin leash training.
You get the idea. Keep the training timed and incremental and do not move the dog to the next level of training until he has accomplished all of the tricks within a given time frame, however you define it. There is no hard and fast rule that says all dogs will perform precisely the same and it is entirely possible, for example, that your dog might have to remain at level three for several weeks.
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