Hoop Jump

WHAT IT IS:

Your dog jumps through a hoop, either fixed in place or handheld.

1. Remove the noisy beads within a toy hula hoop to make it less frightening for your dog. Hold the hoop on the ground with the hand closest to your dog, tell her "hup," and lure her through with a treat in your other hand. Praise her when she is through the hoop and allow her to have the treat. Some dogs are frightened to go through the hoop for the first time, in which case you can lead her through with a leash. To prevent your dog from going around the hoop, try placing it in a doorway.
2. As your dog gets the idea, begin to raise the hoop off the floor. Dogs sometimes get tangled in the hoop, so be prepared to release it if you feel resistence.
3. Assuming your dog has the physical ability, raise the hoop again so that your dog must jump to get through it. Try giving her a running start or use your hand on the opposite side of the hoop to lure her upward. To reduce the risk associated with your dog turning in midair, make a habit of tossing the treat in front of your dog rather than having her return to you for it.

Fetch

WHAT IT IS:
In fetch, your dog is directed to retrieve a specified object.

1. Toss a ball playfully and encourage the dog to bring it back to you by patting your lets, acting excited, or running from her.
2. If she doesn't bring it back you might want to buy a treat ball, and put a treat inside.
3. Soon she'll learn that when she gives you the ball she gets a treat.

Come

WHAT IT IS:
Upon your command, your dog comes immediately to you. In competition, this command ends with your dog sitting in front of you. In order for this command to be consistently obeyed, your status as pack leader needs to be definite. Always reward your dog for obeying your "come" command, whether it be with praise or a treat. Not obeying this command, however, should be viewed as a major infraction and should end with you physically bringing your dog to the spot from where you originally called him.

1. With your dog on a 6' (1.8 m) lead, command her to "come" and reel him quickly in to you, where she will be praised. Your command should sound happy, but firm. Give the command only once.
2. As your dog improves, graduate to a longer lead.
3. When you are ready to practice off-lead do it in a fenced area. Let your dog drag a leash. If she does not obey your first command, go to her and firmly lead him back to the spot where you gave the command. Do not give a reward if the dog does not preform the command on her own, the first time you call. Put the long lead back on her and require her to do five successful "comes" before attempting off-lead again.

Stay

WHAT IT IS:

When in a stay, your dog holds her current position until released.

1. Start with you dog sitting or lying down, as she is less like likely to move from these positions. Use a leash to guarantee control. Stand directly in front of her and in a serious tone, say "stay," holding your palm flat, almost touching her nose.
2. Move a short distance away, keeping eye contact with your dog, and return to her . Praise her with "good stay" and give her a treat. Be sure to give the praise and treat while your dog remains in the seated and staying position.
3. If your dog moves from her stay before you have relaed her, gently but firmly put him back in the spot where she was originally told to stay.
4. Gruadually increase the time you ask your dog to stay, as well as the distance between yourselves. You want your dog to be successful so if she is breaking her stays, go back to a time and distance she is able to achieve

Down

WHAT IT IS:
Youre dog drops to rest on either her chest and belly or askew on her hip. This vital command could help avert dangerous situations such as unsafe road crossings.

1. With your dog sitting facing you, hold a treat to her nose and lower it slowly to the floor.
2. If you're lucky, your dog will follow the treat with his nose and lie down, at which time you an release the treat and praise her. Remember to only release the treat while your dog is in the correct position. Lying down. If our dog slouches instead of lying down, slide the treat slowly toward her on the floor between her paws or away from her. It may take a little time but your dog will eventually lie down.
3. If your dog is not responding to the food lure, put slight pressure on her shoulder blade, pushing down and to the side. Praise your dog when he drops to the floor. It is always preferable to coax the dog to position herself without your physical manipulation.
4. Once your dog is consistently lying down, gradually delay the release of the treat. With your dog lying down, say "wait, wait" and then "good" and release the treat. Varying the time before treating will keep your dog focused. The dog should not move from the down position until you have given your release word, "OK!"

Sit

What it is:

Your dog sits squarely on her hindquarters and remains there until released.

How to do it:

1. 
   
   Stand or kneel in front of your dog, holding a treat in your hand a little higher than your dog's head.
2. 
   
   Slowly move the treat straight back over your dog's head. This should cause her nose to point up and her rear to drop. If her rear does not drop, keep moving the treat straight backward toward his tail. The instant her rear touches the floor, release the treat and mark the behavior by saying "good sit!"
3. 
   
   If your dog is not responding to the food lure, use your index finger and thumb to put pressure on either side of her haunches, just forward of her hip bones. Pullup on her leash at the same time to rock her back into a sit. Praise and reward her while she is sitting.
4. 
   
   Once your dog is consistently sitting, wait a few seconds before rewarding. Remember to reward while your dog is in the correct position.