ALWAYS, ALWAYS ...

• Always train your dog in a distraction-free environment.
• Always use food rewards that are a special treat, and not a regular part of the dog's diet.
• Always use small quantities, otherwise the dog becomes full and loses motivation.
• Always limit sessions to a maximum of 20 minutes (less for young pups).
• Always end every training session on a positive note.
• Always reward the dog immediately after the command has been successfully performed

SIT

With the dog on the lead hold a food reward out and allow the dog to take the treat. Once the dog likes the taste and smell of the reward hold the food just above the dog's head while giving the command 'sit'. The dog's head will follow the action and the dog will automatically sit. Reinforce this over and over, rewarding the dog on every occasion. With time the rewards can be lessened and the dog praised as a substitute.

DROP
With the dog in the sit position hold the food reward just in front of the dog's nose. Encourage the dog to move forward and downwards by drawing the reward away from the dog and downwards at an angle of 45 degrees. It may take several attempts to perfect this one. Reward even a 'half drop' and put the dog back in sit again. Repeat over and over until the dog drops to the ground almost by reflex.

STAY
With the dog in either the sit or drop situation walk to the front of the dog. Give a hand signal and the command 'stay'. (The hand signal can be a stop sign or a downward sweep of your hand.) Maintain eye contact with the dog. Step back two paces. Wait ten seconds, return to the dog and praise and reward the dog for staying. Repeat this by lengthening both the time you stay away from your dog and the distance you walk from the dog. Initially eye contact is very important, in time this becomes less so.

COME
This quickly becomes an integral part of the stay command. It's dead easy. With the dog staying successfully you give the command 'come' excitedly, wave your arms wide in a welcoming gesture and encourage the dog to break the 'stay' situation. When the dog approaches command 'sit' and reward the dog for both 'coming' and 'sitting'. As with the stay command, lengthen both time and distance from the dog.

HEEL
With the dog on the lead and on your left side, walk off holding a food reward in your right hand almost resting on your left thigh. Command either 'heel' or 'walk', whatever takes your fancy. The dog should stay at your side with its head level with your left leg. There should be no pulling or tugging on the lead. Walk for 10 metres, stop, sit the dog and reward. Repeat over and over increasing the number of steps.

If things are going wrong then go back to the previous step. Always practice on a lead in your own backyard and then out in the street or a park where there are other distractions.

The best advice of all is to join an obedience club. Don't ever give up. Training a dog is like rote learning. Just do it over and over, you need to reinforce everything you do for ten minutes every day if possible.

Most importantly of all, dogs like it!

Source: Dr Harry Cooper Better Homes and Gardens July 2005