Chaos Critters Leash Lessons: Top 10 Commands!
We recap the top 10 commands for dog training, with dog and puppy examples of each. We ask you which commands you want to learn first! Plus, we talk about Frank (our newest "family member").
We launched our new segment: Leash Lessons. This segment covers dog (and occasionally cat) training. It is not that I will stop talking about dog training anywhere else. Like last week’s A Tough Pill to Swallow. Leash Lessons is a little more focused on training. We will include tips and tricks that I have picked up over the last few years training. I am also hoping that I can add a few occasional blogs authors by other dog trainers.
Leash Lessons will include a short video demoing the tip, trick, or training that was discussed in the post. You’ve already seen the lesson for sit.
I am not a professional instructor. However, dog training and behavior are a hobby I am very passionate about and I am always learning more. So, I will start off by asking what topics our readers would like covered the most, leave a comment and direct our first steps into this new blog.
We might need to work up to the suggestions but I have two beautiful puppies ready and willing to help, as well as my husband, master of all things tech.
The Top 10 commands I will cover are:
Come: This command is crucial for recall, ensuring your dog returns to you, especially in potentially dangerous situations.
Sit: Teaching your dog to sit is foundational for obedience and helps manage their behavior in various situations.
Stay: This command is important for keeping your dog in one place, which can prevent accidents and maintain control in busy environments. It is also useful for silly pictures. (Yes, among other commands, Beleth knows Come, Sit, Stay, and even Stop and Leave It.)
Down: The down position is calming for dogs and helps establish authority. It is useful for keeping your dog settled. There is little trouble a dog can get into while down.
Leave It: This command teaches your dog to ignore items they shouldn't touch, promoting safety and good behavior. This is especially good on walks or with touchy family members.
Drop It: Similar to "leave it," this command instructs your dog to release an item they have in their mouth, which can be critical in emergencies or when Leave It came too late.
Heel: Teaching your dog to walk calmly by your side on a leash prevents pulling and ensures a pleasant walking experience.
Off: This command is used to stop your dog from jumping on people or furniture, helping to curb unwanted behaviors. (It may work if they’re jumping on their older brother too.)
Look at Me: This command encourages your dog to focus on you, enhancing communication and responsiveness during training.
Stop: Teaching your dog to stop in their tracks can be vital for their safety in various situations, such as when they are about to run into danger.
Tip of the Week
Make friends with your computer; it might just save your life when the ship’s AI decides to go rogue.
Which leads us to this week’s question: how does your pet interact with technology in your home?
Beleth is the biggest technology user out of our pets. He can press a phone, tablet, or keyboard and make the computer do things we didn’t know it could do. With one paw movement, he can make a video switch into slow motion reverse.
We think Dante is taking lessons from him…
Which in turn leads to the new “family member” - Frank. Frank is our new cleaning robot. He was a birthday gift for Anna. (That she liked! -Tod) He sweeps (vacuums) and mops. He can do it in the same pass, but we have him set to do two separate passes. Frank is named after Flexible Frank, from Robert Heinlein’s Door into Summer.
At first, everyone was curious about Frank and followed him everywhere. Now, they don’t even react.
For understandable reasons, if Crokell is laying down, Frank thinks Crokell is a pile of linens and towels. And he sweeps and mops right up to the very edge of Crokell, who masterfully ignores him.
That’s it for this week! Have a wonderful new week!
~Tod and Anna