House-training should prove no problem if you’re quick and alert to your puppy’s needs. He will need to pay frequent visits to his spot in the garden: after each meal, after a sleep and any time you think about it in between. Always pick him up and carry him to the spot. Give him a command. I use the words ‘busy dog‘. Don’t dump him and retreat back to the house and close the door. He hasn’t a clue what he’s been put in the garden for. You must stay with him, repeating your commands over and over again. Whether it’s hailing, blowing a gale or a snowstorm’s on, you must persevere. As soon as he’s been a ‘busy dog‘, give him lots of praise, tell him how clever he is, pick him up and return him to the house. If you are diligent and watch your puppy closely, you will know when he needs to go out. A sure sign will be when he puts his nose to the ground, his tail up in the air and runs round in circles. That is your cue to move speedily with him into the garden. (more…)
Some good reasons for teaching the Send-Away
A dog who is taught the Send-Away exercise correctly will drop into a Down position when he’s running away from his owner. You may find yourself in a situation where you need to be in total control of your dog once he’s off the lead and a recall would be dangerous. For example, you are in a field in the country, your dog is running free and out of nowhere appears a flock of sheep. A farmer has the right to shoot any dog he sees running near his livestock. The farmer may not have seen you, or know that your dog is under control. A recall, in this situation, could give him the impression that the dog is running after livestock and not back to his owner. The fastest and safest way to protect your dog’s life is to drop him on the spot into a Down position. You can then walk up to him and put him on the lead. (more…)
