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A Kid's Best Friend
By Adam Coffin
Whether you have a dog or are considering one as a new best friend, obedience training is a fun and important part of your relationship. Here are three basic commands that you can teach your dog, and a few tips to help you along the way. Always try to train your dog in a familiar place with no distractions. If you start to get frustrated, stop training and play with your dog instead.

Trick ytou<br/> <br/> <h2>Sit</h2><br/> <br/> 1. Hold a small treat in front of your dog’s nose and slowly move it back and above his head. If he lifts his feet, you’re holding the treat too high.<br/> <br/> 2. When your dog’s bottom goes down, praise him by saying, “Sit. Good dog. Sit.”<br/> <br/> 3. If your dog needs extra help, gently touch his back to help signal that you want him to sit.<br/> <br/> <h2>Stay</h2><br/> <br/> 1. While your dog is sitting or lying down, stand close to him with your palm facing his nose and command, “Stay.”<br/> <br/> 2. Turn around slowly and walk just a few feet back.<br/> <br/> 3. You can repeat “stay” a couple of times, and after a few seconds, return to him with praise.<br/> <br/> 4. Over several days, increase the time and distance that you are away. Remember that your dog must stay in the same sitting position each time. If he moves, bring him back to the same spot and ask him to sit and stay again.<br/> <br/> <h2>Down</h2><br/> <br/> 1. While your dog is in a sitting position, hold a treat in one hand and let him sniff it.<br/> <br/> 2. Slowly lower the treat to the ground. When he starts to lay down, calmly say, “Down,” until he lays on the ground.<br/> <br/> 3. Praise him with, “Good down!” Let him have the treat only when he is fully lying down.<br/> <br/> Did you and your dog have fun with these training exercises? There are many more commands and tricks you can try. Find a local obedience class or read training books. Maybe you don’t have a dog yet. Talk to your parents and visit the American Kennel Club Web site at akc.org. There you’ll be able to figure out what dog is right for your family and how to responsibly bring your new friend home.<br/> <br/> <h2>Tail-Wagging Tips</h2><br/> <br/> • Dogs can get tired of training kind of quickly, so remember to practice only one command at a time for no more than 10 minutes each session.<br/> <br/> • Try to do some training every day to keep your dog’s skills sharp and make him happy!<br/> <br/> • Remember that you and your family always need to use the same commands so your dog understands what you are asking him to do.<br/> <br/> • Be patient and give your dog time to learn without getting mad or frustrated. He will get it!<br/> <br/> • Small pieces of cheese, lunch meat, or homemade dog biscuits could be yummy training treats for dogs.<br/> <br/> Find our dog biscuit recipe at jackandjillmag.org.</div> <div class=
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