Training video!

[Stephanie]

I've been working with Darwin off and on with a few tricks.  He's starting to sit and shake on command, of course he's young so he's super excited about it all the time and sometimes wants to do everything at the same time.

He thinks "shake" is the greatest thing in the world.

You may see and hear my German Shepherd in the background.  She was getting frustrated because while I was asking Darwin to shake she would sometimes do it and kept wondering why she wasn't getting a snack.  I think she just wanted to be a show off.

At the end of the video his personality really shows!  He's such a happy, goofy pup!

Also, excuse the weird floor.  This is the same room we use as a gym so it has this annoying rubber floor to protect the wood.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

He is definitely a treat motivated puppy!  He is catching on quickly.  One thing that I thought of as I was watching that might be beneficial, although it looks like it is going well, is when you ask him to sit (or shake) and he does, instead of just saying Good Boy, first say good Sit or good Shake so that he associates the treat with the sit or shake and doing what you ask.  Sometimes he is trying to just do everything he knows in order to get the treat.  By saying Good Sit or Good Shake, you associate the treat back to the command.  Just a though!

He is adorable.  The Shepherd looks very well behaved also.  Very patient while you are training Darwin.

[Stephanie]

Thanks!  Yeah, I wasn't really sure what to do about him trying to do everything at once.  I actually have a clicker too and that helps although I'm not sure where it as at the moment so I will need to get another.  He seems like a smart pup and so far catches on quickly.

Pandora is a very patient dog and well trained.  She went through dog obedience and still does agility for fun and to burn off energy.  I don't do competitions or anything since she would get DQ'd almost every single time for silly stuff, so we just go for fun.  I hope to do that with Darwin once he's a bit older.

[Moe]

I am reading The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell, she says never to say Good Sit or Good followed by any command. Sit is the command to put your but on the floor, so saying good sit after the dog is already sitting is confusing. It is expecting dogs to understand grammar. She goes into more detail in the book. It's pretty interesting so far.

[Carol and Banjo]

Love all that adorable "puppy energy"!!!

[BG and Gavin]

What a cutie!  The GSD is just awesome too "I can shake a paw too, but I will let the little guy have the spotlight!"

[Pat and Traveler]

Such a cute video!  Darwin is sooo energetic and cute, and the shepherd is a delight.  Darwin does appear to be picking up the sit and shake, in spite of all the bouncing.  :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Awww! Your pup is just as cute as can be! Such zeal for life (and treats). ;o)

By the way, your German Shepherd could not be sweeter. What a wonderful dog to sit and watch you give that puppy treats when she knows perfectly well that she is the GOOD dog! What a love bug.