Basic Training
`This page includes basic exercises or commands to teach your Sharpei to heel, sit, down, stand, and to come and stay in various positions. Dog training can be a rewarding experience for you and your dog.
For best results you need to use the proper equipment. you will need a 6 ft. nylon or leather lead. I recommend the leather lead as it will not "burn" your hand and fingers as you train. Also, you will need a training collar, better known as a choke chain, I DO NO recommend using pinch collars on sharpei.
If your sharpei is not use to a collar of any kind then get him use to it in small amounts of time. Ex: put it on for a minute to start out and then work up to 20 minutes.
I recommend you work with your dog fifteen to thirty minutes each day. it can be broken up in two sessions. Make sure you end the session on an upbeat note. This makes training more enjoyable for your dog. make training fun and exciting! Reward your dog with verbal praise. Use your voice as a tool to motivate the dog. Praise, Praise, Praise and praise your dog some more!
If verbal praise just doesn't work to motivate your dog in the beginning you may use bait as a reward. Your goal is to teach your dog to respond to your voice, instead of treats. You can use store bought treats, bits of hot dogs or your dog's favorite treat as reward bait.
Like people, dogs don't like to work after a heavy meal. Refrain from feeding your dog for several hours before training. And give your dog time to relieve herself before training.
There is no set amount of time it will require to teach your dog. if it takes longer than a week to train a lesson, keep training until it is mastered.
Correct training position for your dog is to teach him to train on your left side.
You will use this in heeling also.
Lesson One-Week One
Sit-Pull leash straight up with your right hand, place left hand on dog's rump and push down, tell dog to "Sit". (If you cannot push dog's rump down, tuck it down). When dog sits, PRAISE him-"Good Dog, Good Sit". As the dog remains sitting, calmly repeat "Sit, Good Boy".
Heeling-When heeling, the dog should walk on your left side, his shoulder in line with your left leg. (This is called Heel Position). When you halt or stop, dog is to sit squarely at your left, his shoulder still even with your left leg.
Teaching Dog To Heel- Place your dog in the heel position. Hold your leash about waist high. Command "FORWARD", you should do three things.
1. Say your dog's name and "Heel" in a commanding voice, neither weak and pleading nor loud and harsh.
2. Step forward with your left foot.
3. Give a pop with the leash.
It takes practice and concentration to do all three simultaneously. Do not be discouraged if you do not do it properly the first time.
Heel at a brisk pace.
If the dog will not move, do not drag the dog, but pop the leash repeatedly and say. "Heel". As soon as the dog starts to move, Praise the dog and keep the dog moving. If dog forges ahead, pop dog back and say, "Heel". If dog lags behind, pop dog forward and say, "Heel". The pop on the leash must last only a split second after you say, "Heel". If you pop the leash forward first and say "Heel" a few seconds later, it will be much more difficult for the dog to learn. You will be confusing the dog.
The pop of the leash is a correction. What you would be doing is giving your dog a correction and then giving a command. (This is very unfair to your dog). The leash should be loose so the dog can make mistakes of lagging behind, forging ahead or going wide. When he makes these mistakes, he learns through a pop on the leash and when he is heeling close he learns that he receives praise.
Lesson Four
Lesson Three
Lesson Two
Lesson Six
Lesson Seven
Lesson Five