training my pup?

[timlewis]

im trying to train my 8 week old boxer to sit, i have been using treats. i take a treat and put it to her nose and then raise it as i go back. she does great with this but i dont know how long to do this and how do i know when to stop using the treats. i have only been trying this for about 4 days. And how do i know when she is ready to sit on command. i dont want to keep telling her and get her confused on what sit means.

[catnapper]

If she's sat a few times while following the treat, then intorduce the word sit the next time. Do it in several different environments. When your puppy is sitting consitently regardless what is going on or where you are, then start to wean the pup off treats. Do not wean until you are confident this is a leanred behavior and will be acted upon each and every time you say the sit command.

[timlewis]

How do i know when she will because she does great with the treats but i have tried to tell her to sit without the treats. A few times she has and acts as if she understands then sometimes she wont do it at all. And i dont know much about dogs this is my first one and i know nothing about training one, i have read a few things but still not real clear on them.

[catnapper]

If she won't sit without treats, then its too early - she has not fully learned the behavior. Do yourself and your puppy a favor and get yourself to a training class! Especially if you've never had one before, since there are things a trainer can explain to you in person that a book never could tell you as effectively.

Look around at different schools - prices vary tremendously and ask what type of training they do. Their philosphies vary greatly too. Go to the one which sounds like it would fit your beliefs best. Lastly, inquire how many dogs are in any given class. I hear a lot of my students complain they joined a class and were one of 16 dogs. They felt lost in the crowd and didn't learn much because the poor trainer had their hands full.

[timlewis]

its not that she wont set without the treat if i take my hand and put it to her nose and go up and back just like i do with a treat she will sit. and i have only been workin with her for a few days so i know its not early enough for her to be sitting on command i just need to know what to do next because she does good with the treats. How DO i make it FUN for her. and i live in a small small town and their isnt a dog trainer around here that i can take her to.

[timlewis]

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