Step 1 - Table Training
Time To Complete: Indefinite,
Training Never Ends, for you or your dog
Benefits: Countless, Provides A
Foundation For All Other Training Exercises
Any dog of any age can be table trained, but puppies are the easiest. We start table training our puppies at six weeks and from then on they receive table training time every week for the first 6 months and every other week at a minimum thereafter.
Essentially we want to accomplish the following:
teach the dog to lie quietly on the table when
placed on its side;
teach the dog to stand up when asked and to stand
quietly; and
teach the dog that under no circumstances is he ever
allowed to get off the table on his own.
Some people also teach an adult dog to jump up on the table on their own. This should not be taught until after the dog is taught never to get down on its own.
To accomplish the above goals, start by lifting the dog onto the table, then wrap your arms around the front and rear of the dog and supporting the side that is away from you place the dog on its side with its feet facing you.
Now, hold the dog there and quietly command “Stay”. If the dog struggles and tries to right itself, continue to pin the dog on its side until it ceases to struggle. Do not yell at or otherwise excite the dog.
Do not console the dog, simply hold it in place. Consoling often causes an insecure dog to think that he has reason to be frightened. Additionally, the dog interprets consoling as a reward for an unacceptable behavior. Such dogs seem to respond better to a matter-of-fact, rather unconcerned approach. Just go about your business. Only use as much force as is necessary to keep the dog in a prone position on its side. If the dog succeeds in righting itself, simply place it back on its side.
You must
persevere in any and all grooming sessions. Once you convince the dog that you are
going to groom him and you won’t stop until you are finished, things will go
smoother. If you ever let the dog win, you may as well start looking for a good groomer to
take your dog to.
Stand Up!
After you are finished brushing
out one whole side, signal the dog to standup by quietly saying “Up, Up” and placing your hand gently under the dog to help him
to a standing position.
Lie Down Again!
Now position the dog so he is
lying on his other side, again quietly commanding “Stay”.
Repeat the grooming process as before.
Stand Up Again! Geez, Would You Make Up Your Mind Already!
Then stand the dog with the “Up, up” command. Never stand the dog up while it is struggling to get up. Wait until he stops struggling even if you were through brushing out that side.
Now finish grooming out the dog in a standing position.
Many dogs will move forwards and
backwards when standing as they look for a way to escape the table. Do not allow this to
go on. One of the best ways to stop a dog, especially a puppy from doing this is to take
advantage of the direction they are moving and pick them up by the front and rear and
suddenly give them the sensation they are “falling” off the table via a rapid
downward motion only to “catch” them before they hit the ground and lift them
back onto the table. If done correctly and without saying a word, the dog often thinks he
has done this himself through his movement and because he doesn’t like the sensation
he stops trying to escape. So, if the dog moves forward, grab him and drop him forward off
the table (don’t really let go, just sort of go with his weight until he almosts
touches the floor) then put him back up. If he moves backwards, take him tail end first
backwards off the table, drop him then back up. Puppies learn from this very quickly.
All Done! Hooray! Hooray!
When you have finished grooming your dog, leave him on the table while you put your tools away, then happily state “All done” and lift him off the table gently and place him squarely on the ground on all four feet. Give him a big happy hug and a kiss.