“Stay” needs considerable practice when training your puppy. You can teach him to stay either seated or lying down. By repeated practice, say “Stay,” walking away, and acting shocked if he rises and follows.

Take him back and go through it again. Always, of course, return to praise him mightily when he has “stayed” for even a few brief seconds. Gradually lengthen the time. You can perfect this obedience command while moving about at housework or in a cellar workshop; it needn’t take too much time after the idea has been implanted.

Your dog should also learn to walk on a leash without pulling; the command “Heel” is often used here. As with “Stay,” practice makes perfect. He should also be taught some signal to use when he wants to go out. The appropriate bark for speak means he will let you know, if you do not see him at the door, that he needs to go out.

He should learn not to jump on people, and having him “Sit” as a new friend approaches will control his enthusiasm. He also should not bark and dash forward at anyone, even a suspected interloper, until given a command.

He should not be allowed on furniture, unless you permit him on one special chair; he also should not beg for food at the table, although here it is often the family that must be trained, not the dog!

You should see that he is not allowed to wander the neighborhood, making a nuisance of himself, and that he never runs loose in the street. The puppy should not go off your premises without being on a leash.

Everything you teach him to do or not to do will help at some time, If the leash breaks or he gets outdoors without a collar, obeying your call may save his life. An owner of obedience-trained spaniels once failed to close her house door when she went to cross the street to her car.

Looking back, she saw to her horror two eager little fellows loping down the front steps - and an automobile coming down the street. She called “Down!” raising her arm in the obedience-taught gesture. Instantly, the little things dropped flat, and the car whizzed past between them and their mistress.

Not till she called “Come!” did they rise and trot happily to her. Obedience training won’t “make a robot” of your dog. It certainly will make a better citizen of him - and who knows? - of you. That’s all we could ask, isn’t it?

All of the games and skills discussed below are designed to contribute to both the fun and the positive upbringing of your puppy. These energy-producing exercises act as building blocks that make advanced training easier and enhance the bond between owner and puppy.

Grooming Practice: Starting grooming procedures at an early age teaches the puppy acceptance of hands-on treatment over all parts of his body and emphasizes relaxed “stays.” Grooming also assures the owner of dominance as nails are cut and teeth are cleaned, as the puppy learns to be quiet and tolerate-these “house-cleaning” techniques.

Hide & Seek: Hide and seek is fun for owners and puppies alike and helps teach your puppy how to come.

1. Put your puppy on a sit-stay or have someone else hold his leash.

2. Hide behind a nearby tree or, if inside, a piece of furniture.

3. Wait five seconds, then call him excitedly.

4. When he “finds” you, praise him with lots of love and a tidbit or ball.

5. Make each hiding place a little harder and a little farther away. Sometimes return to your puppy and end the game at that point so he will not think he always has to leave to get you near him.

Find The Toy: Find The Toy teaches early discrimination by smell.

1. Tie your puppy to a chair or have someone hold his leash.

2. Let him watch you put several objects on the floor: a can, bottle, box, telephone. Use a glove or just barely touch these articles when placing them on the floor.

3. Go back to your puppy, take his favorite toy and hold it in your hands for several seconds, and let him watch as you throw it in with the other objects.

4. Release him and tell him “Fetch!”

5. When he does, praise him lavishly.

6. As he gets good at selecting his toy, use one of your well-scented gloves or socks and put it with similar objects that are unscented. Pretty soon scent discrimination will be an understood part of his life from your viewpoint, not just from his viewpoint.

High Jump: At first, try just walking over the jump with the puppy at your side. If that works, fine; if not, put your puppy on one side of the jump and get on the other side. Use a piece of food to coax him over. If you have a leash on the puppy be sure to keep it loose when he jumps. You never pull a puppy (or a dog) over a jump.

Bar Jump: Same as above, except start with the bar on the ground. Slowly raise it after each successful jump.