Hound Hacks

Teach Your Dog Two Life-Saving Tricks

By Ed Bloss ’95
Founder and owner, K9 Rules Allentown, Pennsylvania

The most important command to teach your dog is the stay command. It can save your dog’s life—from being hit by a car or getting into a fight with another dog— and it will save you from losing your dog. First you need to teach the command pay attention. Your dog must focus on you.

Pay Attention


1. With your dog sitting in front of you, hold a treat out to your left. Your dog will follow that treat with her eyes.
2. Then hold the treat out to your right.
3. Bring the treat in front of your nose and say “Pay attention.” Your dog will look at you. Give her the treat and praise her: “Good girl!”

Stay

You will need a 12-foot leash.

1. Put your dog on the leash and have her sit in front of you. Say “stay” and take two steps back.
2. If she stays, go up to her and give her
 a treat and lots of praise.
3. Say “stay” and take four steps back. Again, if she stays, go up to her and 
give her a treat and lots of praise.
4. Continue to repeat these steps until you’ve reached the end of the leash,
 and then call your dog to come to you.

Note: If your dog breaks the command and does not stay, you need to put her back into position and repeat that step.

Ed Bloss, a practicing psychotherapist for many years, has been training dogs for 37 years through referrals. In 2014, he decided to open K9 Rules. His dog, Adrianne, is a 2-year-old lab-pit bull mix.