If you do not intend to show your pup, we suggest that you leave his tail alone if it hasn't already been done.
Keep the blow-dryer moving over each piece of hair until it is dry, then work your way up.
Training Your Dog To Come-fore And Go-to-heel
The come-fore teaches your dog to sit and face you instead of sitting toward the left side. Keep your lead slack when teaching this exercise. Command Front! and then walk backward without moving the position of your hands on the lead. As the dog is coming in front of you, gradually gather the lead up and coax him in close. Hold the lead tight and command Sit! Praise him immediately and then command Stay. Step back to heel position without circling.
Once again, walk backward, keep your lead slack, then command Front! Don't drag your dog around on a tight lead. The lead is used to bring the dog in close and to make him sit in front. Step back to heel position. Command Front! Remember, the dog does the turning! All you do is walk backward two or three steps. When the dog turns around, gather the lead up and prompt him to sit. Praise at once.
Stand up straight and do not lean forward towards your dog. Hold your hands low and close to your body. Pull up on the lead to make the dog sit. Insist that your dog sits straight and squarely on both hips. If he sits at an angle, hold the leash tight and cuff him on whichever hip is out of line. Every obedience exercise includes the come-fore position. Therefore, it is important that the dog learns to do it correctly from the very start of his training so he will not get into the habit of doing a sloppy work.
Go-To-Heel: The going-to-heel exercise teaches the dog to go to your left side from the come-fore position. With your dog in the come-fore position, take hold of the lead the same as you do when heeling. Say Heel! walk to the right of your dog and keep going. The dog will swing around to your left side automatically. Tell your dog to sit, then praise him! Command Stay! and step in front of him again. You should be as near your dog as possible. Again, command Heel! Walk past your dog and keep going.
The left hand guides the dog around into place at your left side. Make your dog sit! Tell him to stay and face him again. This time, to make your dog go to heel position, step backward with your left foot after you command Heel! and jerk the lead with a snap. This will bring the dog to all four feet. Now walk forward. Guide the dog around into place with your left hand. Make him sit immediately.
In doing the two exercises together, first start with the come-fore. Command Front! Walk backward with little motion of your body. Stand up straight. Keep your lead slack while the dog is making the turn. Gather up the lead as the dog comes in front, and hold the lead tight until he sits. Praise and pat him. Next, command Heel! Jerk the lead as you take a step backward with the left foot. Praise the dog at once as he swings around to heel position.
You may have to walk backward two or three steps at the beginning, but soon your dog will get the idea of going around to your left side by himself whenever he hears the command Heel! In practicing the going-to-heel exercise, give the command without moving the leash, then snap it when you step back with your left foot. Praise him immediately. Move your feet less each time so that the dog must do most of the work.
Teaching Your Dog The Enough Command
Enough is one of the most unusual yet necessary commands you will ever teach your pet. It is a command that will stop an activity when it is time to do so, which is after it was Ok and before it gets to be too much.
To teach your dog the Enough command, wait until he is about to go too far with something. A perfect example would be a noise at the door. He runs to the door, listens, maybe sniffs, and then begins to bark. After a good minute or so, you notice that your loyal watchdog is still barking. This is the perfect time for him to learn the word enough!
With a deep, resonant but not overly loud tone, say his name followed by Enough. What happens next? He will turn and look at you while waiting for a response. You will then praise him immediately for stopping and looking at you. If he resumes barking, repeat the command Enough! with a more assertive tone and again praise him if he stops.
However, if your dog is an incessant barker, you will have to get up, go to the door, grab his collar and give him one good gentle shake followed by saying Enough. Praise him when he stops.
If your dog has not gotten the message at this time and starts yapping again, turn quickly back to him. Give him three shakes this time and then repeat the command Enough! Take him away from the door and do an occasional check to make sure he has not sneaked away.
You can use the command Enough in a variety of situations. A good example is when you are playing with your dog and you do not feel like playing anymore or when he gets too excited during play and gets too rough and starts mouthing. Say Enough and stop the play. If necessary, grab him and hold him until he looks at you then say the command. Do this repeatedly until he gets the message.
Other types of situations when it is appropriate to give this command are the following: when giving treats; when playing fetch, when on an outing. Your dog will quickly learn that Enough means that whatever he is doing was ok but it is going to stop for the time being.
It is important to keep in mind that Enough and No are two different commands and should be used carefully so as not to confused your dog. Enough means that what was happening was ok but has to stop for now. On the other hand, No means that whatever he is doing is forbidden now and at all times.