Important Obedience Commands

 Stay is an important obedience command to perfect when training your puppy, and it will take considerable practice. Fortunately you can practice it while doing housework or moving about in a cellar workshop. You can teach your puppy to stay either sitting or lying down. Start by saying "Stay" and walking away, and acting shocked if he gets up and follows you. When your puppy sits or lays down go through it again. Always lavish praise on him if he has "stayed" for even a few seconds. Gradually lengthen the time and practice "staying" often.

Your puppy should not bark and dash forward at anyone, even a suspected interloper, until given a command. Japanese chins are not naturally aggressive so you shouldn't have a problem with this. Teach him to "sit" when meeting a new friend, never let him jump on people. If you take him out for exercise on the sidewalk, teach him to walk on a leash without pulling; "heel" is especially useful here. Never let your puppy run loose on the street, and do not allow him to make a nuisance of himself wandering around the neighborhood.

Unless you have a special chair for your puppy, do not allow him on the furniture. Do not let him beg at the table, although you may have a harder time training your family than him!