Whoa (Stay) and Here (Come)

The two most important commands your dogWhoa or Here. The dog goes down into the
should know!bottom ground goes on point, out of sight to the
As I have stressed throughout my website and indriver of the combine. Very tragic story but it
other articles I have written "Safety" is the drivingjust goes to show how important these two
force behind these two commands. Yes it'scommands are.
always a wonderful feeling to command your dogI've written the steps to go through when training
to come to you and they actually do and yes it'syour dog to Come when called and Staying when
also a good feeling to have them stay whencommanded to do so on my website. I also am
commanded. If you think about this seriously youavailable for individual instruction when contacted
will see that there is a far more basic reasoningthrough our contact us page which can be found
than obedience, its "Safety".at If you don't have time to teach your dog
I'm going to relay a story that I have secondanything please teach these two commands. You
hand knowledge of. It concerns a personal friendcan also have someone do it for you, however
and one of his dogs. It's been quite a few yearsyou will have to work with the dog so that they
since I hunted or trained so this story is a littleunderstand that the command is just that, and a
worn around the edges but its because I think it'scommand no matter who gives it. All the other
imperative that the safety point be driven home.obedience training is just window dressing, these
It was a great fall day and my friend was outtwo commands are lifesavers.
pheasant hunting. He was working a section ofAlso once these two commands are in place it
ground that was cleared of crops. The dogs weremakes the rest of their training go easier. If they
working great, they were covering all theare doing something wrong you can stop them
waterways and hedges and just flying down theimmediately and make the necessary correction
fence rows. Well he topped a hill and there in thewithout having to run them down carry them
bottom was a combine harvesting corn. He gotback and so on. There is nothing more pleasurable
one of the dogs to "stay" and the other just tookthan going out with your dog knowing that you
off when it got scent of birds. The pheasants arehave control and that you and he/she are having
notorious for hanging out in standing corn. Well bya great time. Whether it's going for a walk or out
now you know where this story is headed. He didhaving an all day hunt. Both of you will be having a
not have the second dog completely broke forgreat time.