BASIC TRAINING

5 commands
1.Come
Start indoors without distractions. Squat down open your arms, say "come" then praise your puppy as soon as he comes to you. Don't grab for the puppy when he gets near you. Instead, let him walk up very close, then reach out and gently rub his chest, praise him the whole time. You may also give him a treat.
2.Heel
" Heel" means that the dog is walking on your left side. his head even with your knee, while you hold the leash loosley. Start with your dog standing next to you, hold the leash in your left hand and a squeaky toy in your right. Place your right arm across the front of your body so the toy is above and slightly in front of your dog's head. Encourage him to look up at the toy as you give the command and step forward with confidence. Your puppy should step forward with you as he follows the toy. Praise him as he follows.
3.Sit
Squat down next to the puppy, place one hand on his chest and the other just behind his rear legs, Say "Sit" as you apply gentle upward pressure to his chest against his rear knees, guiding him into a sitting postion, As soon as he is sitting reward him!
4.Stay
Begin with your dog sitting by your left side, Keep the leash loose while you pivot around to face the pup say "Stay" While holding the open palm of your hand open in front of his face. Take a step or two away from your puppy, keeping the leash loose. After a few seconds step back to him, putting one foot on the leash---don't pull it too tight, just enough to keephim from jumping up on you. Give your release word (which could be ok or go),then reward and praise him. As your puppy learns to stay you can increase your distance. You can also increase the time he remains in the stay. 3 minutes is a good goal.
5.Down
To teach your pup to lie down on command, begin with him sitting next to you on your left. Kneel down and place your left hand on his shoulders, Put your right hand justbehind his front legs. Say "Down" while pressing gently on the puppy's shoulders; at the same time, scoop his front legs out until he is lying down. Stroke his back for a few seconds to encourage him to relax and stay in that postion. Then praise him and reward him. Use your release word, let him get up, and praise him again. put him back into a sit postion, then repeat the command. eventually your dog will lie down as soon as you give the command.

FOOD & NUTITION

6 to 12 weeks
growing puppies should be fed wet food, a diet formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutitional demands. Large breeds should be on unmoistened dry food by 9 or 10 weeks; small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks.
3 to 6 months
Sometime during this period, decrease feeding from 4 to 3 a day.
6 to 12 months
Begin feeding 2 times a day. After the age 1, dogs can be fed one hearty portion daily, but many owners feed adult dogs two half portions a day.