[Jaylie]

Depends on the dog....And, what do you mean, "By yourself?" Doesn't everyone (with personal pets that is...GDA wants our pups to get used to other people handling them)do it that way? It alway depends on what you're teaching him/her. Let's start simple...How 'bout sit? You start out when your pup is not running wildly around, but not asleep either. You should do it about halfway between meals, so the pup is not really hungry and not full either. You take a kibble, (I don't use treats, I only use kibble...If they've never had treats, they work harder) and hold it over his nose. If he jumps up to try and get it, hide it in your hand. Slowly move the kibble backwards(For him...it'd be forwards for you),and he will probably sit while he's following it. Give him a treat as soon as his butt hits the floor. Praise him lots. Do this over again, and once you see him sitting as soon as you hold the kibble up, tell him "sit." after a while, try just saying "sit." if he doesn't do anything, don't say it again, but hold a kibble above his head, and when he does sit, give it to him. Try just saying sit again, and do that whole section over again.

If you see that he is starting to get nonresponsive or bored, stop. Nothing is learned if he's bored.