How to Do Something Your Don Know: How to Train a Manchester Terrier

Manchester Terriers can be stubborn with training, but with time and patience you can train your dog.^[1] The key is having a regular routine and getting in brief training sessions each day as you move through basic commands, tricks, and potty training. Learn good training habits, like establishing a reward system, to start. Teach basic commands, like come and sit. From there, you can work on tricks like speak and roll over. If you need to potty train your terrier, make sure you do that as well.

EditSteps

EditEstablishing Good Training Habits

Find a reward. Dogs will work for rewards, so make sure you figure out what your terrier loves as you begin training. Small bits of food and treats your dog likes work best for most cases. You should break up your dog's favorite treats into tiny, bite-sized portions. When your dog does a command correctly, reward it immediately.^[2]
- However, some dogs may not be interested in food. While this is rare, you can find other ways to reward your terrier. For example, pet and praise your dog when it behaves or let it play with a favorite toy for a minute.
Correct your dog gently. Correcting your dog is important to training, but Manchester Terriers do not respond to harsh methods like yelling and scolding.^[3] Instead, stick to something gentle but firm. If your dog misbehaves, say "No" in a stern voice or simply ignore the behavior. This is more effective than loud scolding, yelling, or using isolation as punishment.^[4]
Keep training sessions brief. This is especially important when training a puppy. For the most part, dogs do not respond well to lengthy training sessions. Training sessions should be no more than five to ten minutes. Your puppy will eventually learn commands with consistent, brief training sessions.^[5]
- Always end training sessions on a good note, even if this means occasionally running over the ten minute mark by a few minutes. Wait to end the session until your dog has at least partially completed a command.
Choose the right training area. Opt for a quiet, distraction-free area. This is best to get your dog's full attention during training. Noise and commotion can sabotage a training session.^[6]
- For example, do not train your dog in the TV room or near a window. Instead, train your dog in the basement where it's quiet and free of distractions.
Reward and correct your dog immediately. Dogs live in the present. If your dog performs a trick properly, do not delay its reward. Immediately give your dog a treat or praise. At the same time, correct your dog promptly as well. Say "No" right away when you catch your dog misbehaving.^[7]

EditTraining Your Manchester Terrier Basic Commands

Teach your dog to come. Come is a basic, useful command every dog should know. To train your Manchester Terrier to "come," start off by squatting to get on your terrier's level. Then, urge your dog to come to you. Use the command "Come" in between calling your dog's name so it will get used responding to this command.^[8]
- At first, you may have to attach a leash to your dog and gradually lead it to you while you say "Come." If you consistently train each day, your dog will begin commanding to "Come" without the leash.
- Eventually, you can stop squatting and lessen use of calling and coaxing your dog. Transition gradually into just using the command "Come."
- Reward your dog as soon as they complete the behavior. At first, even small steps should be rewarded. Reward your dog the second it takes a step towards you, for example. As time goes by, require more of the command be completed before granting your dog a reward.
Train your dog to sit. Sit is another vital command every dog should learn. To start training "Sit," sit down next to your Manchester Terrier and get its attention by holding up a treat. Say "sit" and slowly lift the treat up. Many dogs will sit on their own as they follow the treat with their head. If your dog does not, gently guide its rear down to get it into the sitting position.^[9]
- Praise your dog as soon as it sits and reward it with a treat.
- Train every day for about five to ten minutes. As time goes by, your dog will sit on its own with less coaxing.
Teach your dog to stay. A Manchester Terrier should learn to "stay" when commanded. To teach your dog to "stay," start by putting your dog on a leash and instructing it to sit. Hold the leash slack and face your dog. While commanding the dog to "stay," take a few steps back. If your dog tries to move, place your palm before its head to get it to stop. If your dog moves anyway, walk it back to the original spot and repeat the process until your dog stops following you.^[10]
- Practice the "stay" command every day, eventually learning to phase out the leash and take bigger steps away from your dog. Eventually, your dog should know to remain in place when you say "Stay."
Train your dog to lie down. To teach your Manchester Terrier to lie down, first command the dog to "sit." Then, gently press down on its back while you repeat the "lie down" command. You can also try lowering the treat towards the ground to coax your dog into lying down. As soon the dog is lying down, reward it with a treat and praise.^[11]
- Train your dog to lie down in short sessions each day. Eventually, your dog should learn to lie down without you having to push down on its back.

EditTraining Your Manchester Terrier Tricks

Teach speak. Speak can be a fun command to teach any dog. If you want your Manchester Terrier to learn to speak, begin by finding something that causes your dog to bark. This may be a toy, a treat, or a particular noise. During training sessions, wave the object around or make the noise until your dog barks. Praise your dog for barking and give your dog a treat.^[12]
- Once your dog consistently barks in response to a certain stimuli, begin incorporating a command or hand gesture. For example, snap your fingers to get your dog to speak.
- Keep training each day, offering rewards each time your dog completes the behavior. Gradually phase out the object or noise you use and use only your command or gesture. Eventually, your Manchester Terrier should learn to speak on command.
Have your dog learn to roll over. Roll over is taught in increments. To teach roll over, start by commanding your dog to lie down. Then, kneel down beside your dog and hold a treat near its nose. Gently press your dog's shoulder to get it to lie on its side. Use the treat to hold your dog's attention. Praise and reward your dog each time it moves on its side.^[13]
- From there, move your hand from your dog's shoulder to its backbone. While you do this, move the treat over slightly. Your dog should roll on its back to get closer to the treat. Keep moving the treat until the dog has completely rolled over. Say the command "Roll over" and reward your dog.
- Keep up this routine every day in brief sessions. Eventually, your dog should start going through the motions on its own. You will be able to reduce touching your dog during the trick and will not have to use a treat as lure.
Command your dog to shake hands. To teach shake, start by holding your hand in front of your dog while its sitting with your palm up. If you hold out your hand long enough, your dog may eventually sniff or lick your hand on its own. This can lead to pawing Once your dog paws your hand, say "Shake" and reward your dog with a treat and praise. Repeat this process until your dog lifts its hand naturally. If you do short training sessions like this each day, your dog will eventually learn to shake on command.^[14]
- Some dogs will not paw at their owners hands naturally. If your dog does not paw on its own, gently tap your dog's paw until it places its paw in your hand.
Teach your dog to beg. To begin, command your dog to "sit." From there, hold a treat over your dog's head to get it to stand. Say "Beg" or "Sit up" while your dog does this. If your dog jumps to grab the treat, say "No," and then have your dog return to the sitting position.^[15]
- Repeat training sessions each day. Give your dog a treat as soon as it's standing on its hind legs. Say your command while your dog is standing.
- With daily training sessions, your dog will eventually learn to beg on cue.

EditPotty Training Your Manchester Terrier

Confine your dog at first. Basic crate training will be necessary before your Manchester Terrier is potty trained. Your dog will need to be confined to a crate when you are not home to prevent accidents. Find a crate your dog can comfortably stand and turn around in. Put your dog in the crate each time you leave the home.^[16]
- If your dog gets anxious in a crate, you can try to confine it in a small area of your home using baby gates instead. Choose an area like the kitchen where you can easily clean up messes as they occur.
- You should only lock up your dog when necessary. Do not leave your dog locked up for very long periods of time.
Take your dog out regularly. If you want your dog to understand it needs to eliminate outside, make sure you take it out often enough. You should take your dog out every two to three hours so it knows to go outside.^[17]
- You should also pay attention to any cues your dog gives indicating its about to eliminate. Dogs may sniff or squat when they're getting ready to go. If you notice these behaviors, take your dog outside.
Clean up mistakes thoroughly. Accidents will happen during the potty training process. The sooner you get rid of the mess, the better. You want to remove any odors that would encourage your dog to eliminate in the same place again.^[18]
- Clean the area completely. You can blot up the excess urine with a towel and use a cleaner to remove pet odor. Feces should be picked up and discarded in the toilet or outdoors.
- If you catch your dog having an accident, correct the behavior. Clap your hands and say "No" firmly, but remember not to yell. Manchester Terriers do not respond to yelling, scolding, or forms of punishment like isolation.
Reward your dog's behavior. Dogs live in the moment, so reward your Manchester Terrier each time it successfully eliminates outside. Say something like "Good job!" Then, pet your terrier and offer it a treat as praise. As your terrier begins eliminating inside less often, and asking to be taken out, you can gradually cut back on treats as a reward.^[19]