When teaching any breed of dog, consistency is essential. Commands should be one word and mean one thing every time you use the command.

“Down” should not mean for the dog to “lie down” and also for the dog not to jump up on a person or object. Define separate commands for each action:
for example, use “Down” to mean “lie down” and use “Off” to mean get off of something—a person, the couch, a chair, etc.

Consistency also means training behaviors that are acceptable or unacceptable all the time. For example, your dog cannot tell the difference between Saturday grungy sweats and Sunday “go to church” clothes. If it’s not ok for the dog to jump on your new clean suit on Sunday, it cannot be ok for the dog to jump on your grungy sweats on Saturday—again, consistency is the key!

Require your dog to obey you in order to get what he wants. This builds discipline and respect from your dog.

Take the time to feed your dog twice a day and make meal time a short training session. Make him sit and wait for you to release him before he begins wolfing down his supper. Take the food away from him in the middle of eating and require that he sit before you put the food back in front of him.

If your dog stays in the house, make him sit and wait for you to release him before you open the door to take him on a walk or let him out to do his business. If he bolts as soon as the door is opened, put a leash on him and return him to the sit position until he will remain seated until you release him, not bolt out the door knocking you down as soon as the door is opened.

Particularly with ACD and ACD mixes, it is very important for you, the human, to gain and maintain your dog’s respect and unfailing obedience. It may someday save his life!