Sure your dog is well-behaved, she can sit and stay and even show off in front of your friends and give you a high five. But is she environmentally conscious? If not, why not?
Below are instructions & tips on how to teach your dog to deposit paper recyclables into the recycling bin.
Sit – Stay – Okay
First things first, if your dog does not know how to Sit & Stay you’ll need to teach him or her that first. The following should work.
• Stand over the dog and say “Sit!” while pointing to the ground with one hand and pushing their back down gently with the other hand. Immediately reward with praise & petting – no treats yet.
• If your dog starts to move, say “Stay!” and gently push them back to the same spot & sitting position.
• Then say “Okay!” and reward your dog with some praise and gentle playing.
• Repeat these steps until your dog learns to “Sit!” down and “Stay” until it’s “Okay” to move.
• Keep these training sessions short and gradually give the orders from farther and farther away.
Hold – Drop
Once you and your dog have mastered Sit & Okay, pick a toy that your dog likes to hold in his or her mouth.
• Make your dog sit and give them the toy and say “Hold!”
• If your dog drops the toy, say “No!” and give it back while saying “Hold!”
• Then say “Drop!” and immediately offer a treat in exchange for the toy. When your dog drops the toy, reward them with the treat and lots of praise.
• Repeat the “Sit,” “Hold,” “Drop,” reward bit until your dog totally gets it.
Go – Drop
• Place a low recycling bin in the corner.
• Make your dog “Sit” by the bin and give them something to “Hold.”
• Say “Go Drop!,” while pointing to the bin. Then lift your dog into a standing position and encourage them to drop the item into the bin by offering a treat in exchange. Reward them with lavish praise & petting when they get it right!
• Repeat trying different objects to drop into the recycling bin and giving the “Go Drop” command farther and farther away from the bin. 
Tips:
• If your dog is not successful three out of four times, the session is probably too hard and you just need to go back one step.
• During training, say only the commands and praise, and always speak in a clear voice.
• Make sure there are as few distractions as possible.
If you are patient and make learning fun instead of making it “obedience” oriented, your dog will soon be recycling for you and making the world a better place!
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