I need help with my dog learning tricks?

You have already found your answer! :)

Dogs learn by repitition. If you tell your dog to do the same tricks in the same order, then the dog soon connects the tricks together into one big trick. By switching up the order (as you said you've been doing) the dog learns that each trick is a seperate movement, and that removes the that removes the misconception that two or three little tricks (such as sit, lay down, and roll over) equal one big trick.

Also, I would take him to an obediance class or two. I train dogs, and with each dog I get I take them to an obediance class. Not only does it help me freshen up and learn new tricks to training, it also allows the dog that I'm with to learn how to interact with other dogs in a controlled environment. That, along with teaching him how to do tricks in an uncontrolled environment (it's one thing to tell a dog to "sit" in an empty room. It's completely different when he has to "sit" in a room with 10 other dogs! ^_^) will be invaluable when you take your dog places with you (even if it's just out for a walk.)

I wish you all the luck with your new dog, and I hope you have as much fun with him as I do with mine! :)

It's not too late at all! I found that clicker training worked great with my 11 year old sheltie (and that's a pretty old dog!). I wanted to try teaching him to go grab my car keys (as a herding dog, he was never really into playing fetch - he would just bark at things). A clicker is a training tool that makes a *click-click* noise. You click, then you give a delicious treat right afterwards. The dog learns that the click means he gets a treat. Soon, the dog will try to figure out how to make you click. It's awesome because the dogs love it and learn really quickly (the keys thing took about a week of me training every once in awhile). I put some resources at the bottom for more info. The yahoo group Clicker Solutions has lots of trainers, from people who just got a dog and haven't started training yet, to people who train search and rescue dogs, all with clickers. :)

I was just coming in to ask the same question until I saw that you had. Our puppy walks on her hind legs, dances, gives kisses for treats and at bed time, says please and lots of other little things but I just can't figure out a way to teach her a distinct difference between sitting and laying. Like you, our puppy will sit when asked but she will also go into a laying position sometimes.I've been watching the dog whisperer to try and figure it out but unfortunately he doesn't focus much on this kind of thing so I'll keep watch on your question and hope there are some good ideas. Good luck : )

You could use clicker training. When dog learns that "click" is a reward,it will be easier to reward him right on time.

When your dog wants to lay after siting,don't allow him to,by putting your hand in front of him.

One more good advice: don't repeat commands in the same sequence every time you train your dog. That will make him to LEARN commands,not to remember the sequence and do them by heart.

Both Poms and Paps are very smart dogs,so training will not be a problem.

Good luck!!! :)

only reward when he does what you ask