Teaching Your Puppy Basic Commands
Giving your puppy some basic commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’, and ‘come’ can help you and your dog bond and socialize better.
As soon as you bring your puppy home, you should start teaching him these commands. Start by saying each command. Offer a reward for successful completion. Be consistent with the command and reward by using treats and verbal praise. Should your puppy not obey, do not punish him, try again and be patient.
Sit
Sit is a good place to start because it’s one of the most natural commands for most dogs to learn. This command is also a good transition to other more complicated commands such as “stay” and “come”.
To teach sit, get on your knees in front of your dog and say the command “sit”. Move your hand with a treat. Your puppy will follow. When he sits, treat him and praise him for sitting. Repeat a few times until they can sit without help.
Add a release word (such as “okay”) to your commands to encourage him to lie down instead of jumping up as he gets more comfortable with the sit command. Practice from a distance to build control and duration once your dog can stay in this position for a few seconds.
When your dog is able to hold a solid “sit-stay” for fifteen to twenty seconds, you can begin to delay the delivery of treats and concentrate on building up his or her patience. Repeat until your puppy is able to maintain a firm “sit-stay” for 80% of his stay.
Stay
An important part of basic obedience is training your puppy or dog to stay. It is a useful skill in many situations because it teaches them to stay in place until you give them a release command.
Getting your puppy used to the command is the first step in teaching him to stay. Start by placing a treat or toy in front of them and saying “stay” in a calm but firm voice. Let them take the treat or toy, but don’t let them leave until you say ‘OK’ or ‘Release’. Gradually increase the amount of time you ask them to “stay” once they understand the command.
Increasing the distance between you and your pup is the next step. Begin by standing a few feet away and telling them to stay. If they stay, reward them with a treat or toy. Continue to reward them for good behaviour and gradually increase the distance.
Eventually, you’ll want to teach them to stay in different surroundings. Begin in a familiar room and move to other rooms or outside. Until your puppy is comfortable staying in any environment, you may need to repeat the process in each new location.
This is an important command because it will help your dog to stay in one place in the event of an emergency. You can also use it to train a dog not to run into the street when you get out of the car, or not to chase children and cause trouble in a park.
Come
An important behavior to teach your puppy or dog is to train them to come when called. It not only makes your walks and playtime more enjoyable but can be lifesaving if your puppy ever gets loose. With consistency and patience, you will be able to teach your puppy to come when you call.
The first step is to choose a word or phrase that you will use as a cue to say “come”. It will have to be something that your pup can easily recognize. It should not be confused with other words or phrases.
Once you have your cue in mind, it is time to practice the behavior with your pup. The first thing to do is to call your pup to you from a short distance and give him a reward when he comes. Gradually increase the distance as your pup becomes more comfortable with the behavior.
Make sure you use a happy and encouraging tone when calling your pup to come. You will also want to make sure that your pup is not distracted by exciting stimuli, such as another person or animal. Gently remind your pup to come back if he starts to wander off.
When your pup comes to you, reward him by giving him a treat or playing. This will strengthen the behaviour and make them understand that they can come to you. Your pup will learn that coming when called is the best thing to do with time and consistent practice.
Leave It
Training your puppy or dog to Leave It is an important behavior to teach for your and your pet’s safety. It helps prevent them from eating, playing with something dangerous, or running off and causing trouble. Leave It is especially important for dogs that tend to counter-surf or steal items around the house.
Making sure your puppy or dog is familiar with basic commands such as sit, stay, and come is the first step in teaching Leave It. You can begin teaching Leave It once your puppy is comfortable with these commands.
Start by having your pup sit and stay. Place a treat in your hand and close it. Say “Leave It” while holding your closed fist in front of your pup. Close your hand and repeat the command if they try to get the treat. When your dog has stopped trying to get the treat, give him praise and another treat.
Once your puppy understands the concept of “Leave It”, you can begin to use it in a variety of different situations. If you are walking and your pup tries to grab a stick or toy, tell him to Leave It and reward him for not taking it. Tell him to Leave It and distract him with a toy or treat if he tries to eat something off the ground.
Your puppy will learn to Leave It when you say the command with patience and consistency.
Down
The training of your puppy or dog to sit can be a fun and rewarding process. The first step is to do the training slowly, step by step. Start by getting your puppy or dog to sit on a flat surface, such as the floor, and have him or her stay in that position. Once they are in this position, praise them. Then reward them with a treat.
Next, use a command such as “down” or “lie down”. Make sure that you say the command in a firm but not harsh tone of voice. Once your dog is in the down position, be sure to reward him with a treat or verbal praise. Continue to repeat this process until your puppy or dog obeys the command on a consistent basis.
As soon as your puppy or dog is consistently responding to the command, you can start to add distractions to it. Start by having your puppy or dog stay in the down position while you walk around them. Reward them by giving them a treat and praising them. As your pup or dog gets better, you can add more and more distractions.
Eventually, with enough practice, your pup or dog should be able to stay in the down position even when there are distractions or when you are away from home. Training your puppy or dog to stay DOWN is an important skill that will help keep them safe, and it can be a fun and rewarding process for both you and your furry friend.
