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Teaching Your Dog Basic Commands

Owner training dog in park teaches new commands. Akita Inu dog breed. Happy puppy

Training your pet to respond to commands is an essential part of being a responsible canine parent. Teaching your basic commands helps build trust between you and your pup, and can make living with a furry friend a much more enjoyable experience. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, even the most stubborn pooch can learn how to follow simple instructions.

How to Get Started Training Your Dog

Although it's never too late to teach your pet new , it's best to start training them from a young age when their attention spans are longer and they're more easily distracted by their environment. Having your puppy attend obedience classes is a great way to get them used to following directions and getting accustomed to different environments.

Choosing Commands for Your Puppy

Before you begin teaching your pup commands, you should decide which words you'll use to tell them what to do. Choose shorter, one-syllable words that are easy for your dog to remember and recognize. Common commands include sit, down, stay, come, off, and heel. You may also want to teach your pup a release word, such as “OK” or “free,” so they'll know when they can move again after completing a command.

Rewarding Good Behavior

Whenever your pup completes a command correctly, be sure to reward them with praise and treats. This will help reinforce good behavior and encourage them to listen. Make sure to give your pup plenty of verbal praise, cuddles, and physical affection throughout the training process; this will help keep them excited about learning new commands.

Common Commands to Teach Your Dog

Once you've chosen the commands you'd like to teach your pup, you can begin the training process. Teaching your pup the following commands will ensure that they understand basic instructions and become a well-behaved canine companion:

  • Sit: Using a treat, hold it above your pup's head and say “sit.” When they sit down, reward them with the treat and verbal praise. Repeat this process until they associate the command with the action.
  • Down: Begin in the same way as the “sit” command, but instead of holding the treat over their head, hold it close to the ground and say “down.” Reward them when they lie down.
  • Stay: Give your pup a treat and then say “stay.” Walk away slowly and once your pup stays put, return to them and reward them with another treat. Increase the distance gradually over time.
  • Come: It's important to teach your pup to come to you when called. Put a leash on them and while saying “come,” give the leash a gentle tug. When they reach you, reward them with a treat and lots of affection.
  • Off: Use this command to stop your pup from jumping on people or furniture. If your pup starts jumping up, firmly say “off” and gently push them back onto the ground. Give them a treat once all four paws are back on the ground.
  • Heel: The “heel” command is especially useful if you plan to walk your pup off-leash. Start walking and say “heel,” then gently pull on the leash to guide your pup to match your pace. Reward them with treats and praises when they stay next to you.

Be Patient and Consistent When Training Your Pet

It can take several weeks, or even months, for your pup to learn all the commands. Remember to always be patient and consistent, and don't forget to reward them when they're doing well. Training your pup may seem tedious at times, but the effort will pay off in the long run!

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