When you bring a dog into your family it is an exciting time. Your dog will quickly become a valued member of your family, and it is up to you to welcome that dog into your pack and teach him his place.
There are many commands that a dog must learn, and master and it is up to you to help your dog to understand each command and how to complete it successfully.
There are several commands that you should be teaching your dog so that you will have a starting point and a basic list of what to teach your dog.
Name recognition. Start with your dog’s name which should be decided upon before you bring your dog home. Your dog’s name is something that you will use often, so it is an important aspect of training.
Whether you will choose the name yourself or your family will help you to decide, your dog’s name is something that you will use often and should be something that you all like and have agreed upon.
Start using your dog’s name the minute you are introduced and repeat it often. Use your dog’s name in every command so that they learn to recognize that you are speaking to them directly.
Come. The recall is very important; you want your dog to learn that when you call him, he should stop what he is doing immediately and return to you. Start by calling your dog’s name and then using the word “come” next.
Reward your dog, always, for coming to you when you call him. Never scold him, even if he has done something wrong because this will teach him that he does not want to come to you because he will be in trouble.
The experience of coming to you when you call should always be a positive one.
Down. When you want your dog to stop everything that he is doing, the down command is like putting your dog in the park.
When your dog is in the down position, it will have you in a position of power over your dog and it will have the dog stopping whatever he may be doing that is not good behavior.
You can get your dog to the down position by holding a treat in your hand and then moving your hand down towards the floor. Slide the treat away from the dog until he is in a lying down position and then say “down”.
Praise your dog for following your instructions and give him the treat. Continue doing this exercise over and over until your dog understands what down means.
Sit. You want to teach your dog to sit either in front of you facing you or beside you when asked. This command has your dog watching you for your next command. This is one of the easiest commands to teach your dog.
All you will need to do is find a treat that your dog loves and move it back over your dog’s head until he naturally sits down on his haunches. Repeat the command a few times and reward him each time he completes it.
Stay. Teach your dog to stay once they have learned how to sit. Get your dog into the “sit” position and then give the “stay” command. Hold the palm of your hand out and say “stay” then start to back up and away from your dog.
If your dog stays in place until you release him by saying ok or calling him to you, then be sure to give him a reward.
No, or leave it. If your dog finds something in your home or outside that you do not want them to have, the leave it commands teaches your dog to leave that item alone. Maybe your dog is curious about your shows and wants to put them in their mouth.
Whatever the item is, you do not want your dog to have it, so you will tell him to “leave it” and this means that he needs to not touch that item. Once your dog knows this command you can use it whenever you see your dog approaching an item that you do not want him to have or play with.
Hold a treat in each hand. Move your firsthand towards the dog’s mouth to encourage them to lick or sniff the treat and then say “no” or “leave it”. Give the dog the treat from your second hand instead once they have left your firsthand alone.
Giving them the second treat ensures that they do the behavior that you want them to do and are rewarded for it.
Car. There are many reasons why you want to take your dog in the car. There are times when you need to take them to the doggie doctor or there could be times when you want to take them somewhere to visit a friend or for a walk.
All you need to do is put your dog on a leash and open the car door. Put a treat where you want your dog to sit and then say “car”. Your dog should jump up into the car and be ready to go for a ride with you.
Drop it. You want to train your dog to drop an object that they have taken. The best way to do this is to teach your dog to “take it” and offer them an object. Next, offer them the exact same object that they already have.
This will signal to your dog that they should move to the second object and take it. Once the first object has been given up by your dog, say “drop it” and then “take it” once the dog has taken the second object.
You should reward your dog each time he successfully completes the activity.
Heel. Your dog needs to learn to walk beside you without pulling on the leash. If you are walking your dog and he is constantly pulling you, you will not be having a good time. You want your dog to walk beside you and not in front of you.
If your dog is walking in front of you, this is a position of power, and he may not be fully listening to you if something happens up ahead. Having your dog heel is having a very well-trained dog that will listen to you and watch you for cues as you are out having a walk or any other kind of adventure.
Train your dog to stay on your left side and hold a treat in your hand while you are walking your dog. Ask them to sit and then say “heel”. Praise your dog for walking by your side.
Shake a Paw. Have your dog sit. Reach for their paw and shake it while saying “shake” or “shake a paw”. Hold their paw for a few seconds and then let it go. Give your dog a reward or lots of praise.
There is no real practical reason for this trick, but it is fun to teach your dog this trick. You can also do a “high five” variation of this trick.
Speak. You will have to watch your dog closely. Try to say “speak” whenever they are about to bark and then reward them with a treat when they bark. You should make certain that you say “speak” very loudly and distinctly when your dog barks so that they do not confuse their barking with any other command.
Quiet. Once you know that your dog understands “speak” then it is time to teach him “quiet”. Start by having your dog “speak” and then say “quiet” very loudly once they are barking. Once they stop barking, offer them a treat, and become very excited for them.
Continue this training several times throughout the day to see if they are learning.
Dogs love to please their humans and they love treats and praise. Spend lots of time with your dog and ensure that they learn the basic commands that they need to be a good pet.
You should spend a certain amount of time weekly with your dog to ensure that he learns all the commands that he needs to be able to be on his best behavior when you two are out together in public.
Always reward your dog for their good behavior and instead of punishing them for bad behavior, just do not reward them for it. Your dog will soon be doing all the things that you want him to do just to get your approval.
A well-behaved dog is a happy dog and one that wants your full attention. Once your dog learns what good behavior is and how it is rewarded, they will want please you all the time.
Your dog is a companion and a family member and should be treated well for their loyalty and love.
The article suggested by Paws, Claws & Tails