dog training commands
Here’s the good news, puppies generally fall over themselves trying to please you. With the dog training commands described below you should have great success teaching your puppy to sit or training your puppy to obey NO. However, you will need patience, focus from yourself and repetition to gradually but steadily condition your puppy.
dog training commands list
Train Puppy to SIT
- Start by being sure your dog is able to focus on you and the process. Be alone with your dog in a quiet, distraction-free area
- Have a treat in your hand and slowly pass it in front of your dog’s nose, then move your hand up over their forehead toward the back of their head
- Do this smoothly and relatively quickly so that your dog does not have time to lurch forward nor jump up to try to grab the treat
- As your hand passes from in front of your dog’s nose up and over his forehead, his head will tip up to follow the treat and his bottom should sink down and sit on the floor
- As soon as your dog’s bottom hits the floor, allow him to have the treat … reward him and he will associate that physical move with the treat
- Repeat this process at least 4-5 times to allow your dog to really “get it” and become conditioned
- After he seems to be conditioned to the hand motion passing over his head, add using the word SIT before you do the hand motion
- Say “sit”, then use the hand motion with a treat from in front of his nose up over the top of his head triggering his conditioned action from above
- Do this a few times and gradually stop using the hand motion. Just say sit and as soon as his bottom hits the floor give him the treat
- Reinforce his conditioning by repeating a few times and giving him lots of praise
Teach Puppy to Obey NO
- Your best chances for success here depend on 2 things: 1) catching your dog “in the act” of doing something they likely know is wrong, 2) your TONE and emotion when telling them NO
- A great moment to teach your puppy to obey NO is when they jump up on the couch or bed, assuming you don’t allow them on those items
- In the moment, tell your puppy NO and make sure you have a strong, commanding tone. You don’t have to sound scary but you do need to avoid sounding “weak” … do not use a cute, baby-talk voice. You have to be firm and crisp
- Remove your puppy from the situation (being on the couch in this example) and then praise him after he is no longer associating with the offending situation
- Puppies want to please you so it is important to “catch them” in the act and quickly say NO, then reward them when they have changed behavior
- After 5 or 6 “caught in the act” events, your puppy will start to learn that your tone and “NO” means they are not pleasing you and alternatively they will be rewarded if they stop doing what they are doing
How to get puppy to come when called
- Young puppies LOVE to be with and go toward their owners. Older puppies grow more independent so you will have better success if you can teach this to your puppy when they are less than 6 months old
- In a distraction-free area with a buddy, have your buddy keep your dog about 5 feet away from you. Kneel on the floor and call your dog like “Max, COME”
- Since there are no distractions and you are only a few feet away, your puppy should bounce towards you ! Reward him with a treat and lots of praise
- Repeat a few times to build the experience in your dogs brain
- Only after numerous successful times, then move a bit further away, about 15 – 20 feet
- Make sure there are still no distractions and your puppy can see you
- Repeat the process of calling him and rewarding him
- Next, move to a room where your dog can’t see you and repeat calling him and rewarding him
- Your dog should now be ready to move outdoors. Start in a quiet area like your backyard so your dog will not have too many distractions. Repeat the process of calling him and making sure to reinforce his response with rewards
Train Puppy to STAY
- Have alot of patience with this one !
- In an area without distractions, slowly back away from your dog creating separation between yourself and your dog. Hold your hand up with your palm facing your dog in the typical “stop” body position
- Repeat “STAY” in a steady and strong voice but not an overly aggressive tone
- If your dog hesitates or waits for a few seconds and then moves to be closer to you reward him with a treat and lots of praise
- If he does not stay and instead comes toward you right away, do not yell or otherwise punish them. Stay calm and try again. The first time your dog waits or hesitates reward them so they learn when they wait THEN they get a treat
- Repeat the step of calmly saying STAY while having your hand up until your dog waits or hesitates 5 or 6 times in a row being sure to reward and praise these results
- Give your dog a break ! You will need to work with your dog in short 5-10 minute sessions like this over numerous different days so as to not overwhelm your dog and so as to start to build the pattern and habit in your dog’s brain
We hope these you enjoyed these
dog training commands
Learn more on leash training and socialization for your puppy from our dog training methods
Prefer to watch a video ? This is a helpful video on basic dog commands