How to Teach Your Puppy the Most Basic Obedience Commands

It is impossible to control your disobedient, untrained dog. Even when your dog is a balanced and a well-behaved dog, a little training can help you avoid a lot of trouble. Training is not necessarily for the misbehaved dogs, it is for every dog, to help you tackle or to avoid the behavioural problems that they may develop.

So, the question is, where, when and how do we start this obedience training! There are certain classes available, but training together, the right way can be really fun for both for you and your dog.

While you begin with your training session, remember that puppies have short attention span and it is unreasonable to expect to have your puppy’s full attention for a long period of time.

Here are a few basic commands that to help make your puppy an obedient one:

1. Sit

Starting with the most basic one first, sit is the easiest obedience command you can teach you little bunch of joy. A puppy who sits when commanded is much easier to handle and to teach any further command in future. Let us take a simple example here: If the puppy sits when you ask him to, he is less likely to jump on the visitors when the doorbell rings. Continuing further, let us see how to teach your puppy the basic command.

1. Sit on the level of your puppy; either on the floor or on a chair next to him.
2. Get him his favourite treat, hold it close to his nose and let his head follow the treat as you move your hand up.
3. While his head moves up, his butt will lower, and eventually hit the floor.
4. When he is in a sitting position, release the treat to his mouth and praise him for his smartness.
5. Repeat the same multiple times every day and pair it with the word “sit”, once he gets familiar with the trend.

Repeat this sequence a few times every day until your dog understands what he is being taught. Ask your dog to sit before meals, while leaving for walks, and during any other situation where you would like him to be calm and seated.

2. Come

The come command is also among the useful commands for managing the annoying puppy behaviours. This command helps to keep your dog out of trouble or gives him a job to do. If he is being playful and escaping the fenced yard or bolts out an open door, the come command can also save you a lot of hazel and keep him safe. Here is how you can teach the come command to your dog:

1. Put a leash on your dog’s collar and let him drag it around.
2. Once he gets accustomed to the leash, pick up the leash end and hold it as you follow him around the yard.
3. Soon, he will get used to this procedure and will begin to understand that the two of you are attached to the leash.
4. Induce his action with “yes” and a treat. Lead him while encouraging him, saying yes at every right action, and treating him when the desired action is produced. Tell him that he is a good dog every time he is being obedient
5. Start pairing the behaviour with the word “come.” Every time he responds appropriately, praise and rewards him. Make the come command a game that your puppy wants to play. This will help it make easier for both of you.

The cautionary note being that does not yell “Come” multiple times, even when your dog does not respond. Remember that commanding once has more effect than continuing to yell.

3. Stay

Here comes the harder command; “Stay”. It takes a lot of effort for the puppies to become an expert in this command. Your puppy who loves to lean against you and stick around every time, and asking him to stay in a separate area, far from you, is the hardest thing you can ask from them. A dog who learns well the stay command saves you from a lot of hazel. A well-taught dog would not be running around chasing other animals outdoors and displays the “good boy” image to others.

So, here is how to go about teaching your dog the tough “stay” command:

1. Leash your dog, and make him sit comfortably next to you.
2. Wave a flat palm toward his muzzle and say “Stay.”
3. Step in front of your dog, stay there for a few seconds, and soon after a step back, next to him.
4. Reward him for not moving when you move.
5. If he fails at maintaining the stay position, be calm and say “oops” or “Uh-uh” instead of being angry. Calmly put him back where he initially was, and give him the “stay” command again.
6. Practice this multiple times a day, at different locations.
7. Reward him with a treat and praise, and also teach him the release word, so that he knows when can he finally cuddle you again.

4. Down

The down command is another of the difficult obedience command that your puppy has to learn for a proper behaviour. Many puppies are reluctant while learning this command as it requires them to be submissive. A shy, fearful dog has much more trouble learning and performing down. Hence, you must go very slow while teaching this command. A jubilant voice, loads of praise and good treats must be used while teaching this command.

Here is how to go ahead with, while teaching this command:

1. Pick the best treat this time. Hold it in your closed hand, and place it at his muzzle.
2. When he notices the scent of his favourite treat, move your hand towards the floor.
3. Make sure that he follows the treat and your hand.
4. Move your hand along the floor in front of him till he stretches out in a down position.
5. Now open your hand and let him have the treat.
6. Repeat this several times in a day, and pair it with “down” command once your puppy learns what to do.

Make you smart dog smarter with these obedience commands. Happy parenting!