Dog Training Tips Archives

So you’ve decided to start the dog training journey and are looking for some guidance. Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll walk you through the top 9 dog training commands that you absolutely need for obedience in the home. Whether you have a senior dog or a puppy, it is never too late to teach any dog new tricks.

We know that beginning this journey can be overwhelming and you’ll undoubtedly make mistakes along the way, but don’t worry, you are not alone.

You CAN teach an old dog new tricks

It’s important not to buy into the misconception that old dogs can’t learn. As a dog trainer, I’ve come across many clients that have been successful in teaching basic obedience to their senior dogs. Before we start to teach them however, we must take in to account their overall health. For example, if a dog has arthritis or any type of joint issues, we would want to modify commands to accommodate those. After all, I think it would be cruel to tell a dog to sit when it is painful for them to do so. Keep this in mind when teaching your dog these commands.

illustrates a senior dog training — *Dog training: senior dogs*

Puppies have short attention spans

Although puppies are often eager and excited to learn, they tend to always want to jump from activity to activity. For this reason, it is suggested that your training sessions with your dogs be kept down between 5-15minutes. We want a dog to be happy and interested in training. If it becomes a chore then they’ll lose interest, which will hinder their willingness to learn.

illustrates a puppy training — *Dog training: Puppies*

Why are dog training commands important

Dogs do not speak our language. They don’t know what it is we want them to do. Dog training commands are a way to communicate with our dogs in a fast and efficient manner. They can be given by hand gestures and/or vocal cues. It is important that when we teach a dog a specific command, we keep everything looking and sounding exactly the same. A common example of this is interchanging “Down” and “Lay down.” This simple and seemingly insignificant change can really confuse your dog.

Items needed to start training

High-Value treats – These are special treats that your dog doesn’t commonly get at home. Although pet stores do sell training specific treats, it is best to use food like boiled chicken so that your dog stays engaged longer.

My favorite treat to use during training sessions are beef liver treats. I stick to one ingredient treats as they are packed with nutrients and won’t fill the dogs up with unnecessary preservatives.

6 ft and 15 ft leashes

6ft leashes are the standard size. Try to stay away from retractable leashes until your pup has an understanding of proper walking on leash. Slip leashes are a great starting point because it allows more control without hurting a dogs neck. 15 ft leashes are great for controlling your environment in terms of safety, and it also guarantees success for your pup when introducing the recall command.

Here is your list for the top 9 most essential dog training commands.

1. Sit

shows the dog in a proper sit position — *“sit” dog training command*

Sit is most often the first dog training command learned and it is one that will be useful on an everyday basis.

Take your dog’s favorite treat and hold it near his/her face.
Slowly start moving it up and over their head. You’ll notice that their eyes will start to follow it until their body naturally sits.
As soon as your dog sits, mark the action with a verbal “Yes” and follow it with the name of the command “sit.”
Lastly, reward and repeat until your dog starts to understand what the word “sit” means.
DO NOT say the word “sit” before the action until they understand what it means. Doing this will confuse your dog, and it will take longer for them to learn the command.

2. Down

shows a dog in the proper down position — *“down” dog training command*

The “down” command is a submissive position for your dog, so it’ll take longer for a dog to willingly go down on command. Patience is key. Remember that making the experience a positive one, will not only teach your dog the command, but establish a good relationship between the two of you.

We’ll start by having a treat near your dogs nose, and slowly start moving it down toward the ground. Make sure your dog’s nose is moving with you as you move. If you move too fast, they will not follow.
Once all of your dogs body parts are on the ground, mark the action with a “yes” and name the action “down.”
Don’t forget to reward and repeat

3. Stay

depicts the exact motion of hand while teaching the stay command — *“stay” dog training command*

The “stay” command will teach your dog patience and self-control, which is why it’s an important command to teach puppies early on. Staying for long periods of time is something you’ll need to build up to, so be patient. Don’t expect your puppy to stay for minutes at a time in the beginning, let’s make sure we set them up for success. Repetitions are the key to success here.

Once the dog has learned the “down” command, start there.
You’ll use the palm of your hand in front of their face while on a “down” position so it is a clear indication for them that they should not move.
Reward immediately and restart.
Begin with small increments at a time. Then, work for longer and longer stays as the dog starts understanding the game.
DO NOT skip steps. If your dog is getting up from a “stay,” you’ll need to go back to basics until they have them down.

4. Stand

illustrates the stand command — *“stand” dog training command*

Stand is a helpful command to use when you need your dog to move around. Using it during bath time for example, enables you to move your dog around without using force.

Start in either a “sit” or “down” position.
Hold a treat to their nose and slowly start moving it towards you.
As you are moving, make sure you take a step back so that your dog has enough space to stand. If your dog doesn’t have ample space, they will not be able to follow through.
Once your dog is standing mark the action with a vocal “yes” and name it “stand.”
Reward and Repeat.

5. Look

illustrates the look command — *“look” dog training command*

“Look” is an extremely important command outdoors. Dogs (especially puppies) will inevitably get distracted by a myriad of things. The world is full of sights, scents, and sounds so this command allows them to refocus and get back in tune with you.

Start by holding a treat close to your dogs nose.
Slowly start moving the treat up between your eyes.
When the dog looks into your eyes and not at the treat, mark the action with a “yes” and name it “Look.”
Reward and Repeat
NOTE that a dog may not start off by staring into your eyes for long periods of time. This is something you will need to build up to. What’s important is that you mark and reward IMMEDIATELY after, even if their eyes only met yours for a split second.

6. Come

Shows the pup learning recall commands properly — *“come” dog training command*

Recalls can be life saving as it allows you to reliably call your dog in any situation and have them return immediately. A reliable “come” command can prevent a dog from running off and getting lost, or being in danger of getting hit by a car.

First, start by clipping a 15ft leash on to your dogs collar.
Then, put them in a “down/stay” and hold on to the leash as you begin to walk backwards.
Stop at 5ft and say “come.” If they do, reward and treat but If they don’t, gently nudge them with the leash to come your way. Do not drag them towards you, it is important they do it learn to do this on their own.
Once they are reliably coming from a 5ft distance you can increase it while still holding on to the leash.
Lastly, make sure you make the experience as exciting as possible. Your dog should love coming to you EVERY TIME. This will make for an extremely dependable recall.

7. Heel

Showcasing proper heel dog training command — *“heel” dog training command*

The heel command will likely be the most time consuming dog training command to teach. It takes practice, repetition, and proper guidance on your part but if you stick with it, the results will be rewarding. You and your dog will be enjoying walks in no time!

Start with a 6ft leash and focus on your dogs engagement. Dogs will likely be interested in everything they come across in the environment, so it’s important they maintain some type of focus on you.
To get engagement, you’ll need to start making directional changes on leash. This means that you will start walking in one direction and when the dog hits the end of the leash, go the opposite way.
You can use treats as a reward, but I believe praise is more effective in this situation.

Below is a video demonstration of what these steps should look like:

8. Wait

shows the wait command being implemented — *“wait” dog training command*

Unlike the “stay” command which requires a dog to not move for long periods of time, the “wait” command alerts your dog to stop for a few seconds. This command is useful when crossing the street, getting into the car, and when leaving the house for a walk. The “wait” command informs your dog that they need to pause for a few seconds and wait for the next command.

Start by walking on heel.
Then come to a complete stop and place the palm of your hand in front of your dogs face.
Wait for them to come to a stop and sit. Mark the action with a verbal “yes” so they know when they performed the command correctly and name it “wait.”
Reward with a treat and repeat.
Eventually you won’t need to to use your hand and just the verbal “wait” will suffice.

9. Place

shows a dog in a proper place after command has been given — *“place” dog training command*

This command teaches the dog where their special place is as well as teaching them to give you space when you need it. It’s helpful to have a place to send your dog to when you have guests over or when the doorbell rings.

Place your dogs bed in the center of the room, to ensure you have space to work.
Use your dog’s favorite training treat to lure them on to the bed.
Once every part of your dog is on the bed mark the action with a “yes” and name the command “place.”
Reward and repeat.
PRO TIP: using an elevated bed will clearly define the rules to your dog, making it easier to learn because there will be a distinct difference between the ground and the bed.

It is only the beginning…

These 9 dog training commands will put you on the right track to gaining a great relationship with your best friend. You’re here because you want to learn and you care about your dog, so keep that in mind when you feel overwhelmed. This guide is only the beginning. There will likely be issues you encounter along the way, and there will always be more to learn, so don’t get discouraged. Take it one step at a time and know that you are learning just like your dog is. Ultimately, it is about the bond you create with your dog and the happiness it brings to you both.

The beauty about dog training is that there are always many different ways to teach a dog a command. What techniques have you tried?

If you’d like to learn about more techniques and more ways to bond with your best friend, don’t forget to subscribe to receive more information. Happy training!

Category: Dog Training Tips

Top 9 Dog training Commands that will get you started on your training journey