How to Teach Your Dog Basic Commands and Tricks

Do you want to have a well-behaved and happy dog? Do you want to impress your friends and family with your dog’s skills? Do you want to bond with your dog and have fun together? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to teach your dog some basic commands and tricks.

Basic commands and tricks are not only useful for controlling your dog, but also for stimulating their mind, enhancing their confidence, and strengthening your relationship. In this blog post, we will show you how to teach your dog six essential commands and tricks that every dog should know: sit, down, stay, come, shake, and roll over.

What You Need

Before you start teaching your dog anything, you need to have some things ready:

• A quiet and distraction-free place where you can train your dog without interruptions.
• A leash and collar or harness to keep your dog close and safe.
• A clicker or a marker word (such as “yes” or “good”) to mark the exact moment your dog does what you want.
• A lot of small and tasty treats to reward your dog for their efforts. You can use kibble, cheese, chicken, or anything else your dog loves.
• A positive attitude and patience. Remember that training should be fun and enjoyable for both of you.

How to Teach Your Dog Basic Commands and Tricks

Now that you have everything ready, let’s get started with the training. Here are the steps to teach your dog each command or trick:

Sit

Sit is one of the easiest and most useful commands to teach your dog. It can help you calm your dog down, prevent them from jumping on people, and prepare them for other commands.

• Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose and slowly move it up and back over their head. As your dog follows the treat with their eyes, their bottom will naturally lower to the ground.
• As soon as your dog’s bottom touches the ground, click or say your marker word and give them the treat. Repeat this several times until your dog gets the idea.
• Now add a verbal cue (such as “sit”) right before you move the treat. Say it clearly and confidently, but not too loudly or harshly. Repeat this until your dog sits as soon as they hear the cue.
• Gradually fade out the treat lure by moving it less and less over their head until you can just use your hand as a signal. Always reward your dog with a treat after they sit.
• Practice in different places and situations until your dog can sit on cue reliably.

Down

Down is another important command that can help you keep your dog under control and relaxed. It can also be a prerequisite for other tricks such as roll over.

• Ask your dog to sit first. Then hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it down to the ground between their paws. As your dog follows the treat with their nose, they will lower their chest and belly to the ground.
• As soon as your dog lies down completely, click or say your marker word and give them the treat. Repeat this several times until your dog gets the idea.
• Now add a verbal cue (such as “down”) right before you move the treat. Say it clearly and confidently, but not too loudly or harshly. Repeat this until your dog lies down as soon as they hear the cue.
• Gradually fade out the treat lure by moving it less and less to the ground until you can just use your hand as a signal. Always reward your dog with a treat after they lie down.
• Practice in different places and situations until your dog can lie down on cue reliably.

Stay

Stay is a command that can teach your dog self-control and patience. It can also help you keep them safe in potentially dangerous situations.

• Ask your dog to sit or lie down first. Then hold a treat in front of their nose and say “stay” in a calm and firm tone. Take a small step back and wait for a second. If your dog stays in place, click or say your marker word and give them the treat. If they move, say “no” or “uh-oh” and start over.
• Gradually increase the distance, duration, and distraction level of the stay command. For example, you can take more steps back, wait longer before rewarding, or add some noise or movement around them. Always go back to your dog to give them the treat instead of calling them to you.
• Practice in different places and situations until your dog can stay on cue reliably.

Come

Come is a command that can save your dog’s life if they ever run away from you or get into trouble. It can help you recall your dog from unwanted behaviors or situations.

• To teach your dog to come, you need to make it a fun and rewarding experience for them. Never punish your dog for coming to you, even if it took a long time or did something wrong before.
• Start by holding a treat in your hand and saying your dog’s name followed by “come” in a cheerful and enthusiastic tone. As soon as your dog looks at you, click or say your marker word and toss the treat to them. Repeat this several times until your dog responds to their name and the cue.
• Gradually increase the distance between you and your dog by moving away from them or having someone else hold them. Always reward your dog with a treat and praise when they come to you. You can also use a toy or a game as a reward if your dog likes them more than treats.
• Practice in different places and situations until your dog can come on cue reliably.

Shake

Shaking is a cute and easy trick that can impress your friends and family. It can also help your dog get used to having their paws handled, which can make grooming and vet visits easier.

• Ask your dog to sit first. Then hold a treat in your hand and gently lift one of their front paws with your other hand. As you do this, say “shake” and click or say your marker word. Give your dog the treat and release its paw. Repeat this several times until your dog gets the idea.
• Now try to get your dog to offer their paw without you lifting it. Hold the treat in your hand and say “shake” while pointing at their paw with your other hand. If your dog moves their paw towards you, click or say your marker word and give them the treat. If they don’t, gently lift their paw again and reward them.
• Gradually reduce the amount of help you give your dog until they can shake on cue without you pointing or touching their paw.

Roll Over

Rollover is a fun and challenging trick that can show off your dog’s flexibility and intelligence. It can also be a good way to stretch your dog’s muscles and joints.

• Ask your dog to lie down first. Then hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it towards their shoulder, making them turn their head. As they do this, say “roll over” and click or say your marker word. Give them the treat and praise them. Repeat this several times until your dog gets the idea.
• Now try to get your dog to roll over completely by moving the treat further behind their shoulder, making them roll onto their back. If they do this, click, or say your marker word and give them the treat. If they don’t, help them by gently pushing their shoulder or hip.
• Gradually reduce the amount of help you give your dog until it can roll over on cue without you moving the treat too much.

Conclusion

Teaching your dog basic commands and tricks can be a rewarding and enjoyable activity for both of you. It can also improve your dog’s behavior, health, and happiness. Remember to always use positive reinforcement, keep the sessions short and fun, and practice regularly.

If you need more help or advice on how to train your dog, contact us at Love My Dog, a professional dog training company that offers personalized and effective solutions for all your dog’s needs.

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Happy training! 🐶