National Dog Training Month: The Four Basic Commands You Need to Know

Have you recently adopted a dog or plan to? If you’re a novice dog owner and are unfamiliar with how to train your pup, don’t panic! In honor of National Dog Training Month, we’re going to talk about four basic commands you can teach your dog starting today – and what to do!

STAY

The “stay” command is an incredibly valuable skill to teach your dog. Not only is it useful in social situations – like preventing your dog from excitedly jumping on your neighbor – but it can also be life-saving. Imagine if your dog ran in front of a car. Training them to “stay” could prevent a tragic scenario.

To practice “stay”, hold your hand out towards your dog, palm facing towards them. Hold your hand for two or three seconds and then reward your pup with a treat. As your dog gets used to the training, you can increase the time of the “stay”.

SIT

“Sit!” is a popular command because it teaches your dog self-control. If needed, getting your dog to sit gives them a moment to relax and take a break from their environment. This can be particularly useful in social situations.

To train your dog to “sit”, take a treat and hold it up over the eyes and slightly behind their head. As they sit, say “Sit!” and reward them immediately. The key is to make sure you are holding the treat at the right distance to coax your dog into a sitting position. If you hold the treat too high, they can jump; too low, and they won’t need to sit to reach the treat.

DOWN

Once your dog has mastered the “Sit” command, they are ready to learn “Down”. Similar to the “Sit”, teaching your dog how to stay “down” until you release them from the position has significant benefits. One particular advantage of a trained dog that responds to “Down!” is that they are able to stay in one place for a longer amount of time because of the comfortable position. If need be, your dog can rest while “Down” – which is necessary after a long day of playing and learning!

To teach your dog “Down”, first have them sit. Once they are seated, show them a treat and slowly lower it to the ground. As the dog reaches for the treat, they place their paws and legs on the floor to lay down – praise and reward them as soon as they get into the down position.

COME

“Come!” is an important basic command in dog training because, like “Stay”, it promotes your pup’s safety and wellbeing.

To practice, start by taking a few steps away from your dog. Take a treat and lay it on the ground next to you and say, “Come!” coupled with enthusiastic smiles and outstretched hands. Once they reach you and get the treat, repeat the exercise as necessary.

DON’T DO IT ALONE

Dog training is a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work. Remember to be as patient as possible and keep training sessions to no more than 5-10 minutes a day.

Want more practical help? At The Good Dog Spot, we offer a fun, safe environment in our Dog Daycare programs that complement your training at home. Give us a call or stop by to find out more!