Teaching a puppy new tricks can be fun and exciting for both of you. Although it can be stressful at times, it will pay off in the end when you have a well behaved puppy who LISTENS. Teaching your puppy a few basic commands is actually easier than you might think. As I’ve mentioned in prior “how-to’s”, I am a huge fan of the click-training method. I have found it to be the easiest and most effective training method when working with dogs. Everything that will be outlined in this how-to uses, and reinforces that method as well. The three most basic commands that every dog should know are “sit”, “stay” and “down”. Those are the commands that tend to be used most frequently.
Before you begin training I recommend that you go to a quiet place where there will be less distractions (away from other animals, people, etc). Keep your clicker and treats handy and you are ready to go!
The “Sit” Command
The “sit” command is the most used command for dogs, or at least in my household it is! Teaching a puppy the sit command is actually quite simple. Start by getting your puppy’s attention. When they make eye contact, click the clicker and give them a treat. The puppy should be ready to go by then. Say your puppy’s name again. This time, when they look at you, don’t click the clicker just yet. Show them the treat and then move your hand over the top of their head and say “<insert puppy’s name here> sit”. The puppy will have to look up and back to see it. You should notice that the puppy’s bottom will naturally go towards the ground. If the puppy continues to stand, but is still looking at the treat, it’s ok to nudge their behind down. When they sit, click the clicker, say “good sit” and give them a treat. Repeat this step a few times over. Once you have done it a few times, just hold the treat in front of them and tell them to “sit”. Eventually they will be able to respond to just the verbal command itself, no clicker or treat required.
The “Stay” Command
Once your puppy has got the “sit” command down, you can move on to the “stay” command. This one can be a little tricky sometimes, but with patience and practice your puppy is sure to get it. To teach the “stay” command, you must first have your puppy “sit”. When they are sitting, put a hand up and say ” <insert puppy’s name here> stay” and pause for a few seconds. When your puppy sits still, click the clicker, say “good stay” and give the puppy a treat. Repeat this a few times standing in front of them. Once they have the basic idea that “stay” means “just sit here” then you can start moving a bit. Have the puppy “sit”, and then tell them to “stay”. Wait a second and then move a step backwards. While you step back, say “stay” once more to reinforce the command. Wait another second or so. Click the clicker, say “good stay” and give them a treat. Continue to work with the “stay” command but gradually take more and more steps back. Eventually you should get to a point where you can walk a complete circle around your puppy and they will sit there contently.
The “Down” Command
The “down” command is a very simple and useful command for a puppy to know. This is a command that utilizes both the “sit” and “stay” commands that they learned prior. Once they have the other commands down, you can teach them this one. To get started, have your puppy “sit”. Once they are sitting, hold a treat in front of them and move your hand to the ground in front of them while saying “down”. Your puppy will start to bow down to follow the treat. Some puppies will stay in a bow position, with their front paws on the ground and their behind in the air. If they don’t put their behind down on their own, it’s ok to gently nudge it down for them. Once they are completely down click the clicker, say “good down” and give them a treat. Repeat this step a few times until they can go down completely without nudging. When they lay down, tell them to “stay” and back away. Work on the “down-stay” commands until they understand what they mean combined.
A few things to remember when training a new puppy: you must have patience. It can be very frustrating working with a new puppy, especially one that has a lot of energy, but if you become frustrated or impatient with them, they will be less responsive. Remember to give lots of praise and treats for a job well done. A puppy needs to know when they are doing something right. The more they are praised, the more they will be willing to perform what is asked of them, and the more they will be willing to learn more in the future!
