7 Basic Commands to Teach Your Pup

If you have a dog that you love so much, you will surely adore them so much that you might not be aware of what your family thinks about it. You must realize that not everybody adores dogs, especially if he’s a rowdy one. You might feel you shouldn’t worry about what other people think about your pet, but you are responsible for your dog as the owner. When people who live with you and around you are not happy with how your dog behaves, you should consider training your furry friend.

If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, because here are great dog training tips to get you started with the seven basic commands for your beloved pet:

Rules of Basic Dog Training

Before we start with the basic commands, it’s best to know these ‘rules’ to make the training process easy for you and enjoyable for your dog:

1. Keep the training short, especially if your pup is young. Like kids, they have a short concentration span, so it’s better to do multiple quick training sessions than a really long one. For instance, 5-minute bouts of training done five to six times a day, plus a half-hour session will work wonderfully. 
2. Start by removing any distractions in the area. The focus should be on the training and not on other things in the yard or room. Later on, when your dog has learned the basics, you can start adding some distractions to train him to follow your command even in an unstable environment. 
3. Train when both you and your dog’s mood are positive. Never start your training when you are tired, sleepy, or stressed because your dog will quickly pick up on your emotions, and that can affect his training. 
4. Always end on a positive note. When the dog feels he achieved something good with his training and is rewarded for it, easing him into the subsequent training sessions will be easier. 
5. Do reward-based training when you’re starting out. Rewards could be treats, toys, and even some sweet cuddles. Never punish your dog or use choke chains because this will only traumatize your dog, and he might refuse to train next time. 

What Are the Seven Basic Dog Commands?

1. Sit

This is the easiest command to teach your dog, which is why it should be the first. This will be the foundation of his training, so take your time and do it right. Make sure to motivate your dog and show appreciation by giving a reward when he learns this command. 

2. Down

After learning to ‘sit,’ you can move on to ‘down,’ which is basically telling your dog to lay down. This is an important command, especially if you have a large dog that could be intimidating to guests.

3. Stay

This works together with ‘sit’ and ‘down.’ In the beginning, your dog may only be able to do ‘sit-stay’ or ‘down-stay’ for a few minutes or so. But as the training goes on, he’ll learn to do it for up to half an hour. This is a good command to master when you are busy, and you don’t want the dog messing up with your work. 

4. Come

This is a command that you should learn, especially when you frequently take the dog out for walks. This can also be a life-saving command, as this can prevent him from running off into traffic or to other dogs. 

5. Off

‘Off’ is not the same as ‘down.’ ‘Off’ is a command that tells your dog to stop climbing on your bed, furniture, and, more importantly, people. This will teach him to behave appropriately, especially when there are guests in your home.

6. Heel

This is the command that you’ll often use when you take him walking to the park. Your dog should learn to ‘heel’ at a young age, so you won’t have to keep on saying ‘no’ when you’re out!

7. No

Teaching ‘no’ to your dog will instill in him the things that he shouldn’t be doing, like trying to eat trash that he picks up outside or barking loudly at your family or friends. Like with ‘off,’ learning this command will make your dog a well-mannered one. 

Conclusion

Learning how to train your dog is one of the best things that you can do for him and for your family, neighbors, and friends, too. A well-behaved dog is more appreciated than one who doesn’t know how to follow commands. Training will take time, and it can be challenging, so you have to prepare for that!

If you need more great dog training tips and pet care hacks, The Pets People has your back. We provide helpful information for all pet lovers to enjoy and learn from! Check out our other posts today for more information!