How to Make a Dog Obey a Command Like Stop

Use your dog's favorite foods as a reward during training.

Obedience training not only provides you with a way to teach your dog to perform certain behaviors on command, but also allows you to bond with your dog during training sessions. These sessions teach your dog valuable commands that allow you to control your dog. Certain commands, such as "stop," prevent your dog from performing destructive behaviors, ingesting nonfood items, and keep your dog safe in dangerous situations. Use a clicker to teach your dog this command, along with others, during your training sessions.

Things You'll Need

• Clicker
• Dog treats
• Empty soda can
• Coins
• Leash

Instructions

1. Teach the dog to associate the sound of the clicker with a positive experience, such as a treat. In sessions of five to 10 minutes, click the device, then immediately give your dog a treat. Continue this phase of the training until your dog responds to the click with an expectation of a treat.

2. Fill an empty soda can with several coins. Use this can to stop your dog from performing an activity. The loud noise will momentarily distract the dog from what it is doing. Once the dog is distracted and "stops," immediately click and treat your dog.

3. Teach the dog to associate the command with the action. Engage your dog in play with a favorite toy. During the play, say "stop" and cease the activity with your dog. The moment your dog freezes click and treat it. If the dog does not stop playing, distract it by shaking the can of coins. Click and treat the dog when it freezes. Repeat this exercise for five to 10 minutes each day until your dog responds to the vocal command by stopping whatever activity it is doing.

4. Give your dog the vocal command to "stop." Once it freezes, wait a few seconds before you click and treat the dog. Each time you give the command, lengthen the time between the command and the treat for each training session. This will teach the dog to "stop" for a set period of time, rather than just a moment.

5. Take your dog out on a leash for a walk. During the walk, say "stop," then stop walking. If the dog stops and freezes, click and treat it. If it does not stop, hold it on the leash until it stops trying to walk. Click and treat it. Repeat this for five to 10 minutes each day until the dog responds to the command by stopping. Lengthen the time of each stop required to receive a click-and-treat during each session.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the click-and-treat technique to teach other commands such as "sit" or "leave it." Combine these commands with "stop" to keep your dog from destructive chewing or scratching. Say "stop" to get the dog to cease the behavior and "leave it" to release an item such as a shoe. When walking, say "stop" to get the dog to pause, then "sit" to get it to sit down.

• Always click right on the desired behavior; any delay will only serve to confuse your dog.

• Say commands only once. Click-and-treat the dog only when it performs the desired behavior; do not click more than once.

• Teach one command at a time during each training session.

• Training takes weeks or months of reinforcement for your dog to learn to obey commands.

• Never punish your dog for disobeying a command; this causes the dog to fear you and it will relate training with punishment, not something enjoyable.

References

• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Clicker Training Your Pet
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Training Your Dog
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Impulse Control Training and Games for Dogs
• VetInfo: 6 Tips for Clicker Training Your Dog
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Teaching Your Dog to "Leave It"