How to Teach Your Puppy Beginner Basic Obedience

This article covers three basic commands: "Sit," "Stay," and "Come."

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your dog's favorite treats

Teaching Your Dog To Sit

1. Start with your dog in a standing position. Hold a treat in your fingertips and slowly move the treat from his nose and up between his eyes.

2. Usually, his nose will follow the treat up, and his backside will go down. When it does, reward him with a treat. If he jumps up or paws at the treat, take it away. Then try again.

3. Once your dog consistently responding to the hand motion you can add the command "Sit." Saw the command followed by the hand signal a second later.

Teaching Your Dog To Stay

4. Stand in front of your dog and tell him to "Sit." When he complies, extend your arm and hand toward him, your palm facing directly at his face. Your hand signal should look like a police officer stopping traffic. Say the command "Stay."

5. Count out 3-10 seconds in your head. If he holds his position, reward him with a treat. Keep your voice and demeanor calm, or he may stand up excitedly. Also keep your hand in position while you give him the treat.

6. Repeat this technique, challenging your dog to longer periods of time, like 12-15 seconds, or longer if you like. Each time he holds his position, reward him with a treat. Work your way up to taking a few steps back while keeping him in position.

Teaching Your Dog To Come

7. With your dog standing next to you on leash, say his name, then the command "Come!" in a bright, clear tone. Then, quickly turn away to invite your pup to chase you. Go ahead about ten steps.

8. As you move away from your doggy, use a repetitive noise like clapping to keep him running after you.

9. Turn around after you've gone the ten steps and when he catches up to (be careful, he might already be there!) reward him immediately with praise and a treat.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not ruin the command by using it to get him to approach you for anything negative. Would you want to come to anyone knowing you were about to be crated or reprimanded? Approach the dog yourself if this is the case, and leave the command untainted for your doggy. Always make the command rewarding, that way he'll be more likely to obey.
• You must have patience, and you must be committed to training your dog! The process of teaching a dog to be obedient can be daunting, but is incredibly rewarding in the end. Good training will forge a bond between you and your doggy that no one or nothing will ever be able to break.