Things You'll Need:
- Treats
- <br>Toys
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Step 1
You have to be consistent. This means always using the same word for the same action. When asking your dog to sit, always say SIT. Don't say sit one time, sit down the next. To get his attention, say his name first--"Fido, SIT." Always praise when he obeys. Use treats as a reward when he is first learning, then phase them out when he obeys reliably.
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Step 2
Mean what you say and say what you mean. Dogs are very honest creatures; we should be honest back. It's only fair. When you tell Fido to sit, expect him to obey on the first command. If he doesn't sit right away, gently push his rump down until he is sitting, and reward him. If you reward him after telling him SIT seven times, guess what? You are telling him it's OK to wait until the seventh time to obey you.
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Step 3
Increase his vocabulary. By simply pairing a word with an action, you will get compliance over time. Here's an example: Every time you let your dog go outside, use the same word--"Wanna go OUTSIDE?" Use a happy voice. If you make a habit of this, he will understand that the word OUTSIDE means to go outside. Then you can use it as a command. Open the door and tell him to go outside. This is a very easy way to train! How many routine things can you add a word to? Here's one idea: Every time your dog goes into a different room, use the name of that room--"office," "kitchen" or "bedroom." After a while your dog will know the word for all the rooms in your house.
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Step 4
Teach tricks. They can be basic ones like "shake hands," or slightly more complicated ones like "roll over" or "say your prayers. "These are fun, and the more you teach your dog, the more willing he is to pay attention to you. Dogs like learning things because they are working animals. Search this site for ways to teach your dog different tricks. If you make it fun, you'll be amazed at how much your dog can learn.
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Step 5
Pay attention to your tone of voice. Dogs react to the tone of your voice as well as the words you use. A low, calm voice is usually listened to better than a squeak or screech. No need to yell--most dogs have extremely good (if selective!) hearing.
