Training is one of the most important issues that arise when a puppy appears in the house and is one of the priority aspects of its education. But where to start ? What are the first commands a puppy should learn? These are frequently asked questions for new pet owners taking on the responsibility of a pet for the first time.
The commands that we will indicate below are basic in dog training. They are the first step for the dog to learn other tasks and, above all, they will be part of his daily behavior at home and outside. This is why their training is necessary.
Sit
Without a doubt, it is the first and simplest command that can be taught to a dog, and one of the first instructions that any owner, whether experienced or not, should follow with their dog.
How to learn it? One of the most effective ways to teach this command is to show your dog the treat and let him sniff it a bit. Then hold the treat in your hand and use your fist to draw an imaginary line from the dog’s head backwards while saying the word “sit”. After several attempts, you will notice the dog standing up while you perform this action. It is important to always use the same word: if you practice the command “sit”, it must not turn, for example, into “sit”. The dog will remember this word in order to associate it with this command.
Dog training.
image source: 123rf.com
Stay
The command may seem boring and unnecessary, but in fact it is one of the most useful and meaningful commands for a dog. Learning to stand still at home or during breaks during walks in the park is a basic command that should not be overlooked during initial training. It can keep your dog out of trouble.
How to learn it? It’s very simple: as soon as the dog learns to sit, ask him to do so. And with whichever signal you prefer (usually a finger or a palm), tell the dog to stay still by saying “stop” or “stand” (choose one) and take about two steps back. If he doesn’t move, come back and reward him with a treat. Then increase the distance by moving away from the dog. She is adaptable and will do it with ease when you ask her to.
On a walk in the park.
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Lie
“Sit”, “Stand”, “Lie down” are not only basic, but also sequential commands, which is why the third indication for the dog is necessary. Especially if we want her to stay close to us and rest.
How to learn it? Give your dog the “sit” command. Holding the treat in your hand, slowly lower it toward the floor, signaling your dog to “Down.” Like the previous ones, after a few tries, the dog will understand and associate both the word and the movement with this command and will do it automatically when you tell him.
volume
It is one of the most important commands, although it is not the first that the puppy learns. The fact that the dog listens to our call when it runs away, and at the same time comes back, is very important.
How to learn it? The popular “mine” requires a bit more practice than the previous commands. However, it is not a difficult process. Basically, watch your pup. If he runs to you on your first call, use the following training technique: the puppy leaves the room, you say out loud “to me”, and he will immediately come back to you. Pet him, praise him and give him a treat. As soon as the puppy is distracted from you and going about his business, give the command “to me” again and he should run towards you. Be sure to cheer every time. Also, the puppy will already associate this command with a call to run to the owner. Then you can train the team on the dog course, maintaining an increasing distance. The dog will understand that after calling him, he will receive a treat. You can move on to a more complex pattern: give the command “Sit,” then walk away from him a short distance and give the command “Come.”
Walk with the dog.
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Close
As you learn the basic commands, the level of difficulty also increases. That is to say, training requires more consistency and patience, especially when we teach a pet to walk beside us. A more difficult process, because during a walk the dog usually pulls on the leash to stop, sniff or observe something. This is why this command is necessary.
How to learn it? Walking with the dog down the street on a leash, we stop, giving the command “Stop” or “Stand” (see above). As soon as she executes the command, we resume walking with the “next” team. We repeat during the march and fix the result.
An important aspect is that the dog always walks on the same side of you: this way the dog will gradually understand the walking pattern next to you.
The dog carries a toy.
image source: 123rf.com
Take (Bring)
This is a team that will not only entertain the dog and relieve tension, but also teach him to deliver the items we have thrown away or hidden. Teaching a dog to “fetch” something is definitely helpful.
How to learn it? Pick up, for example, a ball or another toy that he likes. Play a little with the puppy so that he “connects” you with this toy. Then, not far from you, throw it with the “Grab” command. If the puppy brings you a toy, be sure to reward and pet it, then toss that object near you again. From the first attempts, you are unlikely to achieve a result, however, repeating these actions, you will see that the puppy will understand what is expected of him, and after bringing you a toy, he will receive a treat .
The commands “Seek” and “Let go”, “Give” are associated with this indication, because the dog is stimulated, and also learns to search for an object and return it.
Research
This command, like the previous one, stimulates the dog’s exploratory instinct, its sense of smell and its mind. It is a progressive learning, because to recover the object that we have thrown, the dog must search until it finds it and puts it in the hands of the owner.
Once the dog has returned the object, it should be rewarded for the successful holding. The first attempts are probably not so easy for him, but later he will feel more comfortable and perceive this process as a pleasant pastime with the owner.
Letting Go (Giving)
Along with fetching and fetching, teaching a dog to let go is a much needed command as it is common to see them clinging to something like a ball and not wanting to return it. Properly teaching a puppy to voluntarily return an object without having to remove it from its mouth will help us raise a calmer, more balanced animal.
How to learn it? As soon as the puppy finds the object, it is worth reaching out with the command “Give”, so that he notices that we are asking for the return of the object. Once the puppy releases the toy, be sure to reward it.
go (go forward, walk)
This command, also known as “forward”, is usually meant to command the dog to run or move freely, and to stop the work in progress. Although in most cases it is more common in the first aspect.
The dog will learn this command very easily because it gives the “green light” allowing him to run or move without any discomfort. To execute this command, it is important to first teach him to listen to the call and stay put, so that if we notice him leaving, we can be sure that the animal will respond to our instruction to return. .
Bounce
Although this command is the last on our list, it is no less important. A very useful command when training dogs. The “Jump” command is more common when dogs are involved in sports such as agility, but it is suitable for helping the animal overcome obstacles. In game and training practice, this command is very useful, and learning it can even be fun.
A dog overcomes an obstacle during an agility competition.
image source: 123rf.com
How to learn it? We take the puppy to a small obstacle, show him the treat on the other side and encourage him to reach for the treat. At first, the pup may simply climb over it, but over time it will jump over the barrier, knowing that a reward awaits it next.
Without a doubt, canine education is full of an infinite number of important aspects to achieve the mental and physical balance of our dog. Training is a deep and interesting subject that should be practiced consistently from an early age and as the dog develops.
The most important thing to remember is positive reinforcement. The training is entirely based on rewards and motivations which produce more visible and faster results, rather than the mistaken acceptance of bossy and aggressive behavior towards a pet which will not produce good results.
See also: How does memory work in dogs?
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