How to train your dog

Learn how to train your dog to sit, stay, lay down, roll over and shake hands।

So, you’ve got a new addition to your family, one who wags his or her tail and looks to you eagerly for food and love. Your pup is housebroken and comfortable in it’s home. Now what? Many people get a dog for the purpose of companionship or protection. They assume that a dog will simply adapt to their owner’s instructions and will do as they’re told in time. This may be so in some cases. However, the following is a surefire way to teach your dog to do some simple tricks. Once taught, you will see that it pleases your dog to perform these tricks, because our pets, more than anything, love to see us proud of them.

The first thing to take into consideration when training your dog is learning environment. The environment should be familiar, preferably in your home. If you have a yard, you may want to use the same training techniques both in your yard and inside your home. Dogs can have very short attention spans, and training your dog in a place with unfamiliar landscape, objects or scents will reduce your pup’s ability to focus.

Another environmental factor is the number of people present during training sessions. Only one family member should train your dog. It should be done one on one, again, to eliminate distractions. Once your dog has successfully learned each trick, the initial trainer should model the steps to each family member. They should remain seated and quiet while observing, and then try to prompt the dog to do the trick using the exact same hand motion, words and vocal tone.

The next considerations for proper dog training are rewards and punishments. Tangible rewards should consist of your dog’s favorite snack. It should be very small in size or broken into small pieces, because you may go through a large amount of treats in a short period of time. You will also use verbal praise as a reward, so that eventually your dog will do tricks without the promise of food. This will shortly be described in more detail. Rewards should only be given to a dog when it has properly performed the trick you are commanding it to do. If you instruct your dog to sit and it rolls over, your dog should not be rewarded.

Punishments for not performing a trick correctly should only include withholding of rewards and a firm “NO.” You want your dog to respect you, not fear you. Screaming or physically punishing your dog will cause your dog to be resistant to further training.

Another, and perhaps the most important, factor in training is voice tone. Your commands should be clear and firm. Your “No” tone should also be firm, and slightly louder. Your verbal praise should be loving, encouraging and excited. Think of how you would speak to a small child who has just accomplished something great. You may want to accompany verbal praise, such as “Good Boy/Girl,” with a pat on the head or a quick back scratch. Choice of words is also crucial. Choos one word or short phrase for each trick. If your dog doesn’t respond at first, do not get discouraged and do not change your word or phrase. This will only confuse your dog.

Once all of these factors are in place, teaching your dog should be fun and simple. Spend at least a solid hour teaching each trick, and teach only one trick per week. Practice that trick each day for at least a half-hour.

SIT

1) Stand about a foot from your dog, facing him/her. With one finger, point to the dog’s backside while saying “SIT.”

2) Take your hands and gently move your dog’s body into sitting position, repeating the word “SIT” every five seconds.

3) When your dog is sitting, give him/her a treat and verbal praise.

Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3. Eliminate step two when your dog sits on their own.

STAY

1) Instruct your dog to sit. Extend your hand, palm flat (as you would signal to

stop) and say the word “STAY.”

2) Repeat the word “STAY” every five seconds as you back away from your dog

Slowly, keeping your hand extended.

3) When you are about ten feet away, take down your hand and say “COME

HERE .”

4) Give your dog a treat only when he/she waits for your hand to come down and

for you to call them.

Repeat steps 1-4 , giving treats only when your dog stays put until your cue. Say

“NO” and start over if your dog comes before you give a signal. Next, try holding up

a treat while your “STAY” hand is still extended. If your dog does not stay, say

“NO” and hold your flat hand close to his/her face, saying “STAY.” Try pushing

your hand farther forward when you hold up the treat, to keep your dog focused on

the command rather than the reward.

LAY DOWN

1) Instruct your dog to sit. Hold your hand palm down and push it to the floor,

saying either “DOWN, “ or “LAY DOWN.”

2) Gently pull your dog’s front paws until they are laying down, repeating the

word “DOWN.”

3) Give your dog a reward and verbal praise when they are laying down.

Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3, eliminating step 2 when your dog lays down on command.

ROLL OVER

1) Instruct your dog to sit then lay down. Take a treat and hold it at your dog’s

Chin. Circle it very slowly around your dog’s head, allowing he/she to

follow it.

2) Say the words “ROLL OVER” as you bring the treat around the top of your

dog’s head. At this point, your dog should roll over naturally, trying to get

the treat.

3) Give your dog reward and praise when they have rolled over on command.

SHAKE HANDS

1) Instruct your dog to sit. Extend your hand, palm up, about a foot from the

ground and a foot from your dog. Say the word “PAW.”

2) Take your dog’s paw and place it in your extended hand, repeating the word

“PAW.”

3) Give your dog reward and praise when he/she gives you’re his/her paw.

Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3, eliminating step 2 when your dogs gives you’re his/her paw

on command. Once your dog has learned to do this, try saying “OTHER PAW,” and

moving your hand slightly to the left or right, depending on which paw you want

them to give you. Keep switching back and forth until your dog alternates between

paws.

Now that your dog has learned these simple tricks, continue to allow them to show off. You should keep in mind that you and your dog have worked hard to get to this point, and being consistent about practicing will keep your dog’s tricks fresh in his/her mind. You may want to use words or phrases different than the ones suggested above for each trick. That is fine, as long as you use the same word or phrase every time, and as long as it is not a word or phrase you will use for something else. You can also use these techniques for other tricks, altering the instructions slightly for each new trick. Enjoy your dog’s new abilities, and don’t forget to let your dog know how much you care about them every day.