“Come” “Sit” “Stay” “No” “Down” “Leave it” and “off”
Teaching your dog these 7 simple commands can not only save you a lot of aggravation, but they could possibly save your dog from harm in the future.
It’s important to start teaching your dog as soon as you can, because young dogs make eager pupils. In fact, the younger your dog is the easier it is to teach them so get started right away!
USING A CLICKER TO TEACH YOUR DOG
A clicker is a small, plastic box that fits in your palm and clicks when you press the end. It’s a simple, but effective tool if used properly in training your dog.
What you need: A clicker and several treats.
- To get your dog to understand the relevance of a clicker start by feeding him a treat at a time, pausing a few moments between each.
- At the exact moment they take the treat make sure to click the clicker.
- Your dog will start to understand that the click means a treat, associating it with your approval of the action they are taking at the moment of the click.
- Keep sessions to short, simple 10 minute intervals.
- Keep the mood light and happy as negative moods affect our pets.
- Always end the sessions positively with a trick that your dog does best.
- It’s important to start teaching your dog in a quiet, calm environment. Gradually start changing the environment to include distractions so that your dog behaves even when there are interruptions around.
When teaching your dog, positivity and reward is key. Your dog is much more likely to respond to praise than punishment as this can confuse them. Training your dog well can save you many headaches in the future and will even strengthen the bond you have with your dog.
