A Beginner’s Training Guide: 5 Essential Commands to Teach Your Dog

You’ve got a new pet, now what? It’s important to train your dog so that they have the skills to navigate their new home and the world of humans – especially if they're an intelligent and energetic breed. In this short article we’ve summarised some basic dog training tips and how to get your dog to do them. 

Before you do any of these techniques or methods, make sure that you're in a quiet, low-distraction environment. It helps if it’s only one person training the dog at a time to minimize confusion on your dog’s behalf.

Sit

This is the first and most basic dog command any trainer should know. First, take a tasty treat and hold it at the height of your dog's nose. Next, lift it up quickly, above their head and say ‘sit’. Naturally, your dog's nose will follow the treat and their bottom half will come to rest on the ground - and that’s it! Give your dog the treat, to reinforce the good behaviour and repeat. 

Eventually, you can simply make the command and your dog will listen. Sit is a great command because it’s simple, and once your dog understands it, they become familiar with the idea that commands may result in treats in general, making dog training much easier.

Come

This one is simple but requires patience and precise repetition. Pick up a treat or a toy when your dog is in another part of the room and whenever they start moving towards them, tell them “good dog!” or otherwise indicate that you’re pleased with them. Repeat this and then start using the word “come” every time at the start of the exercise. When they do, follow up with a treat for positive confirmation.

Lie Down

Take a treat and hold it in front of your sitting dog. They will begin following it with their nose and then bring the treat to the ground and move it in such a way as to encourage your dog to lie on their front. Repeat and give them a treat every second time they do the command. They should soon get the idea!

Stay

When the dog is sitting or lying down, show it a treat. Slowly, move the treat away from them while holding your hand up and saying “stay” firmly. Make eye contact with your dog and when you’re ready to give it to them take your hand down and give them a signal that it’s okay for them to eat it. Try and bring it further and further away from your dog each time, doing so in small, but frequent sessions.

How to Keep Your Dog From Leaving Your Property?

For all the training you may do, without adaptations and fences on your property, your dog may be liable to try and explore the land surrounding their new home. This also means other peoples properties, roads and all other kinds of perils. So what is the best way to keep a dog from straying? 

At Dog Guard of St. Louis, we use out-of-sight fencing systems to train your dog where they can and can’t go. Using our system of wireless dog fence-posts and a receiver attached to their collar, your dog will be kept safe and happy on your property.

Want to know more? Why not check our website, or contact us by phone at 636-397-3321 to find out more!