Teach Your Puppy These 5 Basic Cues

Jump Ahead:

• Teach Your Dog to respond to call
• Teach Your Dog Loose -Leash Walking
• Teach your Dog sit
• Teach your Dog Down
• Teach your Dog Stay

(1) How to Teach a Dog to Come When Called

Every pose of the pet has points to observe and practice

1. Sit with your puppy and say their name or the word “come.”
2. Each time you say “come/name,” give your puppy a treat. They don’t have to do anything yet! Just repeat the word and give a treat. Easy!
3. Next, drop a treat on the floor near you. As soon as your puppy finishes the treat on the ground, say their name again. When they look up, give them another treat.
4. Repeat this a couple of times until you can begin tossing the treat a little further away, and they can turn around to face you when you say their name. Note: Avoid repeating your puppy’s name; saying it too often when they don’t respond makes it easier for them to ignore it. Instead, move closer to your puppy and go back to a step where they can be successful at responding to their name the first time.
5. Once your puppy can turn around to face you, begin adding movement and making the game more fun! Toss a treat on the ground and take a few quick steps away while calling your puppy’s name. They should run after you because chase is fun!
6. When they catch you, give them a lot of praise, treats, or play with a tug toy. Coming to you should be fun! Continue building on these games with longer distances and in other locations. When training outside (always in a safe, enclosed area), it may be helpful to keep your puppy on a long leash at first.

When your puppy comes to you, don’t reach out and grab them. This can be confusing or frightening for some dogs. If your puppy is timid, kneel and face them sideways and offer treats as you reach for the collar.

Never call your dog to punish! This will only teach them that you are unpredictable and that it is a good idea to avoid you. Always reward your dog heavily for responding to their name, even if they have been up to mischief!

How To Train Your Puppy

(2) How to Teach a Dog Loose-Leash Walking

1. First, make sure your puppy is comfortable wearing a leash. This can feel strange at first, and some puppies may bite the leash. Give your puppy treats as you put the leash on each time.
2. Then, stand next to your puppy with the leash in a loose loop and give them several treats in a row for standing or sitting next to your leg.
3. Take one step forward and encourage them to follow by giving another treat as they catch up.
4. Continue giving treats to your puppy at the level of your knee or hip as you walk forward.
5. When they run in front of you, simply turn in the opposite direction, call them to you, and reward them in place. Then continue. Gradually begin giving treats further apart (from every step to every other step, every third step, and so on).
6. Eventually, your dog will walk happily at your side whenever they’re on the leash. Allow your dog plenty of time to sniff and “smell the roses” on your walks. When they’ve had their sniffing time, give the cue “Let’s go!” in a happy voice and reward them for coming back into position and walking with you.

(3) How to Teach a Dog to Sit

Every pose of the pet has points to observe and practice

There are two different methods for showing your puppy what “sit” means.

The first method is called capturing.

1. Stand in front of your puppy holding some of their dog food or treats.
2. Wait for them to sit. Then say “yes” and give them a treat.
3. Then step backwards or sideways to encourage them to stand and wait for them to sit.
4. Give another treat as soon as they sit.
5. After a few repetitions, you can begin saying “sit” right as they begin to sit.

The next option is called luring.

1. Get down in front of your puppy, holding a treat as a lure.
2. Put the treat right in front of the pup’s nose, then slowly lift the food above their head. They will probably sit as they lift their head to nibble at the treat.
3. Allow them to eat the treat when their bottom touches the ground.
4. Repeat one or two times with the food lure, then remove the food and use just your empty hand, but continue to reward the puppy after they sit.
5. Once they understand the hand signal to sit, you can begin saying “sit” right before you give the hand signal.

Never physically put your puppy into the sitting position; this can be confusing or upsetting to some dogs.

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