Teach Your Puppy These 5 Basic Cues
Getting Started
To get off to a good (and paw!) start with your pup, you must make sure they know what you expect of them. As a result, they will be more certain that they can achieve the goals they have set for themselves in the future.
Training should be based on positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the practice of rewarding desired behaviour in people or dogs, such as paying someone for showing up to work. Instead of using the behaviour as a punishment, the goal is to train it using something your dog appreciates.
Avoid shouting at or correcting your dog with the leash. As a result of punishment, a dog could become confused and unsure about what is expected of them. It is vital to remember that we cannot expect dogs to know something they do not yet expect, similar to expecting a 2-year-old child to know how to tie their shoes. As puppies learn long-term behaviour, your new puppy will significantly benefit from your patience.
You can utilize your dog’s favourite things as reinforcement. Most owners give their dogs little pieces of special food with a high “value,” such as freeze-dried liver or even their kibble, as rewards during training. The reward for using a prized toy or giving generous praise are some examples of rewarding rewards. Dogs must be taught to appreciate praise. If you give your dog a treat and say, “Good dog!” in a cheerful voice, they will learn that praise is constructive and may be utilized as a reward. Some dogs enjoy being petted as well. Food is typically the most accessible method of behaviour reinforcement.
When puppies move into their new home, typically when they are approximately eight weeks old, they can begin basic training immediately. Training sessions should always be brief—only five to ten minutes—and have a positive conclusion. If your puppy struggles to learn a new behaviour, end the training session by reviewing something they already understand. Then, thank them profusely and give them a sizable reward for their praise. Your puppy’s ability to learn will ultimately suffer if they get frustrated or bored.
How to Teach a Dog to Come When Called
Begin your recall training (coming when called) indoors and in a serene place.
- Call your puppy by name or say “come” while sitting next to it.
2. Give your puppy a treat whenever you call or use his name. They are still without any tasks! Repeat the word once more and then give a treat. Easy!
3. After that, drop a treat nearby on the floor. Repeat your puppy’s name as soon as the treatment is done and on the ground. When they raise their heads, give them another treat.
4. Repeat this several times until you can throw the treat a little further away, and they turn to face you when you call their name. Avoid calling your puppy’s name repeatedly if they don’t respond because doing so makes it easier for them to ignore it. When your puppy can successfully respond to their name for the first time by coming closer to them, start over at that step.
5. Once your puppy can turn to face you, begin incorporating mobility and increase the game’s fun value! Toss a treat to the ground, call your puppy’s name, and run away as swiftly as possible. It’s thrilling, so they should run you!
6. When they catch you, shower them with praise and treats, or play tug-of-war with them. It should be wonderful to visit you! Playing these games farther apart and in other locations can help you to continue growing in them. Keep your puppy on a long leash first (always in a secure, enclosed environment) when training outdoors.
When your puppy runs up to you, could you resist the urge to grab him? This could be confusing or perplexing for certain dogs. If your puppy is timid, squat, face your back to them, and start to reach for the collar while giving them treats.
Never call your dog to correct them! They will teach that it is best to stay away from you as a result of the fact that you are unpredictable. Give your dog a big reward every time they come when you call, even if they’ve been misbehaving.
How to Teach a Dog to Walk Free without a Leash
In dog obedience contests, “heel” means the dog walking on your left side while you are lightly holding the leash and training its head against your knee. Puppy training can be a little more relaxed because the main goal is to get them to walk nicely without pulling on a loose leash. Some trainers prefer to say “let’s go” or “forward” instead of “heel.”
Whatever cue you choose, be consistent and use the same word each time. Whether your puppy walks on your left or right side is entirely up to you. However, be consistent in your expectations of where you want them to go to prevent them from becoming confused and learning to zigzag in front of you.
- Determine whether your puppy is comfortable walking on a leash. This could initially seem unusual, and some puppies might bite the leash. Give your puppy treats each time you put the leash on.
2. Next, while holding the leash in a loose loop next to them, reward your dog for standing or sitting next to your leg repeatedly.
3. Encourage them to take a step while permitting them by rewarding them with another treat when they regain lost ground.
4. As you walk, continue to give your puppy treats at your knee or hip level.
5. If they start to run in front of you, turn around, call them over, and reward them for staying in place. Then continue. As you proceed, gradually space out your treats (from every step to every other step, every third step, and so on).
6. Eventually, your dog will wander contentedly by your side while on a leash. Give your dog plenty of time to sniff and “smell the roses” while you’re out walking. Once they’re done sniffing, say cheerfully, “Let’s go!” and give them a treat for returning to where they belong and walking with you.
How to Teach a Dog to Sit
You can teach your puppy the meaning of “sit” in one of two ways.
The first method is called capture.
- Place some dog food or treats in front of your puppy.
2. Wait for them to take a seat. After that, affirm and give them a treat.
3. Encourage a sideways or backward step after they have been encouraged to stand, then wait for them to sit.
4. Give them another treat as soon as they settle down.
5. With a little effort, you can start addressing them as “sit” as soon as they take a seat.
The next option is called alluring.
- While enticing your dog with a treat, get on all fours in front of him.
2. put the treat directly in front of the recipient’s nose before raising it gradually above their head. They’ll probably sit and lift their heads to munch on the treat.
3. Allow them to eat the treat when their bottoms come into contact with the ground.
4. After using the food lure a few times, take it away and only use your empty hand. When the dog sits, reward them with a treat.
5. Once they can give the sit signal with their hand, you can begin saying “sit” just before you give the hand gesture.
Never force your puppy in a sitting position; some dogs could find this confusing or unpleasant.
How to Teach a Dog to Lie Down
Like “sit,” “down” is a word that can be taught to kids.
- You could wait for your dog to fall asleep (beginning in a boring, small room such as a bathroom can help).
2. To acknowledge the behaviour, reward your dog with a treat when they lie down.
3. After giving them the cue to stand back up, wait for them to lie down once more (and encourage, if necessary, using a lure).
4. As kids quickly lie down after standing up, you should begin saying “down.”
You can lure someone to fall from a standing or seated position.
- Hold a treat in your hand close to the dog’s nose and bring it slowly to the floor.
2. When the dog’s elbows come into contact with the floor, start by giving it a treat.
3. After a few repetitions, begin lowering your empty hand to the ground and rewarding your dog when they lie down.
4. Once they can reliably follow your hand signal, begin saying “down” as you move your hand.
When sitting, never force your dog into a down position.
How to Teach a Dog to Stay
When given the “stay” cue, a puppy will stay seated until you tell them to stand up by saying the “release word,” another cue. Staying put is a behaviour that develops through time. The goal is to train your dog to sit still until the release cue is given; after that, you can start extending your distance.
- Teach students the release word. Choose a word you’ll use, such as “OK” or “free.”
2. Hold your puppy in a sitting or standing position as you toss a treat onto the floor. As they approach the treat, toss them your word.
3. Repeat this a few times to master the ability to say the word first, then toss the treat once they start to move. As a result, the dog understands that the release cue indicates stepping forward.
4. After your dog has mastered the ability to sit on command and react to the release cue, put them in a seat, face them, and give them a treat.
5. Give them another treat as a reward for staying put, then release them.
6. Gradually increasing the time between treats (chanting the ABCs aloud as you move up the alphabet can help).
7. Your dog may stand up before the release command! Simply put, it just means they aren’t ready to sit for so long. You may make it easier by going back to a shorter time.
8. Once your dog can stay seated for several seconds, you can begin extending the distance.
9. Put the dog in a sitting position and tell them to “stay.” Then, go back a step and return to the dog with a treat and the release command.
10. Continue to stay successful material in easy increments to ensure your dog’s success. Practice turning your back on them and walking away (which is more realistic).
Once your dog can stay, you can progressively increase the distance. This also applies to the “sit.” The more thoroughly they learn it, the longer sitting periods are achievable. The trick is not to set yourself up for disappointment. Because training goals are reached in little steps, you might need to go slower and concentrate on one thing at a time. To ensure the training “sticks,” sessions should be brief and successful.
Basic Instructions for Training a Puppy
Make training sessions fun and brief. Every session needs to end with a joyful close. If you think your dog is learning slowly or acting “stubborn,” consider the value of your rewards and the time of your training sessions. Do you need to slow down and make the steps easier for your dog, or does he need a bigger reward for a harder activity?
Your puppy’s training will give off on a strong footing with the “Basic 5” cues. And to think that if you and your puppy continue to work hard and have fun throughout training, you two might one day win an obedience competition!