Tips for Basic Dog Obedience Training

Training your dog to obey commands not only keeps him obedient; it also defines you as the leader. Dogs are pack animals, and they need to know their place. If your dog does not, your dog is likely to start leading himself, which can make him tough to handle, stressed and destructive. Obedience training also gives dogs a mental work-out, keeping boredom at bay. Training a puppy early will help her integrate into the family more easily.

  1. Basic Commands

    • The basic commands are "sit," "stay," "down," "come," "leave" and "heel." Begin training your dog to commands in a familiar place with no distractions, which gives him a chance to master one command before moving onto the next one. Some dogs will take longer to learn than others. Consistency is important. Saying "sit" one week and "sit down" the next will only confuse your dog.

    Rewards

    • Each time your dog successfully obeys a command, he should receive a reward, which can be a treat, a toy, or verbal and physical praise. Reward your dog immediately after he has obeyed the command, so he will make the connection between a particular behavior and the reward. Then he is more likely to repeat the desired behavior.

    The Three Ds: Distance

    • After your dog has mastered the basics, it's time to introduce the three Ds: distance, duration and distractions. Starting with distance, give your dog the "down" command when she is at your feet. When she successfully obeys, give her a treat. Take a step back. Give the command again and reward her when she obeys. Take another step back, gradually increasing the distance between you.

    The Three Ds: Duration

    • Asking your dog to hold a position for a long period of time gives him an effective mental workout. Give the "stay" command and count to three. If he stays successfully, reward him. Increase the amount of time gradually, as asking a dog to stay for five seconds and then for 60 seconds will confuse him. If he's obeying easily, try placing a treat in front of him with the command "stay." If he continues to obey you, give him the treat as a reward.

    The Three Ds: Distractions

    • You want your dog to obey you no matter what situation he is in, so you have to train him to listen to you when faced with a variety of stimuli. Start with a bouncing ball. When your dog is listening to you and not the ball, reward him by allowing him to chase the ball. Increase the difficulty by adding more than one stimulus or changing the location to a noisy place.

    Including Others

    • You want your dog to obey the other members of her pack, including "her" humans. Including them in the training ensures that she integrates with the family. If you go on vacation and leave your dog with friends, they will need to spend time training her to ensure a happy vacation for all. Repeat training often and at any point in a dog's life.

    Being the Leader

    • No one likes a grumpy teacher, including dogs. Dogs will always respond better to an upbeat-sounding voice. Shouting, hitting and jerking the leash only teaches your dog that you are unpredictable, leading to fear and possibly aggression. A happy dog needs consistency. If you feel yourself getting irritated, end the session. Training sessions should be short, enjoyable for both pet and owner, and repeated often. Over-training can frustrate your dog, leading to destructive behavior. If you have a puppy, scatter training sessions throughout the day.