Basic Commands to Teach Your Pup
Every dog owner would like their pet to be well-behaved, disciplined, and not dangerous to other dogs or humans. Some people say that the dog’s reactions depend on its personality or previous experience and they simply cannot be changed. However, the knowledge on pets and their reactions is constantly expanding, and you can find some recent research on pet psychology online.
Other people claim that pets behaviour can be improved, for example through therapy or dog training. Regardless of which theory you stick to, there are some simple commands that every dog can learn.
Basic commands really facilitate both dog’s and owner’s lives – it’s easier to take the pet for a walk, or simply live together in a house. Below, we present top easy commands that every dog will easily catch and understand.
‘Sit’
The ‘sit’ command is probably the most popular and widely recognized one. Why do we teach our dogs to sit down? By giving this command, we actually say ‘calm down’ or ‘don’t move’.
The ‘sit’ command is commonly used in situations when we want the dog to stay in one place – for example, when there’s another dog or a danger nearby.
How to teach your dog the ‘sit’ command? According to experts from PetPlace, the easiest way to teach your pup this command is by rewarding him with food. First, take some food and hold it in front of your pet’s nose. Then, try to move the hand with food upwards, so that the dog follows your hand to reach it.
Then, give the ‘sit’ command and – if the dog performs it properly – reward it with the food. When the dog has some problems understanding this command, simply repeat it as many times as needed.
‘Come’
The ‘come’ command is another one that’s both common and necessary in everyday life with your pet friend. It is used simply when we want the dog to come near us, when there’s a danger, or the dog is running away.
The command is also useful in the moments when we keep the dog unleashed, for example, on a busy street.
What can owners do to teach their pets the ‘come’ command?
It’s best to start when keeping your dog on a leash – keep it at some distance. Then, draw the pet’s attention by saying ‘come’ and observe its reaction. Once the pet comes closer to you, give it a reward in the form of food. Then, repeat the procedure without the leash.
‘Stay’
The ‘stay’ command is really useful when dog owners want to keep their pet in place, for example, in public places, or other more formal circumstances.
It is closely related to the ‘sit’ command, as the dog needs to be seated at first. To make your dog learn this command, give the ‘sit’ command at first.
Then, when the dog reacts to it, put the palm of your hand towards the dog and give the command ‘stay’, just like you were giving out a ‘stop’ sign. If the pet listens, say a praise word or phrase, such as ‘good’, ‘very well’ etc.
To make the command even more effective, try to move away from the dog, so that it reacts to the command from some distance. To read more on teaching the ‘stay’ command, click here.
‘Down’
The ‘down’ command is sometimes considered challenging and difficult for a dog to learn. When a dog fulfills it, it is in a completely passive position, which is not easy for these animals.
However, the ‘down’ command can be practiced by showing your dog a hand with something tasty to eat and making it follow the hand. After that, the owner needs to put the hand down on the floor or the ground, so that the dog lies down in order to reach it. When your pet lies down successfully, give the command ‘down’.
Then, it is time to praise the pet and give it the food. If necessary, repeat the action for a few times until the dog follows your instructions completely.
‘Wait’
The ‘wait’ command is used in situations when the owner wants the dog to wait in front of the closed door – so that it doesn’t run away or try to open the door.
In order to make the dog react to this command, walk it towards the door, and give the command ‘wait’. Then, close the door and leave the dog for a few minutes. After this time, open the door slowly and make the door stay still until you open it completely.
This command should be repeated a few times so that the dog masters it. It is important especially in public places, when we want to leave the dog, for example, in front of a building. To get some more tips connected with the ‘wait’ command, have a look at this article.
Conclusion
It is almost impossible to function with your pet on a daily basis without commands like ‘wait’ or ‘sit’.
Therefore, every dog owner should make their pet learn some basic commands as soon as possible. Remember that the learning process may take time. Don’t get discouraged too quickly. Also, if you have serious and permanent problems with the dog’s behaviour, it’s a good idea to consult a professional dog behaviorist. This website can be of use when you want to get some more knowledge about how these specialists work.
