How to Give Dog Commands
In order to properly train a dog, you will need to be consistent in your delivery of commands. Commands are the means by which you communicate your wishes to the dog. Without consistency in communicating your wishes, the dog has no idea what is expected of it. Dog commands can be delivered in a variety of different ways, including hand-gestures and with a clicker, but usually with the voice.
You will need:
- A leash
- A handful of small dog treats
- A dog-training clicker (optional)
- Teach your dog to sit. This is the easiest command to teach, as it is the easiest for the dog to do. Note that you should enforce the command so that the dog knows what you want it to do. In this case, gently pressing on the hindquarters until it sits is a good way to communicate your wishes with the dog. Once the dog sits, reward it with a treat. Repeat the lesson until the dog sits in response to your command. Deliver your commands in a firm, clear voice so that the dog can identify the particular command. A clicker may be used to reinforce vocal commands because the noise is clearer and more distinct. You click the instant that the dog obeys.
- Teach your dog to obey the other basic commands. Once your dog understands the principle of being rewarded for obedience then it is time to move on to the rest of the basics. “Stay” is another basic command that takes a little more effort to teach than “sit”. This involves teaching your dog to stay in one place even though you are moving away from it. This will take patience and repetition since the dog’s instinct will be to follow you since you have treats. Other basics involve the “come” command, the “down” command, “stop” and “back up” commands.
- Move on to more complex commands, but only after your dog has mastered the basic ones.
- Avoid becoming frustrated or angry during training sessions. Dogs naturally want to please their owners and they are very good at picking up emotions from vocal tones and body language. The dog may grow to dislike training sessions if you regularly become frustrated with it, this will only make the attempt to train it more difficult.