You might be asking yourself, “why should I train my dog to do commands?” The commands themselves aren’t that important, but in general, training your dog is a great way to strengthen the bond you share with them. Learning commands helps reinforce positive behaviors and can help teach certain boundaries in their home environment.
Learning tricks that involve verbal commands is an easy way for your pet to learn what you want them to do when they hear those words! It’s rewarding because it shows that you and your dog are really connected. Not only do you get to snuggle up with your dog, but you too can “speak a common language.” Your dog knows what you want when you command them, and you can trust them to perform well in different situations.
Here are a couple of tips for when you start training your dog to do commands:
Now that we’ve gotten some tips out of the way, let’s get into the tricks. Some of these tricks are vital in helping control your dog’s behavior, while others are just fun. Pick your favorite or try them all! Here are the top ten tricks you can teach your dog.
This is one of the essential commands for your dog to learn, and it will make them easier to handle in uncertain situations. Start by holding a treat close to your dog’s nose, then use the command “sit” as you move it above and behind their head. Give them a couple of seconds to comply, then praise with plenty of treats when they do so successfully. Continue trying to have your dog do this trick in short sessions and they’ll get it in no time.
Once you’ve gotten your dog to sit reliably, you can take it a step further. Down gets your dog all the way to the ground, so it can be great at managing their behavior.
Take a treat in your hand and hold it out to your dog’s nose. Hold the treat up and back, then use the command “down” as you bring it down in front of them. Slowly lower your hand towards the ground until they’re lying on their stomach with their head facing you. Give plenty of praise when they comply.
Once your dog has mastered “sit,” ask them to stay. To begin, have your dog sit and give them a treat. When they’re in the sitting position, tell them “stay” and walk away from them. Keep walking until you get far enough that your dog starts to follow you or gets up. At this point, turn around quickly and go back towards your dog while giving praise for staying put when told to do so.
Start to teach this command by attaching a leash to your dog. Stand as far from your dog as the leash will allow. When your dog starts to come towards you, say “come” and give them a treat. If your dog doesn’t automatically start coming toward you, give them a gentle tug, then reward them when they approach you.
This is a great trick to get someone’s attention. Dogs will usually not want to have their paws touched, so it’s also a great trick to get them used to others touching their paws.
Start by having your dog sit. Gently grab their paw and shake it in front of their face. After about two seconds, give them a treat. Once they get used to you touching their paws, start shaking one foot at a time while praising them.
Going to bed is a great trick for when your dog gets overly excited. It gives them a safe space for them to relax. To start teaching them to go to bed, start by having them lay on their bed. Say the word “bed” and gently push them onto it with your hand. Once they are laying in bed, say “bed” again and treat them.
