What Commands Should Your Dog Know?
You do not want to have a champion obedience dog but you want a well-mannered family pet. What commands do you need to teach him?
The first thing your dog needs to know is to come to his name. You start by calling him and when he comes, you reward him. How simple is that? Make sure you acknowledge him every time and he will come to you every time.
The next thing he needs to know is ‘No’. You say it firmly and quickly. It must get his attention. Every time he is about to do something you do not want him to do you must say ‘No’. He will learn that he is to stop and look at you for further instructions.
The next thing a well-mannered pet knows is how to walk on a leash. He needs to walk beside you, on the left hand side, without tugging at the leash.
When starting to train your dog to walk on a leash you need to make sure he does not get a fright and try to run away. He will fight the leash and become tangled up. This will frighten him.
Start in a familiar area like your back yard and let him wear the collar and leash while walking around. He will get accustomed to the feeling. Do not leave him unattended.
Once he is accustomed to the feel of the collar and leash, start to walk with him, holding the leash. Do things slowly and gradually. As he becomes comfortable with one thing, move onto the next.
When you take him for a walk for the first time, do not rush him. Do not expect to walk far the first few times. If he struggles, just stand still until he is ready. It will not take long for him to look forward to walking with you.
When he tugs, give one quick jerk, and then stop walking. He will learn the jerk means he is being punished and the walk will not continue until you say.
If he does not want to move, give him a quick jerk, and then call him to you. Reward him for coming.
If he crosses in front of you, give him a quick jerk, and then keep the leash short so he cannot cross. When he stops trying to cross, praise him.
Many people get their dogs to sit at every corner when they are walking. It is a good way to train the dog to sit. It is supposed to encourage them to look before they cross the road too.
Sit and Drop are the next most popular commands. They can be taught at home first, and then practised on your walks. Give your dog the command and when they are in the right position, reward them. If you have brought your pup up to sit before he gets a treat he will catch on very fast.
Once your pet knows these commands and you practice them several times every day, you will have no trouble training him with any command. Once he associates a given verbal cue with a movement and getting a treat, he will almost train himself.
