You’ve got your new pup and you want to teach her some tricks. You’ve tried teaching her to stay, but she doesn’t listen. You want to know how to train a dog, but you don’t know where to start. Don’t worry! This guide will give you all the tools you need to get started with basic dog training commands. From teaching your dog the basics of staying and coming when they hear their name, to teaching them more complicated things like not jumping on people or chewing on things, read on for a step-by-step process of how to train a dog from scratch.
What is dog training?
Dog training is a way to change a dog’s behavior in order to make them more manageable. This usually includes teaching them basic obedience training commands, like “sit” and “stay,” as well as more complicated behaviors, like, potty training, clicker training, crate training, not jumping on people or chewing on things.
Positive reinforcement is key
Positive reinforcement is a key component of how to train a dog. Dogs learn best when they receive something they like when they follow directions. This makes it easy for them to connect the action with the reward and figure out what we want them to do in order to get that reward.
One way you can use positive reinforcement is by giving your pup a treat every time she does something right. You could also offer her a toy or favorite treat when she’s done well. The more you reinforce good behavior with rewards, the more likely she’ll be to continue performing those behaviors.
Another way you can use positive reinforcement is by petting and attention. Petting your dog will give her a sense of security and make her feel loved and happy, so it’s no surprise that many dogs will work hard to earn back that love! You may even notice that she does the right thing more often just to get some affection from you!
When your dog knows how to do something, don’t forget to give them lots of praise! It’s important not only for their happiness but for their learning process as well—they’ll know what they’re supposed to do if you tell them what they did right!
Teach your dog to stay
First, you want to teach your dog what “stay” means. This will involve giving your pup a command, like “stay” or “wait”, and then rewarding them for obeying the command. All dogs are different, so patience is key when it comes to training. It’s important that you find what works for your dog before moving on to other commands.
When you say the command, use a hand signal as well. Keep your hands out in front of you, palm up and fingers wiggling, until they come back to you. This can help them distinguish where they are supposed to stay from where they are not supposed to go after being told “stay” or “wait”.
It may also be useful to show your puppy their favorite toy or treat right before telling them this new command for the first time. When they obey the command and stop moving, reward them with their toy or treat! You can do this process multiple times per day to reinforce the behavior.
Teach your dog to come when they hear their name
One of the fundamentals in dog training is teaching the dog to come when they hear their name. This may be tricky for some pups who are still getting used to their new home and family, but it’s a critical step in the process.
First, let your dog get comfortable at home and make sure they get plenty of exercise. They’ll be more likely to pay attention and learn if they’re feeling confident and unstressed.
Next, find a location that’s quiet and away from distractions like the TV, people, or other animals. When you call your pup’s name, make sure you’re calm and use a neutral tone of voice. If your pup doesn’t come after one call, walk towards them while continuing to say their name in a happy tone-of-voice. When they finally come over to you, praise them with gentle petting and give them treats as a reward for obeying your commands!
Teach your dog not to jump on people or chew on things
Teaching your dog not to jump on people or chew on things is a great place to start. Teaching this basic concept will help your dog with the most common problems, and it’ll make your home more pleasant for you and your guests.
To teach your dog not to jump on people, hold her collar when she jumps up and say “No!” in a firm voice. You can also ask them to sit before greeting them or giving them food. To teach them not to chew on things, be consistent and keep items they’re not allowed to chew out of their reach.
If you catch your pup jumping up or chewing something, don’t scream or yell at them; scolding them can make matters worse by making them scared of you. Calmly remove whatever they’re trying to gnaw on and replace it with an appropriate item like a toy or bone they’re allowed to chew on.
Teach your dog to sit
Teaching your dog to sit is a great way to start training. It’s simple, but the trick comes in getting your pup to do it when you ask them to.
To teach your pup how to sit, say “sit” and use a hand signal with the word. For instance, if you want your pup to sit, you can put your palm flat on the ground and raise your index finger. The second they stop sniffing or doing whatever else they’re doing and sit down, praise them! You can also click a clicker while saying “sit”!
Repeat this process several times so that the actions become associated with each other. Continue teaching them how to sit until they understand what you mean when you say “sit”.
Once they’ve mastered sitting on command, you can move onto teaching them how to stay. If they don’t listen when they’re sitting, try practicing holding out their favorite toy. Once you give it back, say “stay” before giving it back again. Repeat this process until they get the hang of not moving when they hear that command.
Teach your dog to loose leash walking
It’s important to teach your dog how to walk on a loose leash from the get-go. It will allow you to control your dog when they’re in a new environment or when you need them to be near you.
The best way to train a dog for this is by going through a series of steps, starting with getting their attention and rewarding them when they’re walking calmly on the leash.
The goal of these exercises is to encourage your pup to stay near you and continue moving forward when they hear their name. This will help make it easier for you when they’re in distracting environments, like at the vet’s office or when there are other dogs around.
Teach your dog to touch your hand
Touch is one of the most important things in your dog’s world. Without it, your pup would be stressed and confused. And you want to make sure they know how to touch you!
1. Get down at their level and wait for them to approach, then gently stroke their head with one hand.
2. Encourage them to lick your hand by sticking your thumb in the corner of your mouth and pulling it back towards you with a smacking sound (but do not actually touch or use your mouth). Your pup should follow suit and lick you back.
3. Add the cue “touch” while you’re doing this step by saying it out loud when they lick you back.
4. Once they’ve mastered this trick, add a verbal cue by saying “touch” before step 3 (or add the scent cue of something like peanut butter on your fingers)