While we realize that having a trained dog that is ready to jump through 15 hoops in 30 seconds is not the same as having a dog that knows how to sit, it doesn’t mean that you can’t put basic obedience to good use. Knowing that your dog will always sit, stay or follow you whenever you want is comforting and you can rest assured that your pet won’t put you into uncomfortable (and even potentially dangerous) situations, especially in public.

So, where do you start when you want to teach your dog some basic obedience tricks? You could go the easy way and just pay for someone to run them through an obedience course, but these tend to cost a lot of money. Besides, training your pooch can be fun and it does wonders for your relationship with your furry friend, so why not try doing it yourself?

Here are the commands:

Sit

Despite what many people believe, teaching your dog to sit on command is one of the easiest dog obedience commands, which makes it a good one to start your training with.

• Buy (or make) some tasty treats and choose the ones you know your dog likes the most. The more they like them, the more they will commit to obtaining them. Hold the treat close to your dog’s nose.
• Slowly move your hand up, allowing your pooch’s head to follow the treat, resulting in their bottom lowering towards the floor. After a few seconds, your pooch should be in a sitting position.
• Once they are in sitting position, say “sit” with a firm voice and give them the treat, showing affection along the way. Make sure that you’re not shouting at them, but also try to say it loud enough to make them realize it’s an instruction.
• Repeat this sequence a couple of times every day until your dog has mastered it. Once they have, ask them to sit before mealtime, when leaving for walks, while waiting in a line and during other situations where you would like them to remain calm and seated. Teach them that they won’t be rewarded with a treat every single time because you won’t exactly have doggy treats with you at any given moment.

Come

This is a useful command to help keep your dog out of trouble, bring them back in case you lose your grip on the leash or if you accidentally leave the front door open.

• Put a leash and collar on your dog, then get down to their level and say “come” while gently pulling on the leash.
• As soon as they come to you, reward them with affection and a treat. Remember that all training must be done with rewards because dogs need constant motivation. Also, remember that kind words and affection aren’t always enough, so get used to using treats.
• Once they’ve mastered the art of coming with the leash, remove it and practice the command in a safe and closed area so that they can’t run away and cause chaos somewhere else, leaving you powerless to call them back.

Stay

Before attempting to train your dog to stay put, make sure that they fully understand the “sit” command and that they are obedient enough to always sit down when you ask them.

• Ask your dog to “sit.” Make sure that they are perfectly still and seated before proceeding.
• Open the palm of your hand in front of you and say “stay.” Make sure to pronounce it clearly because dogs need to learn how to differ various commands.
• Take a few steps back. If they stay, reward them with a treat and affection.
• Gradually increase the number of steps you’re making before giving them treats and make sure to always reward your pup for staying put, even if it’s just for a second or two.

This is an exercise where your dog is practicing self-control, which is something they have never had the opportunity to do before. Do not be discouraged and give up if it takes a while to master, it’s a difficult command to perform, especially for dogs with higher energy levels – all they want to do is jump around and now you’re asking them to stay put? Nonsense!

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