Introduction
Basic training is crucial for your dog, as it establishes a strong foundation of obedience from the puppy stage; otherwise, it can become a problem both in and out of the house. They can be easily trained when they are small, but are less impressionable as adults. Proper training doesn’t necessarily mean enrolling your dog in basic obedience classes; you can train them at home. In this article, we will suggest 5 things to train your dog at home, allowing you to enjoy the best times of your life with them without the hurdles.
In the beginning
When training your dog, the basic foundation should be positive reinforcement techniques in which you encourage positive dog behavior by either praising them or giving them the things they value. Keep your training sessions short and stress-free. Don’t worry if your dog is stubborn or does not want to be involved in exercise. Give them the time to fully understand what you need from them, and then evaluate the valuable things about them so that you can use those things to encourage their behavior.
5 things to train your dog
1. Teach your dog to come when called
The first step to teaching the 5 things to train your dog is teaching your dog to come when called by their name.
To start:
1. Start the training indoors or in any quiet area like a garden.
2. Comfortably sit with your dog.
3. Call them by their name in a happy voice.
4. Offer them a treat right after a cue or after calling their name, while not expecting anything from them in return.
5. This way, you create a beginning brain circuit of getting the treat after calling their name.
6. When they respond even for once by just looking at you, praise them or offer their favorite treat.
7. Repeat this cycle in a row and expose the situation in and outside the house; this way, they learn to listen or recognize their name.
8. Avoid repeating the dog’s name several times, even if they don’t respond; otherwise, they will begin to ignore your cue.
9. You can slowly cut off the number of treats you are giving when their responses are constant. After this, your dog will get used to the name you call him, and he will respond even in the absence of the treat.
2. Teach your dog to sit
While following the 5 things to train your dog, teaching them how to sit should be your second priority.
To start:
1. Stand in front of your dog with some treats.
2. Put the treat on their nose or wait for them to sit by themselves.
3. Then say yes! When they sit.
4. Using the cue in between the methods is necessary to make them understand what you desire.
5. Offer them the treat when their bottom touches the ground right after your cue.
6. After some repetitions, you can begin saying “sit” as they start sitting with patience.
Note: Never force them to sit, as it can be upsetting and confusing for dogs that take a longer time to learn the training.
3. Teach your dog to walk on a loose leash
Walking on a loose leash is essential for your dog so that you can take your dog to public places whenever or wherever you want. This training is easy to understand for your dog and does not take much time to accomplish.
What do you need?
• A Harness or Collar: buckle collar, head halter, front clip harness, and martingale.
• A leash that should not be more than 4 to 6 feet long.
• Treats and toys.
To start:
1. First, make sure your dog is comfortable wearing the collar and the leash. You can also give your dog treats for wearing them.
2. Offer them some more treats to be on your side on a loose leash.
3. Start with small steps and encourage them to follow you by positive reinforcement.
4. If they run, simply go in the opposite direction by not pulling the leash and call them by their name slowly; if they come, reward them for their behavior.
5. After getting some treats in a row, your dog will get the idea of being at your side while on a loose leash. Give your dog enough sniff time between the walks. Call their name again or use any other cue like “Let’s go” while sniffing, and reward them if they come back to you. It will develop into a habit, and leash training will not be hard anymore.
4. Teach your dog to stay
This is one of the best trainings in 5 Things to Train Your Dog. Your dog will sit longer and make the other training easier if he knows how to stay or hold.
To start:
1. Choose the release word first, like “free” or “stay,” as it is an important part of the training.
2. Call your dog and sit comfortably with him.
3. Toss the treat on the floor to develop a roadmap of the training.
4. Then again, start with saying their name if they step forward; it is a good sign. Offer them treats.
5. Repeat this until they move first and get the treat earlier. This teaches your furry friend to move its feet at the release cue.
6. When your dog knows how to sit or release from the cue, put them in a sit and praise them or offer them their favorite treat.
7. The next step is to gradually increase the time to wait for the treat, and when it starts happening even for several seconds again, give them the treat. This way, they learn how to hold.
8. Don’t worry if your dog gets up before the release cue! This means they can’t sit for long. To achieve the goal, keep the training shorter in the beginning and then increase the time.
9. Now begin adding distance once they learn to sit for a few seconds.
10. Tell them to “stay” and “sit,” and take a step back from the dog, then give them your release word and offer treats once they respond.
11. Continue adding the steps far to the dog. Practice both walking away with your back turned and facing them eye-to-eye, as this is a more realistic situation. Remember the concrete—they learn the training the longer they stay.
Note: Focus on one thing at a time and do not expect much from them.
5. Teach your dog to lie down
In the list of 5 things to train your dog, lying down is the last but is equally important as the other four trainings.
To start:
1. Training them how to lie down is similar to “sit” and “stay” coaching.
2. Start in a small, quiet room and wait for your dog to lie down right after you give the cue. If they do, encourage them with positive reinforcement techniques.
3. Then add the release cue once they stand up, and wait for them to lie down again. You can also lure them to respond to the training.
4. Providing them the treat right after their elbow touches the floor will create a connection between your cue, their action, and the treat.
5. Gradually increase the distance and the time as you did in “sit” and “stay” training.
6. Repeat the process until they respond positively and consistently. Then, moderately vanish offering treats. With constant practice, it became their habit to lie down on a cue, even if they are in another room or far away from their dog.
Final words
Training your dog is one of the most rewarding parts of pet parenting. By focusing on these 5 things to train your dog—come when called, “sit”, Leash training, “stay,” and lying down—you will build a strong foundation and a happy relationship between you and your dog. The key is to be consistent and not expect too much too soon. Training goals are achieved in accessions, so the solution is that your training should be short, and you need to focus on one thing at a time.