How to teach command words to dogs

By MacDonald

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Treats
<br />Toys

Step 1:
You have to be consistent. This means always using the same word for the same action. When asking your dog to sit, always say SIT. Don't say sit one time, sit down the next. To get his attention, say his name first--"Fido, SIT." Always praise when he obeys. Use treats as a reward when he is first learning, then phase them out when he obeys reliably.
Step 2:
Mean what you say and say what you mean. Dogs are very honest creatures; we should be honest back. It's only fair. When you tell Fido to sit, expect him to obey on the first command. If he doesn't sit right away, gently push his rump down until he is sitting, and reward him. If you reward him after telling him SIT seven times, guess what? You are telling him it's OK to wait until the seventh time to obey you.
Step 3:
Increase his vocabulary. By simply pairing a word with an action, you will get compliance over time. Here's an example: Every time you let your dog go outside, use the same word--"Wanna go OUTSIDE?" Use a happy voice. If you make a habit of this, he will understand that the word OUTSIDE means to go outside. Then you can use it as a command. Open the door and tell him to go outside. This is a very easy way to train! How many routine things can you add a word to? Here's one idea: Every time your dog goes into a different room, use the name of that room--"office," "kitchen" or "bedroom." After a while your dog will know the word for all the rooms in your house.
Step 4:
Teach tricks. They can be basic ones like "shake hands," or slightly more complicated ones like "roll over" or "say your prayers. "These are fun, and the more you teach your dog, the more willing he is to pay attention to you. Dogs like learning things because they are working animals. Search this site for ways to teach your dog different tricks. If you make it fun, you'll be amazed at how much your dog can learn.
Step 5:
Pay attention to your tone of voice. Dogs react to the tone of your voice as well as the words you use. A low, calm voice is usually listened to better than a squeak or screech. No need to yell--most dogs have extremely good (if selective!) hearing.

Tips & Warnings

Dogs learn best when training sessions are short and fun. Use TV commercial breaks to practice commands or tricks.

More Puppy Pages

How to Communicate With Your Dog

Dogs can be loving, faithful and brimming with playful energy to boot. Nevertheless, communication barriers between man and beast tend to hamper their relationship. Fortunately, dogs are intelligent and communicate in a variety of ways that can easily...

How to Stop Your Dog from Barking at the Doorbell

The doorbell rings and your dog launches into frenzy, barking and howling as you yell at him to be quiet or try quietly to shush him, but nothing seems to help. Maybe you resort to locking him in another room when friends, or even the pizza delivery...

How to Use Lures, Rewards and Bribes in Dog Training

Using treats as lures or rewards is an effective aid in dog training, but you should never bribe your dog with them. The timing of the treat is critical to shaping and rewarding the behavior you want to encourage, but you have to be careful not to...

It has been said that dogs are man’s best friend, and rightly so. Most dogs are loving, faithful and brimming with playful energy to boot. Nevertheless, language barriers between man and beast tend to hamper their relationship. Fortunately, dogs...

Most training should be “structured pla,y” which is perfect for teaching your dog tricks. Dogs enjoy learning tricks, and the more they learn, the more they learn how to learn, so they will become generally more obedient. Many dogs love to...