3 Important Commands to Teach Your Dog

Proper training is an important part of your pup’s education, and it’s not just to help you, as the pet owner. It’s also to ensure the safety of the dog while spending time outside. Plus, basic commands like sit, stay, or down don’t require much.

All you need is some basic dog training equipment, which we’ll mention with each command, some tasty treats, and a lot of patience.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to do the training yourself, you can always hire a professional, but you’ll lose some precious bonding time. After all, we connect with our pooches when we spend time with them and we play with them. 

So if you decide to take your dog’s training into your own hands, here are the top three most important commands and how to make learning a fun and exciting experience for both of you.

The Sit & Stay Commands

Why does your dog need to know these commands?

The Sit and Stay commands are a bit different, but they both let your pup know they should stop and stay calm. This helps when you’re outside or in an area with lots of interesting things for the pooch that could disorientate them and get lost.

The command is extremely useful for the safety of your pup and your peace of mind. For more on this, make sure to check the Doggie Training Centre dog care guide.

How to teach these commands?

Start with Sit, because this position comes naturally to all dogs. In most cases, you won’t need any dog training equipment, but if you want to use a clicker, now it’s a great time to introduce it. 

The Sit Command

To teach your pooch, get a few of their favorite treats and go to an area that’s free of distractions (sounds, smells, cats, passing cars, people, you name it).

Once you have their full attention, offer them a treat, but hold it between your fingers. Place the treat close to their nose and slowly move your hand up, while making sure they follow the movement with their head. 

This movement will make the dog assume the sitting position while keeping the focus on the treat. Once they sit, give them ‘sit!’ command and offer the treat and lots of praises. Repeat until they start to understand it.

The Stay Command

As soon as they know how to sit (don’t teach two commands simultaneously to avoid confusion), it’s time to try teaching the stay command. Again, the only dog training equipment you’ll need is a clicker and some delicious treats.

When your dog is seated, open your palm facing them and give the ‘stay’ command. Then slowly back away and keep repeating the command. When the exercise is over, give your pooch a treat and praise for their amazing job. 

The Come Command

Why does your dog need to know this command?

Dogs of all ages can get scared, distracted, or too energetic when outside or in crowded places. So, if your pooch breaks free from the leash, the ‘come’ command will help them return safe and unharmed. 

How to teach the command?

It’s best to teach it after your pup mastered the ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ commands and as dog training equipment, you’ll need a leash and treats. 

Put the leash on your dog, ask them to stay, and move away while holding the leash. When you reach a stopping point, gently pull on the leash towards you and give the ‘come’ command. Once they understand what they have to do, offer treats and praise for the goodest boy/girl ever!

Repeat until mastered. 

Wrap Up

The ‘sit’, ‘stay’, and ‘come’ commands are also useful in a home with young children as they help avoid accidents when play gets a bit too energetic.

Usually, if your pup is a kid-friendly breed, they will be very tolerant of your little ones. Still, it’s important for everyone to understand boundaries and respect each other’s personal space. But that’s a lesson for another time.

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