Your ability to give your dog commands that he understands and responds to will make your life as a dog owner a lot easier. Add the fact that it will help you keep your dog safer and you’ll agree with us that it is something you can’t afford NOT to teach. There are many dog commands you can teach but we’ll share just a few in this article.
Watch me or look at me
You’ll need to make good eye contact with your dog if you are going to teach the “watch me” command effectively. You’ll also need a treat your dog loves. So here’s how to teach it:
- While holding the treat towards your dog’s nose, move your hand upwards towards your face to get him to look at your face
- Once he starts watching you, give the command: “watch me”. You can now reward him for doing it correctly
- Do this repeatedly daily until your dog masters this command
It’s important that the treat serves as a reward and NOT a distraction. Mastering this command is critical as it will make it possible for you to teach him other types of commands.
Down
You’ll need a treat with a strong smell in order to teach this effectively. Furthermore, bear in mind that your dog might find this command quite challenging as he is expected to stay passive for some time. So here’s how to teach it:
- With the treat in your hand (closed), move it towards your dog’s nose
- Once he smells the treat and makes to go for it, move your hand to the floor
- As the dog follows your hand to the floor, move your hand along the floor in such a way that compels the dog to stay in a laid position
- Once he’s in the right position, give the command: “down”. You can then let him have the treat as a reward
- You’ll have to practice this repeatedly on a daily basis for your dog to learn and master it
So what happens if your dog attempts to take the treat forcefully without obeying the command? Refuse firmly but NOT angrily.
Sit
This dog command is quite useful as it will help you regulate your doggie’s behavior when he/she is going out of line (like jumping on people when you are out). All you have to do if he has mastered this command is to tell him to sit and theproblem is solved. He won’t leave the sitting position until you command otherwise. To teach it you need to have a treat:
- Bring the treat close to your dog’s nose so he catches the smell
- Once he smells it, move the treat upwards in such a way that your dog is compelled to reach for it. However, it should be kept just out of his reach
- Keep moving it up in such a direction that gets him into a sitting position
- Once he gets into the sitting position, give him the command: Sit
- You can now reward him with the treat and also show him affection
- Keep repeating this exercise until your dog masters this command
Stand
There are situations where having your dog standing on all fours makes things easier. For example, if your vet wants to examine him/her, you might need him/her to stand. This is also useful when you have to brush your dog. So how do you teach this dog command? Well, get your treat ready – You’ll need it:
- Your dog should have mastered the “sit” command because you’ll start by telling him to sit
- Now get the treat close to his nose, bringing your hand forward and, at the same time, bringing it down
- As your dog goes lower as he reaches for the treat, you then move your hand further forward to get him standing on all fours
- Once he gets into the desired position, give the command: Stand
- Now you can reward him with the treat and show him affection to reinforce the fact that he’s done what you want
- Keep repeating this exercise a number of times daily until he masters it
Come
This command is useful as it makes it easier for you to stop your dog from getting into trouble with other dogs. It can also protect him from danger when he chooses to chase something that might get him in trouble. Now to teach this command you’ll need a leash, a collar and a treat…
- With the leash on the dog, take some steps away from him
- Give the command: “Come” while mildly pulling the leash towards you
- Once he comes to you, he has earned his reward. Give him the treat so he knows this is what you want him to do once he hears this command
- Do this exercise a number of times daily until he masters it
Stay
This is one command that helps keep your dog well-controlled. If yours is a hyperactive dog, then you’ll find this command particularly useful. To teach it, you need a treat…
- Command your dog to sit
- With the treat close to his nose, tell him to stay and then take some steps away from him
- If he waits and doesn’t come towards you, reward him with a treat
- If he doesn’t stay let him know he hasn’t done what you want by saying “No”. As you say “No”, take some steps away from him
- Repeat this exercise a number of times daily until he masters this command
Wait
As you take your dog out, he may put himself in harm’s way if he runs through doors, entrances and openings and you don’t have a way to tell him to wait. This command is therefore quite an important one that signals to your dog that although a door or entrance is open, he isn’t expected to go through it yet. Here’s how to teach it.
- Walk your dog as if you want to go through the door and then tell him to sit just as he gets to the front of the door
- While simultaneously pointing your fingers up, show him your palm (the stop sign) and command him to wait
- If/when he waits, open the door slowly. He’ll likely attempt to move towards the door when you start opening it. Close the door then to show him he needs to wait
- When he doesn’t move even with the door open, reward him with a treat and show him affection to reinforce the fact that this is what you want him to do whenever you give this command
- Repeat this a number of times every day until he masters this command
It’s important that you have a way of telling your dog (command) that you’ve ended a particular command or exercise. You can say “brake”, “yes” or “Okay”. The point here is being consistent with your chosen command so your dog knows you’re through with a command or exercise.
