Pets, dogs especially, can be a great source of enjoyment for a family. One way in particular to have a good time with your dog is to teach him some tricks. There are plenty of easy commands to teach your dog that are fun to show off and simple to implement. You might be surprised at how easy it is to teach your dog or puppy a few tricks. They are quick learners who want to please you, so it's simple to take a little while teaching your dogs these basic commands.
Before you begin training your dog, there are a few tips that you need to know about dog training in general. To begin training your dog or puppy to sit, you will need a few of his favorite treats. Be sure that you are not using a heavy, meaty treat to train your dog. After all, he will be eating quite a few of these during the training. Choose your command word and stick with it.. You should use this word and this word only when training your dog. Once you repeat this over and over, he will begin to understand what it means.
- Sit. This is usually one of the first basic commands to teach your dog. The command word for this one is usually simply "sit". Hold some treats in a pouch and get your dog's attention. Say the word "sit" and gently tap your your dog on the lower back. Eventually he will get the message that you want him to sit down. Once he does plop down on his bottom, tell him "good dog" and give him a treat. Repeat this process until he will sit on command.
- Stay. The approach to teaching a dog to stay is a little different. Have your dog sit and then tell him to "stay". Walk several feet away from the dog. At first, the dog is likely to follow you, but after a while, he will stay and as soon as he does, you should give him a treat. You will also need a command word to tell him that he is free to move. You can use the word "release" for this. Once he stays and you have given him a treat, you can say the "release" command so that he is free to move about. Repeat this process until he has learned the command word.
- Off. This is one of the most useful commands to teach your dog. Many dogs tend to jump up on guests or small children in the home. Teaching your dog the "off" command will help him to learn when it is not appropriate to jump up - either on to a person or on to the furniture. Begin by allowing him in the place where he is not supposed to be. You can put him on the couch or have him place his paws on your torso. Say the command word, "off" , and then place your dog on the floor. Give him a treat. Repeat this process until the dog gets down on his own and has learned the command word.
It can be fun and simple to teach your dog new tricks. By doing a little bit of dog training, you can spend time playing with your dog and he will earn how to behave properly. You'll be glad that you took the time to teach him these important commands.
Jennifer Brister - I am a freelance writer currently located in Northeast Louisiana. My interests include music, love and theoretical physics. I have been ...
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