Are you a caring dog parent and want to learn the tips and tricks to train your dog? You are not alone. Dogs are one of the most human-friendly pets that need care, training, and love as much as we do. As a dog parent, building a strong bond through effective training is essential.

Some of the key tips for successful dog training involve being consistent with commands and expectations to help your dog understand what is required and rewarding it for its good behavior with treats, praise, and affection to encourage repetition. You should establish and enforce rules to give your dog a sense of security. Do not complicate things. Keep your commands straightforward, like “sit” and “stay,” for better understanding.

This should be a part of your lifestyle, and as a dog parent, you should practice it every day. Never hesitate to seek professional help for extra guidance. Remember, training requires time and patience, but with dedication, you and your furry friend will enjoy a strong, loving bond.

Below are a few commands that you can practice giving to your dog to train it the way you want.

10 Basic Commands for Dog Training

1. Sit Down

This one is pretty basic and this is one of the first commands many dogs learn. Hold a treat above your dog’s nose and slowly move it back towards their rear end. As they follow the treat with their nose, their rear end will naturally lower to the ground. Say “sit” as soon as they are in the sitting position and reward them with the treat. This way they will understand what you are asking them to do with this command. It takes some practice and patience though most dogs adopt to this command quite quickly.

2. Stay

This command is important for keeping your dog safe in potentially dangerous situations. Start by commanding your dog to sit. Then, with an open hand facing towards them, say “stay” and take a few steps back. If they stay in
place, reward them with a treat. Slowly increase the distance and duration of the stay command as your dog gets better at it. Your dog will eventually learn that you want them to stay at one place even if there is a chance to move out.

3. Come

This is one of the important commands that every dog must learn. This command is essential for calling your dog back to you in any situation. Start by saying “come” in a happy and inviting tone while backing away from your dog. Encourage them to follow you with a treat in your hand. Reward them with some food or toy when they reach you so they know what they are supposed to do the next time they hear ‘come’!

4. Down

Teaching your dog to lie down on command can be useful in situations where you need them to be calm and still. Start with your dog in a sitting position. Hold a treat in your hand and slowly lower it to the ground while saying
“down.” When your dog’s chest touches the ground, give them the treat and praise. Again, it will take them some time to learn this but eventually they will understand it.

5. Leave it

This command can prevent your dog from picking up potentially harmful objects or food items off the ground. Even if you find your dog is trying to catch some small animal or even a small kid from the neighborhood, this command will come in handy. To train the dog for this command, show your dog a treat in one hand and a less desirable item in the other. Say “leave it” and cover the less desirable item with your foot if necessary. When your dog looks away from the item, reward them with the treat they love.

6. Shake

This is a very adorable gesture. Teaching your dog to shake paws can be a fun trick to show off to friends and family. Start with your dog in a sitting position and say “shake.” Gently lift their paw and give it a shake. This is a very easy and simple move so most of the dogs learn it pretty quickly.

7. Roll over

You might have seen this trick on the television or in the circus where dogs are performing as an artists. This trick takes some patience and practice, but it can be a fun and impressive one to teach your dog. Start with your dog in a down position. Hold a treat near their nose and slowly move it in a circle towards their shoulder. As they follow the treat with their nose, they should naturally roll over. Repeat this for few times in every session. Soon your dog will learn it. Do not forget to reward your pet if they perform it well.

8. High five

Similar to shake, teaching your dog to give a high five can be a fun trick to learn. Start with your dog in a sitting position and say “high five.” Hold your hand up in a high five position and encourage your dog to touch it with
their paw. While this is also a very simple move it is a quite adorable action that everyone loves to watch.

9. Spin

Well, you have seen almost every dog do this without training, right? It comes naturally to canines to chase their tails. Teaching your dog to spin in a circle can be a fun and entertaining trick. Start with your dog in a standing position and say “spin.” Use a treat to lure them in a circle by moving your hand in the direction you want them to spin. It shouldn’t be that difficult for your pet as we already said, the spin comes naturally to them.

10. Wait

This command can be helpful for teaching your dog patience and impulse control. Start with your dog in a sitting position. Say “wait” and hold your hand up in a stop gesture. Slowly walk away from your dog and then return
to them. If the pet follows these instructions properly, reward them for waiting patiently. Gradually increase the distance and time they must wait before rewarding them.

We hope you liked these quick tips on dog training and will implement them in your dog training routine. If you want to share some more tricks then please leave your feedback in the comments section below.