Training your dog using basic commands

Training your dog using basic commands gives you more control without confusing your dog. Using simple commands such as “sit”, “lie down” and “stay” all give your dog a basic understanding of what is expected from him. They also help to create a foundation of knowledge for your dog which can then be used to build up to more advanced commands.

You can begin training your dog using basic commands at any stage of their life; they can be as young as 12 weeks old and still be ready to learn simple dog obedience. Even though teaching your dog can be frustrating for some people, using these tips will help you and your dog live a happy life together.

Whilst training your dog using basic commands, one of the most important rules is to keep the lessons short and frequent. After around 15 minutes (or maybe less), your dog will start to get distracted and bored, which will lead to you becoming annoyed and your dog learning nothing except that these sessions are very boring. If you keep these sessions around 10 minutes long and have 2-3 of them spread evenly throughout the day, your dog will gradually learn these basic commands.

When you first train your dog, it is essential that you find a quiet place with no distractions for your dog. Training your dog using basic commands should be simple but if there are other dogs around, food (that isn't going to be used as a reward for your dog), music or any other kind of distraction, training will become much harder and you are more likely to confuse your dog. After you have taught your dog these basic commands, try putting these instructions into everyday scenarios such as in the park, on the street or in another person's home. This will make the dog realise that these basic commands are going to be used in different surroundings other than your home.

To watch a professional dog trainer training a dog using basic commands for free click here.