A well-trained dog is safe, happy, and easy to manage as compared to a wild or untrained dog. Obedience training is an important duty for you to provide to a newborn puppy or a newly purchased adult dog. It builds trust and strengthens the bond between you and your pet. Moreover, it leads to a positive and respectful relationship between you and your pet.
In this blog post, we will elaborate seven best dog obedience commands for a happy dog. We will discuss why dog training matters and will provide functional tips for successful training.
Why Dog Obedience Training Commands Matter?
Training your dog with basic obedience training commands not only improves behavior but also transforms your dog into a well-mannered, responsive companion.
Some benefits of dog obedience commands are as follows:
Better Communication:
You can communicate easily with your pet and guide them about many actions.
Increase Safety:
Dog obedience training commands can increase the safety of your behavior. For example, commands like “Come” or “Leave it” can prevent injuries.
Improve Public Behavior:
Every owner wants their dog to behave well in public places, especially in parks. These training commands are calmer and more respectful in public places.
Prevention of Bad Habits:
Usually, owners get irritated because of the bad habits of dogs. Training can reduce jumping, chewing, barking, and other unwanted behaviors.
The most effective way to train your dog is through positive reinforcement. It means that you should praise your dog for improvement with a treat, toy, or gift. It will encourage them to do more positive actions.
7 Basic Dog Commands
The top 7 basic dog commands to teach your dog are as follows:
1. Sit Command:
Sit” is one of the easiest and most foundational dog obedience commands. It is useful for calming an excited dog, managing behavior, or waiting patiently in situations like crossing the street.
How to Teach It:
- Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose.
- Move your hand up, allowing their head to follow the treat while lowering their back.
- Once they sit, say “Sit,” and give them the treat and praise.
- Repeat several times a day in short sessions.
In this way, you can teach a very basic habit to a puppy. Remember, try to give the gift or treat immediately as the dog’s bottom touches the ground.
2. Stay Command:
Stay teaches self-control and is beneficial in preventing your dog from running into the street. Thus, your dog will not approach strangers or will not get into unsafe situations.
How to Teach It:
- Start with your dog in a sitting position.
- Say “Stay” and take a small step back.
- If they stay, reward them with a treat and praise.
- Gradually increase distance and duration as your dog improves.
In this way, you can teach the best obedience command to your pet easily.
3. Come Command:
It is an important and life-saving command. For example, your dog is in danger, and you cannot come to him instantly; this command will allow the dog to come to you immediately.
How to Teach It:
- Put your dog on a long leash and get their attention.
- Say “Come” enthusiastically while gently pulling the leash toward you.
- When your dog reaches you, reward them with treats and praise.
- Practice often, gradually moving to off-leash environments.
In this way, you can teach come command to your dog and make him obedient to you.
4. Heel Command:
If you want your dog to walk beside you calmly, especially when he is without a leash, then the heel command is one of the best dog obedience commands to teach.
How to Teach It:
- Start walking with your dog on your left side.
- Say “Heel” and give a treat when your dog walks beside you.
- If your dog pulls ahead, stop walking, call them back, and restart.
- Use treats or toys to keep them focused.
Start this command practice in a distraction-free area and then convert to a rush place when your dog becomes reliable.
5. Down Command:
Down command encourages relaxation and is functional for overly excited, dominant, or anxious dogs.
How to Teach It:
- Start with your dog in a sitting position.
- Hold a treat near their nose, then slowly lower it to the ground.
- As they follow the treat into a lying position, say “Down.”
- Reward and praise them immediately.
So, you can calm down your dog with this functional tip.
6. Leave It Command:
Leave It command teaches your dog to ignore something such as a dangerous object, another dog’s food, or something they shouldn’t chew.
How to Teach It:
- Hold a treat in both hands.
- Show your dog one closed hand with the treat inside and say, “Leave it.”
- Let them sniff, but don’t give the treat. Once they stop trying, reward them with the treat on the other hand.
- Practice with more tempting items that the dog likes the most so that he learns to ignore them.
Remember, you should reward the treat with another thing instead of the thing that you have in your fist.
7. Quiet Command:
Quiet command is one of the best dog obedience commands for a happy dog. It helps you control excessive barking caused by excitement, fear, or demand.
How to Teach It:
- Wait for your dog to bark, then say “Quiet” in a calm but firm tone.
- Once they stop barking, even for a second, say “Yes!” and reward them.
- Repeat regularly to reinforce the behavior.
Training Tips for Success
Want to get some training tips to make a safe and happy dog? These training tips will be helpful for you in the entire training process. Puppy training commands need consistency and patience, then an adult dog becomes trained.
Some tips that can be used in the whole training process are as follows:
Consistency:
Stay consistent for excellent results. Repeat commands regularly so that your dog can learn quickly.
Patience:
Some dogs may take a long time to master some commands. So, do not be frustrated over them and wait patiently for the results.
Positive Reinforcement:
Praise and rewards keep the training sessions enjoyable for the dog. So, use the positive reinforcement strategy to train your dog.
Short Training Sessions:
Do not let your pet get bored and stressed, so keep the training sessions short and full of fun.
Use of Tone:
Mention how the tone of voice can have a major impact on how your dog responds to commands.
Conclusion:
At Prestige Dog Training, we believe every dog has the potential to be well-mannered, responsive, and confident. Our expert trainers specialize in positive reinforcement techniques that not only teach obedience but also deepen the connection between you and your furry friend. Whether you’re starting fresh with a puppy or improving your adult dog’s behavior, our personalized training programs are designed to bring out the best in your dog.
Let us help you turn good dogs into great ones—contact Prestige Dog Training today and take the first step toward a happier, better-behaved companion.
