First of all, believing that your dog can be trained is one of the biggest hurdles a dog owner will face. Once you have accepted this challenge then the basics of dog training can begin. Your new puppy, dog or older dog can be trained by either an obedience instructor or yourself. There are many good books on dog obedience, so researching and finding one that suits you and your dog’s needs can be very beneficial. It is also less expensive than hiring a trainer to teach your dog the basic training commands.

There are simple and basic commands in basic dog training. These three commands are: sit, stay and come. To teach your dog to sit, you will need some dog treats. Dogs respond to their training much more willingly when treats are used as rewards. Your ‘sit’ training needs to be done in a quiet area where your dog cannot get distracted. Hold the treat over his head and tell him to sit. Repeat this over and over as consistency is the key in basic dog training. Your dog will look up and may sit on his own to reach the treat. If he doesn’t react on his own, then gently push his bottom down. Every time he sits, be sure and reward him with the treat and praise him. This training will work because the dog will hear “sit” and associate it with sitting and receiving rewards.

The next basic of dog training, is teaching your dog to stay. This is usually the most difficult command to teach. This basic command should be combined with the come command. Put your dog in an area with no directions. Start backing away from your dog while constantly telling him to stay. Always keep eye contact with your dog. If he gets up, tell him “no” and then start the process again. It takes a lot of patience with basic dog training. Once this process has been achieved, then turn your back and begin walking away. Your dog will naturally get up and follow you, so again say “no” and start the process over again by tell your dog to stay as you walk away from him. After your dog has mastered this part of the basic dog training, then you can tell him to come. Use a happy voice and pat your knee as you say “come.” Your dog should respond to this command right away and you should reward him with a treat and praise.

Remember to always use praise and not punishment when using basic dog training. Dogs always respond better to positive reinforcement. Don’t forget that patience and consistency will reward you in the end, as your dog will have mastered basic dog training and the both of you will live happily ever after.