While training your dog can mean teaching them fun party tricks, most dog training is for practical purposes. Teaching your dog a few basic commands helps build their confidence, strengthens your relationship, and most importantly keeps them safe in dangerous situations.

Things You’ll Need to Get Started

Before you start training, it’s important to have the right tools. Here are a few essentials:

• Training treats:These should be small, tasty treats that your dog will find irresistible.
• A dog treat bag:A treat pouch or bag can help you keep treats handy while you’re training.
• A sturdy leash and collar:Make sure they fit your dog snugly and comfortably.

Sitting is incompatible with many of your pup’s unwanted behaviors, like jumping up on visitors or counter-surfing. If your dog starts to display these unwanted behaviors, you can put them into the “sit” position and reward them for their good behavior.

How to Teach Your Dog to Sit

Sitting is incompatible with many of your pup’s unwanted behaviors, like jumping up on visitors or counter-surfing. If your dog starts to display these unwanted behaviors, you can put them into the “sit” position and reward them for their good behavior.

My dog takes these willingly as a treat. I give him one a day. They seem to help his tummy.

Noemi Medina

How to Teach Your Dog to Lie Down

Lie down is another command that’s easily taught with lure training, and it’s a great natural next step from “sit.” With your dog in a seated position, hold a treat in front of their nose. Slowly move the treat toward the ground and closer to you, encouraging your dog to follow with their nose. If your dog struggles to get all the way down, try pulling the treat further away from their body.

As soon as your dog is all the way on the ground, use your clicker or praise to mark the behavior and give them the treat. Repeat these steps until your dog reliably lies down, then practice with no treat in your hand. Once your dog reliably responds to your empty hand, add in the word “down” and continue practicing.

Follow the same steps using your empty hand as a signal for your dog to sit. Reward them each time they sit, so your dog can connect the dots. Once they seem to get the hang of the hand signal, you can introduce the verbal cue “sit” alongside the hand signal.