Dog Commands

Do you want your dog to obey a basic dog command?

Training a dog to obey basic commands like “Sit” requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Start with a Calm Environment: Choose a quiet, distraction-free area for training sessions. This helps your dog focus.
2. Use Treats as Rewards: Have some small, tasty treats ready to reward your dog for following commands. Dogs are motivated by food, and treats make training more effective.
3. Get Your Dog’s Attention: Call your dog’s name to get their attention. Make sure they are looking at you before giving the command.
4. Give the Command: In a clear, firm voice, say “Sit” while holding a treat in your hand.
5. Guide Your Dog: If your dog doesn’t immediately sit, gently guide their bottom down while repeating the command. Use your other hand to gently press their back end down if needed.
6. Reward and Praise: As soon as your dog’s bottom touches the ground, praise them enthusiastically and give them the treat immediately.
7. Repeat and Practice: Repeat the process several times during each training session, gradually reducing the use of treats as your dog becomes more consistent in obeying the command.
8. Be Patient and Consistent: Training takes time, so be patient with your dog. Consistency is key to success. Use the same command and hand signal each time, and always reward good behavior.
9. Keep Training Sessions Short: Dogs have short attention spans, so keep training sessions brief (about 5-10 minutes) and end on a positive note.
10. Practice in Different Locations: Once your dog has mastered the command in one location, practice in different places to generalize the behavior.

Remember, every dog learns at their own pace, so be patient and celebrate progress, no matter how small. And always use positive reinforcement methods to create a happy and willing learner.

And as always, a quality CBD product like Golden Pet Life CBD treats and oils can help during the process of training your dog. It can also help relieve some stress within the dog.

Here are some tips from American Kennel Club (“AKC”) on dog commands and training: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/teach-your-puppy-these-5-basic-commands/

How to teach commands that stick

The fastest way to teach any new command is the same regardless of which one you’re working on:

1. Lure or capture the behavior. Use a treat to guide the position, or wait until your dog naturally does it.
2. Mark the moment with a clicker or a verbal “yes.”
3. Reward immediately. Within one second of the mark.
4. Repeat 5-10 times per session, multiple times a day.
5. Add the verbal cue only once your dog is reliably doing the behavior.
6. Add distractions and distance last.

Once the basics are down

If you’ve nailed the foundations, the next milestones are training-style choice and goal setting. Our guide on types of dog training compares positive reinforcement, clicker training, balanced training, and more. The AKC Canine Good Citizen test is a great real-world goal that proves your training is solid.

What to do if your dog won’t focus

Anxiety is a common reason commands fall apart. A dog who is stressed about being alone or about thunder is going to ignore “sit” no matter how good your timing is. If that’s your dog, see our complete CBD for dog anxiety guide — calmer dogs learn faster.

From the Golden Pet Life store

Related reading

• Types of dog training compared
• CGC test prep
• Potty training a stubborn dog
• Toy access and rotation