Some tricks, like teaching your dog to lie down, sit and give a paw , can do much more than just the command itself says.
Behind tricks like this there is also a reinforcement of the hierarchy of the relationship between you. And this is especially important in your relationship with your dog and can help you train your dog at home .
Learning to teach a dog obedience involves many repetitions.
Having said that, teaching your dog new skills like lying down, sitting, and giving a paw will not only be enjoyable but also a crucial step in developing your bond with them.
Dogs make amazing friends, and if you want your connection with them to last as long as possible, you need to be a good guardian.
And to help you with the best techniques on how to teach your dog tricks, we wrote this content that brings several teachings for you to use with your best friend!
So, follow us and learn how to teach your dog to lie down, sit, give a paw and much more.
5 practical tips on how to teach your dog
1. How to teach a dog to obey
The first tip in this post could not be different. After all, knowing how to teach a dog to obey is the main point in the relationship between you and your pet, and is essential for training a puppy or adult dog.
Dogs are animals that evolved from wolves and as such have pack behavior . Animals that live in packs have a hierarchy and obey a leader.
Therefore, knowing how to teach a dog to obey starts first with how he “sees” you.
But how do you make him see you as a leader?
First, set limits for your dog. Discourage bad behavior and reward good behavior .
2. How to teach a dog to sit
Once he starts to obey you, it will be easier to show him the actions you want, such as teaching your dog to sit .
The main tip on how to teach your dog to lie down, sit and give a paw is to induce the behavior you want and reward him when he does it. Either with a pet or treats for better results.
To teach your dog to sit, you can use the following technique:
- Show your dog the treat in your hand without giving it to him.
- Once he is interested, move forward (walk) towards the dog with the treat , making him have to move away. Keeping your hand above his head, making him have to walk backwards to reach it.
- As he tries to reach the treat, looking up, he will probably sit down , due to the uncomfortable position.
- As soon as he sits down, you should say “sit” and reward him with the treat, so that he begins to relate the word with the attitude he took.
- If your dog is not sitting, you can give him a little push by placing your hand and lightly pressing on his back .
Repeat the process several times, whenever possible, until he begins to assimilate the word with the action.
3. How to teach a dog to lie down
Now that you successfully get your four-legged friend to sit, we move into the ways of how to get your dog to lie down.
The best way of initiating this is by having your dog sit. After that, here’s how to proceed:
- Hold your dog’s leash close to his neck.
- Squat down in front of him and with a treat in your hand, bring it close to his mouth.
- When he tries to grab it, move your hand away from him toward the floor and gently pull the leash in the same direction.
- To reach the treat he will lie down.
- When he lies down, say “ lie down ” and release the treat for him.
Just like the sit command, repeat the process several times, whenever possible, until he begins to assimilate the word with the action.
4. How to teach a dog to shake hands
Teaching a dog to give a paw when the dog is seated yields greater outcomes.
- With the dog sitting, bring your closed hand, with a treat, closer to your dog’s mouth.
- He will try to take the treat from your hand and you will make it difficult by not opening your hand.
- As he will have difficulty and will not be able to get the treat, he will naturally use his paw to help you.
- The moment he lifts his paw, you must say the chosen command, for example: “ paw ”. Grab his paw with your other hand and release the treat.
Using small words for commands brings better results.
Always repeat the process as many times as you can, for better understanding.
5. How to teach a dog to stay
This is perhaps the teaching that can give you the most work, especially with anxious dogs . But it is very important that you do not give up and go until your dog really wants to stay. Otherwise, he will understand that if you insist, he will be able to leave.
So, choose a time in your day when you have time to start the following process:
- Place your dog in a sit position and give the command “ stay ”.
- Take a step back and if he doesn’t move, give him a treat.
- Repeat the process, gradually increasing the distance from your dog. Only give him the treat if he doesn’t move.
- If it comes out, return it to the starting position and repeat the process.
Learning how to teach your dog tricks is a practice that you will improve over time. Don’t give up and show your pet who is the leader of the pack!