Step-by-step training guides from basic obedience to advanced tricks and behavior.
Clicker training precisely marks desired behaviors.
Steps: 1. Charge clicker: click then treat, 10-15 times. 2. Dog learns click = treat. 3. Capture behaviors you like. 4. Click at exact moment, then treat. 5. Add verbal cue once consistent.
Tips: Only click once per behavior. Always follow click with treat. Keep sessions short.
Reliable recall is the most important safety command.
Steps: 1. Start indoors, no distractions. 2. Say name + Come in happy voice. 3. Run backward. 4. High-value treat when they reach you. 5. Increase distance and distractions. 6. Use long line outdoors.
Tips: Never call for something negative. Make coming the best thing ever. Extra-special treats for recall only.
Drop It ensures release of dangerous objects.
Steps: 1. Offer low-value toy, let dog hold. 2. Hold high-value treat to nose. 3. Say Drop It. 4. When they release, mark and reward. 5. Gradually command before showing treat. 6. Practice with more valuable objects.
Tips: Always trade up. Never chase or pry. Practice multiple items.
Teaching attention is foundation for all training.
Steps: 1. Hold treat at your eye level. 2. Dog looks at treat then your eyes. 3. Say Watch as they look. 4. Mark and treat. 5. Gradually increase duration of eye contact. 6. Add distractions.
Tips: Start in quiet room. Use excited voice. Short sessions. Essential for reactive dogs.
Leave It teaches self-control for dangerous items.
Steps: 1. Treat in closed fist. 2. Dog sniffs/licks/paws. 3. Moment they stop, say Yes and treat from other hand. 4. Repeat until immediate look away. 5. Practice with treat on floor under foot.
Tips: Never let them get the item. Use higher-value reward for leaving item. Takes many reps.
Down is a useful settling behavior.
Steps: 1. Start in sit. 2. Treat at nose. 3. Lower to floor between front paws. 4. Move treat forward. 5. Dog follows into down. 6. Say Down as they settle. 7. Treat and praise.
Tips: Hand gently on back if they pop up. Soft surface. Never push them down.
Walking calmly on loose leash makes walks enjoyable.
Steps: 1. Start with dog on left. 2. Stop when leash tightens. 3. Wait for slack. 4. When dog looks back, mark and treat. 5. Take steps and repeat. 6. Reward checking in.
Tips: Front-clip harness helps. Never yank leash. Reward voluntary walking near you. Takes weeks.
Teaching sit is the foundation for all training.
Steps: 1. Hold treat at nose. 2. Move up and back over head. 3. Bottom lowers naturally. 4. Say Sit as they sit. 5. Treat and praise. 6. Practice 5-10 times.
Tips: Use high-value treats. Keep sessions 5 mins. Practice in different locations. End on success.
Stay teaches impulse control for safety.
Steps: 1. Ask for sit. 2. Open palm say Stay. 3. Step back. 4. Praise and treat if stay. 5. Increase distance/duration gradually. 6. Release with Okay or Free.
Tips: Build duration before distance. Use release word consistently. Never punish broken stay.
Crate gives safe den space, helps housebreaking.
Steps: 1. Make crate inviting with bedding. 2. Door open, toss treats inside. 3. Feed meals inside with door open. 4. Close door 1-2 min while nearby. 5. Gradually increase closed time. 6. Practice leaving room.
Tips: Never use crate as punishment. Cover with blanket. Puppy out every 2-3 hours.
No-jumping greetings.
Steps: 1. Ask for sit before greeting. 2. If jumps, turn away. 3. When four paws down, turn back and greet. 4. Guests ask for sit before petting. 5. Practice with volunteers.
Tips: Everyone must follow same rules. Reward calm greetings. No excited greetings.
Place teaches going to a spot and staying.
Steps: 1. Place mat in quiet area. 2. Lure onto it with treat. 3. Say Place when all four paws on. 4. Reward for staying. 5. Add duration before releasing. 6. Practice with distractions.
Tips: Mat should be happy place. Random treats while staying. Practice before need arises.
House training requires consistency and routine.
Steps: 1. Schedule: after waking, meals, naps, every 2-3 hrs. 2. Designated potty spot. 3. Command Go Potty. 4. Praise/treat immediately after outdoors. 5. Supervise indoors. 6. Clean accidents with enzymatic cleaner.
Tips: Do not punish accidents. Supervise or crate. Same spot every time. Expect accidents 4-6 months.
Comfort being alone prevents destruction.
Steps: 1. Micro-departures 2-5 seconds. 2. Gradually increase as dog stays calm. 3. Leave food-stuffed toy. 4. Vary pre-departure routines. 5. No emotional arrivals/departures. 6. Calming aids like pheromone diffusers.
Tips: Desensitize departure cues. Start before anxiety severe. Professional help for severe cases.
Prevents bolting out doors.
Steps: 1. Approach closed door. 2. Ask for sit or wait. 3. Hand on door handle. 4. If dog moves, remove hand and wait. 5. Open door crack - close if they move. 6. Release with Okay to go through.
Tips: Practice all doors. Build duration before opening fully.
Structured fetch game.
Steps: 1. Offer toy and let dog mouth it. 2. Toss short distance. 3. Encourage go get it. 4. Show treat when they grab it. 5. Say Bring or Fetch when they approach. 6. Trade treat for toy.
Tips: Start very short distances. Two-toy method helps. Never chase.
Fun party trick.
Steps: 1. Ask for down. 2. Lure onto side. 3. Mark and treat. 4. Add cue Bang or Play Dead. 5. Build duration. 6. Add dramatic hand gesture.
Tips: Finger gun gesture for effect. Keep position short at first. Always release.
Classic trick building on down.
Steps: 1. Dog lying down. 2. Treat at nose. 3. Move toward shoulder. 4. Continue circle around head. 5. Dog rolls to side to back. 6. Say Roll and treat on complete.
Tips: Break into steps. Soft surface. Some dogs reluctant to expose belly.
Shake is easy and fun.
Steps: 1. Treat in closed fist. 2. Present hand to dog. 3. They paw at hand. 4. Moment paw touches, say Shake and treat. 5. Gradually use empty hand.
Tips: Some dogs use mouth first - wait for paw. Practice different positions.
Simple fun trick for mental stimulation.
Steps: 1. Face dog. 2. Treat at nose. 3. Move treat in circle around head. 4. Dog follows into spin. 5. Say Spin and treat. 6. Practice both directions.
Tips: Lure slowly. Separate cues for each direction. Non-slip surface.