The ABCs of Puppy Training: Teaching Basic Commands for a Well-Behaved Pup
Bringing home a new puppy can be an exciting and daunting experience. One of the most important things you can do for your new furry friend is to provide proper training. Training your puppy ensures they have the skills and knowledge to live happily and safely in their new home. One of the first things you should do when training is to teach them basic commands. In this post, we will go over the ABCs of puppy training and how to teach your pup basic commands.
A is for Attention
Before you start teaching your puppy commands, you need to grab their attention. You can do this with a simple "hey" or "look" command. Once your pup looks at you, reward them with a treat or praise. This way, your pup will learn that paying attention to you leads to good things.
B is for Basic Commands
Now that you have your pup's attention, it's time to teach them some basic commands. Here are a few essential commands you should teach your pup:
Sit
Teaching your pup to sit is one of the easiest commands. To start, hold a treat in your hand and move your hand over your pup's head. Their natural reaction will be to sit, and once they do, reward them with the treat and praise.
Stay
Teaching your pup to stay is a bit more challenging than teaching the "sit" command. Start by having your pup sit, and then put your hand in front of their face and say "stay." Then, take a step back and reward them if they don't move. Slowly increase your distance and reward your pup each time they stay.
Come
Teaching your pup to come when called is vital for their safety. Start by saying your pup's name and "come." When they come to you, reward them with praise and a treat. As your pup gets better at coming when called, you can slowly start removing the treats.
C is for Consistency
The most important thing you can do when training your pup is to be consistent. Use the same cues and rewards each time you teach a command. Consistency is key to your pup's success in learning.
Conclusion
Teaching your pup basic commands is an essential part of their training. It sets them up for success and a happy life with you. Remember to grab their attention, teach basic commands like "sit," "stay," and "come," and be consistent in your training. With a little patience and consistency, your pup will be a well-behaved and happy member of your family.