How To Teach Your Dog The Basics, by Will Atherton Canine Training on YouTube. 4 min 8 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 8 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes a day for a week
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick one command to start with, such as sit. Practise in a quiet room with no other people or pets around.
Hold a small treat just in front of your dog's nose and slowly move it up and back over the head. Most dogs lower their rear to follow it.
The moment the dog's bottom touches the floor, say sit once and give the treat straight away.
Release the dog with a word like okay, then repeat five to ten times. Keep each session under five minutes.
Once sit is reliable indoors, add a hand signal or say the word before the dog moves, and reward only when it sits.
Practise the same way for other basics: down by lowering the treat to the floor, and stand by luring the dog up from a sit.
Add a recall by crouching, saying your dog's name and come in a happy voice, then reward heavily when it reaches you.
Move practice to the garden or a quiet street. Increase distractions slowly and go back a step if your dog struggles.
Tips and common mistakes
Reward within a second or two of the correct behaviour, or your dog will not connect the treat to the action.
Keep sessions short and end while your dog is still keen, rather than drilling until it loses interest.
Use tiny treats so you can reward often without overfeeding, and cut back on meals on training days.
Never punish a dog that comes to you, even slowly, or recall will become something to avoid.
Questions
How long does it take to teach a dog to sit?
Most dogs pick up sit in a few short sessions over two or three days. Reliable sitting around distractions can take a few weeks of regular practice.
What if my dog ignores the treat and will not sit?
Try a smellier treat and a quieter room. If your dog is too excited, do a short walk first so it can settle before training.
Should I use a clicker?
A clicker can help mark the exact moment your dog gets it right. You can also just use a calm word like yes as the marker.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
