Dog Commands – An important step to becoming a great owner!
Every dog should be able to understand and follow the basic dog commands. The commands are very easy to teach and once your labrador has learnt them the two of you will be able to communicate so much better!
As with any area of training once you have been able to master this area you will feel an overwhelming sense of satisfaction that will push you to accomplish further goals with your labrador.
There are five basic dog commands that are used by the majority of dog owners around the world. They are Come, Heel, Sit, Down and Stay.
Training labradors is a great experience and you should enjoy teaching your labrador these dog commands.
Right then lets begin!
Come
This command is probably the easiest of the five to learn. The best place to start off in is indoors, if you were to begin outdoors you should have a leash at first. The leash should be attached to the dogs collar so that you don’t have to run after him!
So, lets say your indoors, and your labrador is in the middle of playing with his favourite toy. This is a great time to try the command. Say the word Come while looking at your pup and say it with a bit of authority, do not shout it.
An initial reaction might not happen but continue to use this method and you will succeed. Once you do you should let your puppy know how happy you are with the outcome.
Trying it with a leash is also simple as you should let your dog find a scent and follow it and then say Come and pull your labrador towards you. Give him praise and then try again until you don’t have to pull.
Heel
Heel is also an easy commands to learn. When training labradors it is unlikely you will struggle with this command.
The best time to try it out is when walking with your labrador. All you have to do is stop and straight away say Heel. For starters your lab might not stop but by holding the leash a bit tighter each time he will soon get the message and success will follow!
Sit
When it comes to dog commands Sit is very popular. Alot of people get great satisfaction from seeing an obedient dog, especially on that sits!
To get your labrador to sit all you have to do is gently push his rump to the floor. You should do this while holding the collar so that he can’t move. Once in the sit position give him loads of praise and repeat a few times with less pressure on the rump and collar.
Down
This command also uses contact to begin. Dog commands that use contact at the start can annoy the dog because it may not be sure what is happening. Do not be alarmed though, labradors have a great temperament and I have never experienced any malice from one in the past.
The contact I am speaking of concerns the front legs, which many dogs do not like very much.
To start off with you should stand in front of your lab and steadily bring your hand lower from above its head. Once you get to the ground you then slowly move your dogs legs out and down to the ground too. Some dogs find it easier to get into the correct position by sitting first. Once you have your lab in the correct position you should use the command Down so that it registers.
Stay
This command can be extremely handy in certain situations, be it around the house or when walking your lab. I find it particularly useful when walking mine and there are cats or other reasons for her not to leave my side.
A simple way to begin is to use this command with others your lab has learnt. Both Sit and Down can be helpful. To begin get your lab to Stay by using the command and holding them in place. Once in position release and if your lab moves out of position try again.
It’s not over just yet!
Training Labradors is great fun and teaching yours the dog commands is very simple. You must exert authority when it is needed and remember that praise plays a vital role. Giving your labrador praise will make him very happy and eager to please.
