Basic Puppy Commands Every Owner Should Teach: Essential Training for Well-Behaved Dogs

Bringing home a new puppy is one of life's most exciting experiences, but it can quickly become overwhelming when you realise just how much your furry bundle of energy needs to learn. Teaching basic commands isn't just about having a well-behaved dog – it's about building communication, ensuring safety, and creating a strong bond that will last your dog's entire lifetime.

Every puppy has the potential to become a wonderful companion, but success depends on the foundation you build during those critical early months. The commands you teach now will shape how your dog interacts with the world, responds to challenges, and fits into your family for years to come.

The Importance of Early Command Training

Puppies are remarkable learners, especially during their first few months of life. Between 8 and 16 weeks, their brains are incredibly receptive to new information, making this the optimal window for establishing good habits and clear communication patterns.

Early command training serves multiple purposes beyond simple obedience. It builds your puppy's confidence by providing clear expectations and consistent success experiences. When your puppy knows what you want and feels successful in delivering it, they develop trust in your leadership and security in their environment.

From a safety perspective, basic commands can literally save your puppy's life. A reliable "come" command can prevent your dog from running into traffic, while "leave it" might stop them from ingesting something dangerous. These aren't just party tricks – they're essential life skills that every dog needs.

Training also provides crucial mental stimulation for your developing puppy. Learning new commands engages their brain, helps tire them out in positive ways, and gives them a constructive outlet for their natural curiosity and energy. A mentally stimulated puppy is generally a better-behaved puppy.

Perhaps most importantly, command training establishes you as a consistent, trustworthy leader. This doesn't mean dominating your puppy, but rather becoming someone they can rely on for clear guidance and positive direction. This foundation of trust and communication will serve you both throughout your dog's life.

Positive Reinforcement Principles

Modern dog training is built on the scientific understanding that animals learn best through positive reinforcement – rewarding desired behaviours to increase the likelihood they'll be repeated. This approach is not only more humane than punishment-based methods, but it's also more effective and creates stronger bonds between you and your puppy.

Positive reinforcement works by adding something your puppy values immediately after they perform a desired behaviour. This might be a tasty treat, enthusiastic praise, a favourite toy, or even just your attention. The key is finding what motivates your individual puppy and using it consistently.

Timing is absolutely crucial in positive reinforcement training. The reward must happen within seconds of the desired behaviour, or your puppy may not make the connection between their action and the reward. This is why many trainers recommend clicker training – the distinct "click" sound marks the exact moment your puppy does something right, followed immediately by a reward.

Consistency is equally important. Everyone in your household should use the same commands and reward the same behaviours. Mixed messages confuse puppies and slow down the learning process. If one person allows jumping while another discourages it, your puppy won't understand what's actually expected.

Patience is perhaps the most important ingredient in successful puppy training. Puppies, like young children, are still developing their ability to focus and control their impulses. They'll make mistakes, get distracted, and sometimes seem to forget everything they've learned. This is completely normal and part of the learning process.

Avoid using punishment, corrections, or intimidation in your training. These methods can create fear, anxiety, and mistrust, potentially leading to bigger behavioural problems down the track. They also don't teach your puppy what you actually want them to do – they only teach what not to do.

Training Foundations

Before diving into specific commands, it's essential to set up your training environment and approach for success. The foundation you build now will determine how smoothly your command training progresses.

Start training as early as possible, ideally the day your puppy comes home. Even at 8 weeks old, puppies can begin learning simple commands and house rules. Their attention spans are short, but their ability to absorb new information is remarkable during this critical period.

Keep training sessions brief and positive. Young puppies can typically focus for 5-10 minutes at a time, while older puppies might manage 10-15 minutes. It's better to have several short, successful sessions throughout the day than one long, frustrating session that ends with everyone feeling overwhelmed.

Choose high-value rewards that your puppy finds irresistible. For most puppies, small, soft treats work best because they can be eaten quickly without interrupting the training flow. Experiment with different options – some puppies prefer their regular kibble, while others need something more special like freeze-dried liver or chicken.

Create a distraction-free training environment, especially when teaching new commands. Start in a quiet room of your house where your puppy can focus entirely on you. As they master each command, gradually introduce mild distractions and different environments to help them generalise the behaviour.

Establish clear start and end signals for training sessions. This helps your puppy understand when they need to focus and when they can relax. Many trainers use a specific word like "let's train" to begin and "all done" to finish sessions.

Always end training sessions on a positive note. If your puppy is struggling with something new, finish with a command they already know well and can perform successfully. This ensures they always associate training with positive feelings and success.

Essential Commands

Name Recognition and Watch Me

Teaching your puppy their name and the "watch me" command forms the foundation of all other training. Without your puppy's attention, you can't teach them anything else effectively.

Start by using your puppy's name frequently throughout the day in positive contexts. Say their name when you're about to give them something wonderful – their meals, treats, or playtime. This creates a positive association with hearing their name.

For the "watch me" command, begin with treats and patience. Hold a treat close to your puppy's nose, then slowly move it up towards your eyes. As their head follows the treat, their eyes will naturally meet yours. The moment they make eye contact, mark it with "yes!" or a click, then immediately give the treat.

Practice this several times daily in short sessions. Once your puppy reliably looks at your eyes when you lift the treat, start adding the verbal cue "watch me" just before you move the treat. Eventually, you'll be able to get eye contact with just the verbal command.

Eye contact is powerful communication between you and your puppy. It means they're paying attention and ready to receive information from you. This skill becomes invaluable when you need to redirect their attention from distractions or get them focused before giving other commands.

Some puppies are naturally more willing to make eye contact than others. If your puppy seems reluctant, be patient and make it as rewarding as possible. Never force eye contact or stare intensely, as this can feel threatening to some dogs.

Sit

"Sit" is typically the first formal command most puppies learn, and for good reason. It's relatively easy to teach, useful in many situations, and provides a foundation for impulse control that will serve your puppy throughout their life.

The most effective method for teaching "sit" is the lure technique. Hold a treat close to your puppy's nose and let them sniff it. Slowly move the treat from their nose up and back over their head. As their head follows the treat upward, their bottom will naturally lower to the ground.

The moment their bottom touches the floor, mark it with "yes!" or a click, then immediately give the treat and praise enthusiastically. Repeat this process several times until your puppy is sitting reliably when you move the treat.

Once your puppy is following the treat motion consistently, start adding the verbal cue "sit" just before you begin the hand movement. Practice this many times until your puppy begins to sit when they hear the word, even before you move your hand.

Eventually, you can phase out the treat lure and use just the verbal command and perhaps a subtle hand signal. However, always continue to reward your puppy when they sit, even if it's just with praise and attention.

Use "sit" throughout your daily routine. Ask your puppy to sit before meals, before going outside, before getting attention, and before anything else they want. This teaches them that sitting politely is how they ask for good things to happen.

Stay

"Stay" is one of the most important impulse control commands you can teach your puppy. It requires them to control their natural impulses and wait for your permission before moving, which is a valuable life skill in many situations.

Start teaching "stay" once your puppy has mastered "sit." Begin with your puppy in the sitting position directly in front of you. Hold your hand up in a "stop" gesture and say "stay." Take just one small step backwards.

If your puppy remains sitting, immediately step back to them and reward with a treat and praise. If they get up and follow you, simply guide them back to the original position and start again. Don't scold or correct – just reset and try again.

Gradually increase the distance and duration of the stay. Start with one step for one second, then one step for two seconds, then two steps for one second, and so on. Build both distance and duration slowly, always setting your puppy up for success.

Teach a clear release word like "okay" or "free" to let your puppy know when the stay is finished. This is crucial – your puppy should learn to wait for permission before breaking their stay, not just decide for themselves when they've waited long enough.

Practice "stay" in different positions (sitting, lying down, standing) and in different environments as your puppy becomes more reliable. This command becomes invaluable for safety situations, polite greetings, and general household management.

Come

"Come" is arguably the most important command for your puppy's safety. A reliable recall can prevent accidents, allow for off-leash adventures, and give you peace of mind in unexpected situations.

Start recall training in a safe, enclosed area like your house or a securely fenced yard. Begin when your puppy is already close to you and likely to come anyway. Call their name followed by "come" in a happy, excited voice, then immediately reward them when they reach you.

Make coming to you the best thing in your puppy's world. Use high-value treats, enthusiastic praise, and even play as rewards. Never call your puppy to come for something they perceive as negative – if you need to end playtime or give them a bath, go to them instead of calling them to you.

Practice recall frequently throughout the day in low-distraction environments. Gradually increase the distance between you and your puppy, always in safe, enclosed areas. As they become more reliable, you can introduce mild distractions while maintaining the enclosed environment.

Never chase your puppy if they don't come when called. This often turns into a fun game for them where running away gets them attention and play. Instead, try running away from them, calling happily, or going to get something interesting that might motivate them to come to you.

Consider using a long training lead when practicing recall outdoors. This gives your puppy the feeling of freedom while ensuring you can prevent them from practicing the wrong behaviour if they choose not to come when called.

Down

The "down" command teaches your puppy to lie down and relax on cue. This is useful for settling an excited puppy, creating calm behaviour in public spaces, and providing a foundation for more advanced training.

Start with your puppy in a sitting position. Hold a treat close to their nose, then slowly lower it straight down to the floor between their front paws. As their head follows the treat down, their body should naturally follow into a lying position.

Some puppies drop into the down position easily, while others need more encouragement. If your puppy doesn't lie down immediately, try moving the treat slowly forward along the ground after lowering it. This often encourages them to stretch forward and down.

The moment your puppy's elbows touch the ground, mark it with "yes!" or a click, then immediately give the treat and praise. Don't worry if they pop right back up – focus on rewarding the moment they achieve the position.

Once your puppy is reliably following the treat into the down position, start adding the verbal cue "down" just before you begin the lure movement. Practice this until they begin to lie down when they hear the command.

You can also capture natural down behaviour by watching for times when your puppy lies down on their own, then immediately marking and rewarding the behaviour while adding the verbal cue.

Leave It and Drop It

These two commands are often confused but serve different purposes. "Leave it" means don't touch or approach something, while "drop it" means release whatever is currently in your mouth. Both are crucial for your puppy's safety.

To teach "leave it," start with treats in both hands. Show your puppy one treat in your closed fist, and when they inevitably try to get it by pawing, licking, or nosing your hand, simply wait. The moment they stop trying and look away or sit back, mark it with "yes!" and give them a treat from your other hand.

Repeat this exercise until your puppy consistently stops trying to get the treat in your closed fist and looks at you instead. Once they're doing this reliably, add the verbal cue "leave it" just before showing them the closed fist.

Practice "leave it" with items on the ground, always keeping your puppy on a leash so you can prevent them from getting the item if they don't listen. Gradually increase the difficulty by using more tempting items, but always ensure your puppy succeeds more often than they fail.

For "drop it," start with two identical toys. Give your puppy one toy and let them play with it. Then show them the second toy and say "drop it." Most puppies will drop the first toy to investigate the new one. Immediately mark and reward this behaviour.

You can also teach "drop it" by offering a high-value treat in exchange for whatever your puppy has. Hold the treat close to their nose and say "drop it." When they open their mouth to investigate the treat, mark and reward, then give them back the original item if it's safe.

Off

"Off" teaches your puppy to remove themselves from people, furniture, or other surfaces. This command is essential for managing jumping behaviour and establishing household rules about where your puppy is and isn't allowed.

To address jumping, start by completely ignoring your puppy when they jump on you. Turn away, cross your arms, and avoid eye contact. The moment all four paws are back on the ground, immediately turn back and reward them with attention and treats.

For furniture training, place treats on the ground near the furniture piece and say "off" as your puppy naturally jumps down to get the treats. This creates a positive association with getting off furniture rather than making it a conflict.

Practice "off" in controlled situations where you can set your puppy up for success. If they're on the couch and you want them off, use the verbal cue and immediately make the ground more appealing with treats or toys.

Consistency is crucial with "off" training. If you don't want your adult dog on the furniture, don't allow your puppy on it either. Mixed messages will confuse your puppy and make training more difficult.

Teach all family members and visitors how to respond to jumping behaviour. Everyone should use the same approach to ensure your puppy receives consistent messages about appropriate greeting behaviour.

Walking Manners and Heel

Good leash manners make walks enjoyable for both you and your puppy, while also ensuring safety during outdoor adventures. Start leash training as early as possible to establish good habits from the beginning.

Begin by getting your puppy comfortable wearing a collar and leash indoors. Let them drag the leash around under supervision so they get used to the feeling. Make this a positive experience with treats and play.

For basic leash walking, hold treats at your side and encourage your puppy to walk next to you. Reward them frequently when they're in the correct position beside your leg. If they pull ahead, simply stop moving until the leash is loose again, then continue.

The "heel" command requires your puppy to walk closely beside your left leg with their head roughly even with your knee. Start by holding treats at your side and saying "heel" as you begin walking. Reward your puppy every few steps when they're in the correct position.

Practice direction changes and pace variations to keep your puppy's attention on you during walks. Sudden turns or stops help teach them to pay attention to your movement rather than getting distracted by the environment.

Use positive reinforcement rather than leash corrections. If your puppy pulls, simply stop and wait for them to create slack in the leash, then continue. This teaches them that pulling stops forward progress while walking nicely gets them where they want to go.

Age-Based Training Milestones

8 to 12 Weeks: Foundation Phase

During this critical early period, focus on building positive associations with training and establishing basic communication. Your puppy's attention span is very short, so keep sessions to 5 minutes maximum and always end on a successful note.

Priority commands for this age include name recognition, basic "sit," and simple "come" when they're already close to you. Don't expect perfection – instead, focus on rewarding any attempt your puppy makes to respond to your cues.

House training and crate training should begin immediately, but remember that very young puppies have limited bladder control. Take them outside frequently and reward every successful outdoor elimination enthusiastically.

Socialisation is equally important during this phase. While your puppy may not be fully vaccinated, they can safely meet vaccinated dogs you know and encounter new sights, sounds, and experiences in controlled environments.

Keep training fun and pressure-free. Your goal is to build your puppy's confidence and create positive associations with learning. If they seem tired, overwhelmed, or disinterested, take a break and try again later.

3 to 4 Months: Skill Development

As your puppy's attention span and physical coordination improve, you can begin adding complexity to their training. Sessions can extend to 10-15 minutes, and you can start working on multiple commands within a single session.

This is an excellent time to solidify "stay" and "down" commands, as your puppy now has better impulse control. Begin adding mild distractions to training sessions to help your puppy learn to focus despite environmental challenges.

Leash training becomes more important as your puppy's world expands with completed vaccinations. Practice walking manners in your yard before venturing into more distracting environments like parks or busy streets.

Teething typically begins during this phase, which may affect your puppy's focus and behaviour. Ensure they have appropriate chew toys and be patient if they seem more distracted or mouthy than usual.

Continue building on foundation commands while introducing new ones like "leave it" and "drop it." Your puppy's problem-solving abilities are developing rapidly, so they can handle more complex learning challenges.

4 to 6 Months: Adolescent Refinement

Welcome to the teenage phase! Your puppy may suddenly seem to forget everything they've learned, become more independent, or test boundaries they previously respected. This is completely normal and temporary.

Maintain consistency in your training even when your puppy seems to regress. They haven't actually forgotten their commands – they're just testing to see if the rules still apply. Stay patient and continue rewarding good behaviour.

This is an excellent time to proof your training by practicing commands in more challenging environments. Visit busy parks, pet-friendly stores, or other exciting locations where your puppy must listen despite significant distractions.

Increase the duration and distance requirements for commands like "stay" and "come." Your puppy's physical and mental development now allows for more advanced training challenges.

Consider enrolling in puppy classes during this phase if you haven't already. Group training provides valuable socialisation opportunities and professional guidance for navigating adolescent challenges.

Core Training Techniques

Successful puppy training relies on several key techniques that work together to create clear communication and positive learning experiences. Understanding these techniques will help you become a more effective trainer.

Shaping is the process of rewarding small steps toward a final behaviour rather than waiting for the complete action. For example, when teaching "down," you might first reward your puppy for just lowering their head, then for lowering their front end, and finally for the complete down position.

Capturing involves marking and rewarding behaviours your puppy offers naturally. If you see your puppy sitting on their own, immediately say "sit" and reward them. This helps them connect the verbal cue with the action they're already performing.

Luring uses food or toys to guide your puppy into desired positions. While effective for initial learning, gradually fade the lure so your puppy responds to verbal cues rather than becoming dependent on seeing treats.

Variable reinforcement schedules help maintain trained behaviours over time. Once your puppy knows a command well, you don't need to treat every single response. Random rewards often create stronger, more reliable behaviour than constant rewards.

Generalisation training ensures your puppy responds to commands in different environments and situations. Practice each command in various locations, with different people, and around different distractions to create truly reliable responses.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with the best intentions and methods, every puppy trainer encounters challenges. Understanding common problems and their solutions will help you navigate difficulties more effectively.

If your puppy seems to ignore you during training, evaluate your rewards and environment. Are you training when they're too tired, too excited, or too distracted? Are your treats valuable enough to compete with environmental distractions? Adjust these factors before assuming your puppy is being stubborn.

Regression in previously learned behaviours is normal, especially during developmental phases like teething or adolescence. Simply return to basics and re-establish the behaviour with patience and consistency. Don't interpret regression as failure. It's part of the learning process.

Some puppies appear to understand commands at home but "forget" them in public. This is actually a learning issue, not a memory problem. Commands must be taught separately in each new environment until your puppy learns to generalise the behaviour.

If training progress seems slow, examine your consistency and timing. Are all family members using the same cues and rewards? Are you marking desired behaviours within seconds of them occurring? Small improvements in these areas often lead to dramatic improvements in results.

Never resort to punishment or force when training isn't progressing as expected. These methods typically create more problems than they solve and can damage your relationship with your puppy.

Progressing Beyond Basics

Once your puppy has mastered basic commands, you can begin building on this foundation with more advanced training and real-world applications. The skills they've learned provide the groundwork for virtually any future training goals.

Intermediate commands like "wait," "place," and "quiet" build on the impulse control and attention skills developed through basic training. These commands provide more precise control and help manage your dog in complex situations.

Consider the activities you'd like to enjoy with your adult dog and begin foundation training early. Whether it's hiking, visiting cafes, travelling, or dog sports, basic obedience provides the building blocks for these more advanced activities.

Puppy classes and group training environments provide valuable opportunities to practice commands around distractions while receiving professional guidance. Look for trainers who use positive reinforcement methods and emphasise building confidence alongside obedience.

For those interested in exploring the wonderful world of professional training, Puppy to Dog School's Puppy Preschool at Castle Hill Showground offers expert-guided training in a supportive group environment. Their experienced trainers specialise in positive reinforcement methods and understand the unique needs of puppies during their critical learning period. Classes welcome puppies from 10-16 weeks old and provide structured learning of all essential commands, safe socialisation with other puppies, and support for first-time puppy owners in small class sizes for personalised attention.

Keeping Training Engaging

Training should be enjoyable for both you and your puppy. When learning is fun, your puppy will be more motivated to participate and retain information better.

Incorporate games into your training routine. Hide and seek games reinforce recall commands, while treasure hunts using treats can practice "sit," "stay," and "come" in an exciting format. These games make training feel like play rather than work.

Use training as part of your daily routine rather than setting aside separate "training time." Ask for a "sit" before meals, practice "stay" before opening doors, and work on "heel" during regular walks. This integration makes training more relevant and practical.

Keep sessions varied and unpredictable. Mix up the order of commands, change locations frequently, and use different types of rewards. Variety prevents boredom and keeps your puppy engaged in the learning process.

Pay attention to your puppy's energy levels and mood. Some dogs learn best when they're moderately excited, while others focus better when they're calm. Adjust your training approach to match your individual puppy's learning style.

End every session with success, even if you need to ask for an easy command your puppy knows well. This ensures positive associations with training and leaves your puppy eager for the next session.

Sustaining Trained Behaviours

Training doesn't end once your puppy learns basic commands. Maintaining these behaviours throughout your dog's life requires ongoing attention and occasional refresher sessions.

Continue to practice commands regularly, even after your puppy has mastered them. Use them in daily situations to keep them fresh and relevant. A behaviour that's not practiced will gradually deteriorate over time.

Be prepared for periodic regression, especially during stressful times, environmental changes, or developmental phases. When this happens, simply return to basic training principles and rebuild the behaviour patiently.

Adjust your expectations as your dog ages. A senior dog may not move as quickly as they once did, but they should still respond to basic commands within their physical capabilities.

Consider advanced training opportunities as your dog matures. Continued learning provides mental stimulation and strengthens your bond while building on the foundation you've created together.

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