Basic Dog Training Tips for Beginners, Plus 5 Core Commands

We love our dogs, but they can be rambunctious! The good news is that dogs are also extremely intelligent, and most of them can be easily trained. With a little patience and lots of love, your dog can start following your commands in no time.

Whether you’re teaching your new puppy not to jump on visitors or trying to get your older dog to stay, these basic dog training tips can help. Let’s jump in!

The Takeaways

1. Training your dog is part of being a responsible pet parent.

2. Basic dog training tips include: incorporate marker words, practice positive reinforcement, utilize the lure-and-reward method, focus on timing, be consistent, practice regularly, keep sessions short, train in different environments, watch for signs of frustration, and stay positive and patient.

3. Core commands to teach your dog include Sit, Stay, Walk on a Leash, Leave/Drop It, and Come.

Table of Contents

• Basic Dog Training Tips

• Core Commands to Teach Your Dog

Basic Dog Training Tips

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Training your dog is part of being a responsible pet parent. Keeping them from jumping on people, tearing up property, or relieving themselves in the wrong place is important!

But successfully training your dog requires more than giving them a command and waiting for them to do it. It takes consistency, repetition, and intentional action. Here are some basic dog training tips to keep in mind as you work with your pup.

1. Incorporate Marker Words

A “marker word” is simply a verbal cue that pinpoints (or marks) the exact moment your dog is behaving the way you want them to. It’s a way for you to help them connect their actions with the commands you're giving them.

Positive Markers

Positive marker words are used to let your dog know they’re performing the correct action. It signals that the behavior is complete and they’re about to get a reward. Your positive marker word might be “yes,” “bingo,” “right,” or whatever else works for you.

Some people use a clicker instead of saying a specific word. No matter what you choose, immediately follow the positive marker with a treat so your pup can make the connection between the moment they complete the action and their reward.

Negative Markers

A negative marker word isn’t as bad as it sounds. It’s simply a verbal cue or sound used to tell your pup that what they’re doing isn’t exactly what you’re wanting. This could be something like “wrong,” “oops,” or “shh.” Avoid using “no,” since that’s a different kind of cue altogether.

For example, if you tell your dog to stay but they start moving toward you instead, you could say, “wrong” and then try the stay command again.

2. Practice Positive Reinforcement

Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash

We’ve all likely heard of positive reinforcement when it comes to classroom learning or parenting, but what exactly does that mean for dog training?

With positive reinforcement dog training, you give your dog a reward of some kind when they perform or behave in a way that pleases you. Just like we were talking about above, that could mean feeding your pup a treat as soon as they complete the command to sit or stay.

The important thing to remember here is that dogs will repeat any behavior they associate with something positive. So, if you give them a bone when they sit calmly next to you while you chat with a visitor, they’re likely to act the same way the next time someone comes over.

But if they’re barking while you’re on the phone and you give them a bone to quiet them down, they’ll probably bark every time you answer your phone.

3. Utilize the Lure-and-Reward Method

The lure-and-reward method is an easy and effective way to train your dog. It involves holding a treat to your dog’s nose and then moving it in the direction you want your dog to go.

For example, if you’re training your pup to sit, you can hold a treat in front of their nose and then raise it slightly above their head. Their backend will automatically plop down as they look up at the treat. Similarly, if you want your dog to lie down, hold the treat low to the ground and slowly inch it away from your dog until they’re on their belly.

Of course, to make sure this works as well as possible, give your dog the treat as soon as they complete the action (and don’t forget your marker word!).

4. Focus on Timing

Timing is super important when you’re training your furry friend. If you wait too long to reward your dog for correctly following a command, they won’t associate the reward with that command.

For example, if you tell your dog to sit, but then you have to go grab a treat and they’re no longer sitting by the time you come back, giving them the treat won’t reinforce the sitting behavior.

They’ll just think you’re feeding them because you love them (which is OK sometimes, too!).

5. Be Consistent

Consistency is probably one of the most important aspects of dog training. If you’re not consistent with the way you teach your pup, they’ll end up confused and you may get frustrated.

What does consistency look like? Basically, it means using the same command and marker words every time. Cues, commands, and rewards should always be clear and consistent.

6. Practice Regularly

Practice makes perfect! OK, maybe not perfect, but at least progress. Just like people need to regularly work on new things they’re learning, dogs need regular, repeated training practice.

You can’t expect your dog to sit every time you tell them to after just one training session. Consistently reinforcing good behavior or tricks is the best way to make them stick in your dog’s mind long-term.

It’s also important to keep giving your dog the commands often even after they’ve learned them. In other words, avoid falling off the training wagon after a month or so of consistent, regular effort. You can ease off a bit, but try not to go days or weeks between practices.

7. Keep Sessions Short

Speaking of practice, focus on keeping your training sessions short and fun. Just like kids, dogs have pretty short attention spans. Aim for 5 to 15 minutes at a time, and be sure to give your dog plenty of affection and playtime between sessions.

Going for longer than 15 minutes can cause your pup to become frustrated, disinterested, or possibly even anxious. It’s better to spend a few focused minutes several times a day training your dog than have one long, drawn-out session.

And when the session’s over, end on a positive note. Have your pup complete a command they already know, and reward them immediately. This makes them look forward to training.

8. Train in Different Environments

Photo by Destiny Wiens on Unsplash

If you always train your dog to sit, stay, or lie down in the same spot, they may start to associate the place with the command, rather than just the verbal cue. That means they might stay if they’re inside your house, but maybe they run wild when you go to the park.

To keep this from happening, work on training commands in multiple places around your home, like the living room, the backyard, and the front yard.

9. Watch for Signs of Frustration

Some dogs take to training much faster than others. What’s more, certain breeds may have a calmer or happier disposition than other breeds. Keep in mind that your dog is unique, and they have a personality and emotions.

They can get tired just like people, so avoid pushing them too far. Watch for signs that your pup might be getting frustrated, including disinterest, avoidance, and physical fatigue.

You might notice them not wanting treats, moving slowly, or getting distracted with other things. They may start avoiding the training (or you) by walking away, turning their head, plopping down and refusing to get up, or even whining.

If you’ve worked them too hard, your dog might start showing physical signs of fatigue. Like panting, trembling or shaking, or getting the zoomies. If this happens, end the training immediately (on a positive note, like we mentioned earlier).

10. Stay Positive and Patient

Above all, stay positive and patient with your canine companion. Be happy every time your dog comes to you, even if you didn’t call them. Give them lots of love and affection, and spend plenty of time playing with them outside of training sessions.

It’s also important to remember that your dog isn’t human. They weren’t born understanding English and knowing what words mean. Learning these things will take time, but it will be worth it for both of you!

Core Commands to Teach Your Dog

Dogs can learn all sorts of fun tricks, but when you’re just starting out, core commands are the most important to teach your pup. To help them behave and to keep your bond strong, teach them these basic commands first:

• Sit

• Stay

• Walk on a leash

• Leave/drop it

• Come

Once your furry best friend has mastered these, you can move on to more advanced commands and show off how smart your pup is!

Basic Dog Training Tips for the Win

With the basic dog training tips we’ve mentioned here, you and your pup are on your way to a lifetime of fun…without the behavior issues!

And speaking of fun, if you need somewhere to leave your dog while you’re away from home, consider boarding them at Around the World Pet Resort. At our facility, your sweet pup will get extensive playtime, spacious accommodations, and trained staff who provide lots of love while you’re gone.

What better way to put all your dog’s hard training work to use? Reach out today to schedule a visit!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 core training pillars?

When training your dog, keep these four core pillars in mind: positive reinforcement, marker words, luring, and consistency.

Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with something positive when they do what you’re asking them to do or behave in a certain way. Marker words are verbal cues that you use the exact moment your dog obeys a command.

Luring is moving a treat in front of your dog’s nose in the way you want them to move, and consistency is simply about using the same commands and marker words every time.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for dogs?

The 3-3-3 rule is not so much a rule as it is a timeline for when you bring a new dog home. The components are decompression, adjustment, and bonding.

During the first 3 days at home, your dog will decompress, meaning they may feel nervous or tired. You’ll likely see them sleeping excessively, hiding, pacing, or avoiding their food.

After that comes the adjustment period, which usually lasts roughly three weeks. You may notice an improved appetite and increased engagement. Your new pup will also likely start showing some of their personality and learning the house rules.

Finally, the bonding phase lasts for three months. This is when your dog will start to gain confidence in their new home, exhibit better behavior, and start becoming attached to the family.