Let’s keep training simple, shall we? (Photo: woman relaxing on a balcony with her feet up)
You want your dog to understand simple words and hand signals.
Here are a few ideas to get you started and to make training your dog more simple:
Write it down: Write a list of all the commands you want your dog to know. Leave space on the right hand side for writing down the hand signal. For example:
come - pointing at the ground in front of you
drop it - holding my hands underneath my dog’s mouth below the toy
Then write a list of all the commands she already knows.
sit - slightly raising my right hand while making a fist
stay - holding my palm out toward my dog
Dogs are masters of reading human body language, so decide what your hand signal is going to be beforehand, so you can be consistent.
Consistency is key. Put the list on your refrigerator where the whole family (or anyone who lives with your dog) can see it.
Your fridge magnets need a job:) Let them hold up your fancy new list! (Photo: fridge magnets)
Pro Tip to avoid confusing your dog:
Use “off” for — get your front feet off of that person/object
Use “down” for - lay down on the ground, please
Aren’t sure which commands to teach? Here’s a list of commands that can help save your dog’s life:
-come
-leave it
-drop it
-stay
Anything else to add to your list?
These commands are super helpful to communicate with your dog on a day-to-day basis:
-crate
-place
-heel
-break
-let’s go
-up (think: loading your dog in the car)
-space - I use this specifically for “give the cat space”
The more your dog knows, the easier it is for you to communicate with her. This helps her feel happy instead of frustrated. Being able to understand one another opens up the world for you to go out and explore and have fun together.
Your list will also come in super handy when you go away on vacation, so your care provider can communicate with your dog and make her feel safe and secure.
Happy training!
Alyssa
Photos by: Artem Beliaikin @belart84 (woman relaxing on a balcony with her feet up,) Maria Cappelli
@rikku72 (fridge magnets,)