Teaching your dog commands is essential on several scores. Of course, it’s fun with some tricks, such as fetching your slippers—without chewing on them! Others are imperative, like stop, stay, and come. It can mean the difference between an unfortunate event and saving a life. Think of telling your dog to stay as a reckless driver is rounding the corner.

You can start teaching your pet basic tricks and commands from day one after bringing your pet home. They are just beginning to bond with humans at this point, making them malleable and agreeable to the process. Short words like come and shake work well. While dogs are capable of understanding some things we say, it helps to keep it simple.

Importance of Training

Training serves several purposes. First and foremost, it establishes communication between you and your pup. That can reinforce your bond, especially if you make it stronger with a treat. It’s helpful during vet exams, particularly since many familiar ones are the common language between dog owners.

It’s also essential for the person who happens to come across your pup. Encountering an unfamiliar dog is disconcerting. Being able to communicate with the pooch with commands that everyone knows can relieve the tension in these situations. That’s particularly true if you live in a rural area where a pet is likely to roam the surrounding land.

Ease of Training

Many factors contribute to whether it’s easy or more challenging to teach a dog to come. First, there is the breed. Some are more intelligent than others, thanks to selective breeding. Think of Border Collies, German Shepherds, and other pups that typically show well in the competitive show circuit.

Other breeds are less agreeable, particularly ones that often act independently in their jobs, such as herding and hunting dogs. They usually have excellent problem-solving skills because their job depends on them. Other pets are more aloof by nature, such as Chow Chows. Some, like Siberian Huskies, are focused on quite different tasks.

There are also practical considerations, such as the pet’s age and individual characteristics, especially if you have a rescue pup. Dogs that have already been exposed to training are usually more receptive to expanding their repertoire. That’s something to consider when scrutinizing a puppy’s early upbringing with different breeders or sellers.

The essential thing is to make training a positive experience for you and your dog. Those associations will make your job easier and help cement these commands in your pup’s memory. If your pet doesn’t follow through correctly, refrain from punishing them. Discipline to control unwanted behavior is one thing; your dog should understand no but never be punished. Training is another thing altogether.