A contribution from our employee Lilli Möller
There are many different approaches to dog training. However, good communication between human and dog is crucial. The goal is for your dog to understand various human signals and respond appropriately. Before you consider which basic concepts are important for you and your dog, and which tricks your dog should know, you first need to consider how you want to reward your dog. For many dogs, receiving a happy "Good" accompanied by a petting session after performing a command is enough confirmation. However, some dogs prefer the classic treat as a reward, and their motivation is greater when there's a chance of something tasty. However, you'll know your dog best and know exactly what works for them. Once the question of reward has been resolved, it's time to move on to basic commands.
There are seven basic commands that can be helpful for you and your dog in your everyday life. The commands are deliberately short and concise to make learning easier for your dog. Whether you train your dog using hand signals, verbal commands, or a combination of both is entirely up to you. But below you'll learn why mastering these commands is so important for you and your dog.
"Seat"
"Sit" is usually one of the first commands we teach our furry friends. We're happy when they master this command, and they receive a treat or a loving pat for a job well done. But perhaps you've already wondered why it's even important for your dog to sit on your command. Of course, we're happy when the "sit" command works, but it's also important for our dogs to follow the command and sit in certain situations.The "sit" command can help your dog better handle everyday situations and become calmer in them. Whether it's waiting at a red light or during a car ride.
Sitting is a basic posture for dogs. Mastering this command is important not only for training purposes, but also for our dog's health. Have you ever noticed that not every dog sits the same way? Just like humans, some dogs also sit crookedly.
Examples of poor posture include bent hind legs or a stretched-out rear end when sitting. This may look funny to us, but it can lead to muscle strain, tension, or blockages in dogs. The "sit" command is therefore an important one for both us and our dogs.
"Place"
Once the “sit” is understood and learned, it is not such a big step to the “place” command.Just like with “sit”, the “down” command can be very helpful in various everyday situations and make them easier for you and your dog. This command is particularly useful in situations such as going to a restaurant or traveling by bus or train. Of course, it is nice in a restaurant if your dog does not happily greet the waiter while he stands up every time he brings out all the tasty things. If your dog lies down, he will automatically relax after a while. It helps him to realize that it is a safe situation and there is no reason to get excited. Especially when traveling on public transport, it takes some practice to stick to the command. However, you will notice that once you get the hang of it, such situations are no problem for you or your dog.
“Stay”
The command "stay" means that the dog should stay in the same place as he or she is at that moment. This command is often taught in combination with "sit" or "down." The "stay" command can be particularly important when out for walks. For example, if your dog is running free and a car or cyclist is approaching, a simple "stay" can avoid a collision. But it is also helpful in your own four walls if your dog knows this command. Of course, it is nice to see that your dog is happy about every guest who comes through the door, especially if he is rewarded with lots of petting as he is greeted. Every new guest who comes through the door might also have something tasty with them. But you will surely have noticed that not everyone is as crazy about our furry friends as we are. Especially with small children, our dogs' cheerful nature can sometimes seem boisterous. In such situations, it is helpful if your dog knows the command "stay," for example, so that he or she can stay on his or her blanket or basket while being greeted."No"
The command "no" is one of the most important commands and can be crucial in everyday situations. This command should convey to your dog that a certain behavior should be avoided. Especially with puppies, there are many situations in which your dog must understand that his behavior is inappropriate. He must learn that the fringes of the rug are not a rope, or that his favorite shoes are not a chew bone. But this command can also be very important later on. Many dog owners will be familiar with the situation in which you frantically try to pull the sandwich that a child has dropped from their hand on the way to school out of their dog's mouth, for fear that it might be poison bait. In situations like this, a firm "no" can work wonders and save you from a tug-of-war with your dog over an old sandwich.However, the command should only be used in crucial situations and not too often so that it does not become obsolete.
"Out of"
It's not always easy to spot an old school sandwich on the sidewalk, and your dog might quickly end up with something in its mouth that you didn't see. In situations like this, the "out" command helps. The goal is for your dog to put down what you think is its prey. This command isn't just helpful when training with poison bait. It's also important for your dog to give up its prey when retrieving. A good trick is to offer your dog a trade. By holding out a treat or another toy, your dog will automatically open its mouth and drop the prey."Here"
This command is particularly important if your dog likes to run free on walks. With the command "Here" you signal to him that he should come to you. This command is crucial when there are cars or cyclists nearby. When using the command "Here" you should make sure that you reward him as soon as he comes. A friendly tone of voice has a strong influence on his motivation, as he should want to come to you. If his tone of voice is angry, your dog quickly realizes that something is wrong and that he might not get a treat. He will then no longer be motivated to come to you.“At your feet”
If you trust your dog and all the other basic commands are well-established, then this is the next step for you. With the "heel" command, your dog will walk relaxed by your side without a leash. This command is very helpful on a busy street or in a pedestrian zone. Since this command isn't used as frequently in everyday life as the others, it's advisable to practice it regularly so it's not forgotten.Three tips for a loose leash
You know that feeling when your dog prefers to walk with you rather than the other way around? Your dog goes into overdrive as soon as he sees another dog or a squirrel? People always laugh at you when you're walking your dog and he happily bites the leash because he thinks that if he held the leash, going for a walk would be even more fun? We have a few tips for you to make walking your dog more relaxing.Tip 1:
Associate the leash with something positive. To get your dog used to the leash, it's important that he associates it with something positive. When you put the leash on your dog, he knows exactly that he's about to go outside, and he starts to get excited. To avoid this, put the leash on at home and reward him with treats or a toy. He'll quickly realize that the leash is a great thing.Tip 2:
Set a specific point. Set a specific point so your dog understands what it means to walk on the leash. Your dog can use this point as a reference point. If your dog's ear is at the level of your knee, this is a good reference point for you and your dog. With verbal reinforcement or a treat, your dog will quickly understand what it means to walk well on the leash.Tip 3:
Stay consistent. You're the boss! The goal of leash training is for your dog to trust you and follow you unconditionally. To achieve this, it's important that you also call the shots at home. Your dog quickly learns that as soon as he whines for a while, you'll give in and he'll be allowed on the sofa or get something from the table. Stay consistent. If you often give in at home, your dog will quickly learn that he can do whatever he wants outside, too.Training, training, training
Training your furry friends requires a great deal of discipline and consistency to achieve success. We'd love to fulfill our dogs' every wish, but it's not always easy to remain steadfast. However, good training is essential for a long, happy life together between humans and dogs.But even if a command doesn't work right away, if we're standing in a field desperately calling "Here," but the only thing that comes is a walker telling us that our dog is over there, we can't stay mad at our dogs for long. They put a smile on our faces and manage to make even the worst days better. They enrich every day, and we can't imagine life without them.
An individual memory
We share many wonderful moments with our dogs that we cherish. Capture these moments in a personalized dog poster and relive them when you look at your dog's drawing.Designing your very own personalized dog poster is easy. Simply enter your dog's name and select their breed. You can then choose the base color of your dog poster to perfectly match your decor. Entering your dog's date of birth and a personal dedication will make your dog poster truly special. To make things even easier for you, you can also choose a matching frame from us.
If you would like to immortalize your dog or give one of your canine friends a very personal gift, then design your own individual dog poster now.
