One of the hardest things when training a pet comes when everyone in the household is not consistent with the commands and rules for their beloved pet. The American Kennel Club suggests that everyone in the household, including kids, should be involved in the training, and that consistency is key.
Kids are eager to be a part of their new pet’s life. Giving them some responsibility in the care and the training is a fun and wonderful learning experience.
Start with the easiest commands:
- instruct kids on the basic oral and hand commands for “sit” and “down.” Basic instructions can be found below. Using a small treat is useful in the beginning and will help your puppy learn commands quicker. When the dog follows the command, teach your child to reward with the treat and praise the dog saying, “good girl/boy!”
These are additional commands that are good for kids to know once “sit” and “down” are mastered to help with discipline:
- “Shake” – This is a fun one for kids
- “Come” – Teach your dog to come to you when you call
- “Stay” – Teach your dog to stay when she needs to remain where she is
- “Off” – Turn your back when a dog is jumping and say “off”
- “Drop it” – When your dog has something in his mouth that he should not have
- “No” – For when your dog may be doing something she is not supposed to be doing
- Share your rules about not feeding the dog at the table.
Consistency in command usage is particularly important because without consistency, the dog will be confused as to what the rules are.
Training tips for sit, down, and shake
How to train your puppy to sit:
To train your puppy to sit, have a small treat in your fist. Say the word “sit.” Starting near the nose and move your hand over the puppy’s head toward his back. His nose will follow your hand forcing him to sit. Reward the puppy with the treat, and repeat. Be sure to praise the puppy as you wean him from the treats, and as he learns the word “sit.”
How to train your puppy to lie down:
To train your puppy to lie down, have a small treat in your fist. Say the word “down.” Starting near the puppy’s nose, move your hand down to the ground. The puppy should follow your hand and lie down. Wait until the belly is completely on the ground; you can keep repeating the word “down” until the belly is on the ground. Reward the puppy with the treat, and repeat. Be sure to praise the puppy as you wean her from the treats, and as she learns the word “down.”
How to train a puppy to shake:
To train your puppy to shake, hold your open hand out close enough for the puppy to reach. Say the word “shake.” Be patient. When the puppy gives you his paw, give a reward, or simply praise the puppy verbally and repeat.
Be sure your children understand the importance of following all the rules with the dog, and equally important is that the dog follows all the rules that you set in place.
Dogs are part of the family, so talk the kids and share the importance of always being kind with puppies and grown dogs. A dog is the family’s best friend!
