Hub · 9 commands · Positive reinforcement

Train a command

Every reliable cue — sit, stay, come, heel — is built the same way: mark the behavior you want, pay for it generously, and raise the difficulty one notch at a time. These guides walk you through that process for each core command, with the exact progression steps, the mistakes that stall most owners, and honest timelines instead of miracle promises.

Start with sit and stay if your dog is new to training; they teach both of you the mechanics. Recall and leave-it are the two safety-critical cues worth over-investing in. Whatever you pick, keep sessions under five minutes and end on a win — dogs learn from success, not repetition.

Train · 1–2 weeksHow to Teach a Dog to StayStart with your dog in a sit, say 'stay,' wait one second, then reward before they move. Slowly add duration, then distance, then distractions — always returning to reward at the dog's side, never calling them out of the stay. Build one variable at a time.

Train · 2–5 daysHow to Teach a Dog to SitHold a treat just above your dog's nose and move it slowly back over their head — as the nose follows, the rear drops. The moment they sit, mark ('yes!') and treat. After a few reps, add the word 'sit' right before the lure, then fade the lure to a hand signal.

Train · 3–6 weeksHow to Teach a Dog to Come When CalledPick a fresh word ('here!'), pair it with your dog's favorite reward every single time, and never use it to end fun or to punish. Practice on a long line, starting close with no distractions and adding distance and difficulty gradually. Pay every recall like it's the lottery.

Train · 3–7 daysHow to Teach a Dog to Lie DownFrom a sit, lower a treat from your dog's nose straight down to the floor, then slowly drag it forward along the ground — the elbows follow. Mark and treat the moment they land. Name it 'down' once the lure works reliably, then fade the lure to a small downward hand signal.

Train · 1–2 weeksHow to Teach a Dog 'Leave It'Close a treat in your fist and let your dog lick and paw at it — the moment they back off, mark and reward from your OTHER hand. Once they withdraw quickly, add the cue 'leave it,' then progress to treats on the floor, dropped items, and finally real-world temptations. The rule: leaving it always pays better than taking it.

Train · 2–4 weeksHow to Teach a Dog to HeelPick a side, mark and treat every time your dog's shoulder is level with your leg — first standing still, then one step, then several. Feed in position, right at your seam. Add the cue 'heel' once the position is fluent, and keep sessions short: heeling is mentally hard work for a dog.

Train · 1–2 weeksHow to Teach a Dog 'Go to Your Mat'Put a mat down, and reward any interest in it — a look, a step, a paw. Shape toward all four paws on, then a down, then duration. Add the cue 'mat' once the dog charges over reliably. The mat becomes a paycheck zone, which is exactly why it fixes doorbell chaos and dinner begging.

Train · 1–3 weeksHow to Teach a Dog the 'Quiet' CueWait for a pause in barking (or create one with a soft attention noise), say 'quiet' in the silence, and reward 2–3 seconds of continued silence with a treat. Gradually stretch the silent gap before paying. Never yell — from the dog's perspective you're just joining in.

Train · 1–2 weeksHow to Teach a Dog 'Drop It'Turn releasing into a trade: while your dog holds a toy, present a treat at their nose — the moment the jaw opens, say 'drop it,' pay, and give the toy right back. The dog learns that opening their mouth makes good things happen and they usually keep the item too, so there's nothing to guard.

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