The best time to start teaching any dog is when they are a pup. They will respond better to training and it will be easier to teach them new tricks. But do not despair, if your dog is not a pup, you can still train them no matter what age they are. You just need to be persistent and use the right strategies. If you give your dog training in basic commands, you set the foundations for future advanced training.

There are four important commands that every dog should know.

• Sit
• Stay
• Come
• Heel

Once they have mastered all these commands, they can move onto advanced courses and attend specialist dog training in Sydney. In addition, knowing these commands also helps in building a conflict-free relationship with your pet.

Sit – The best way to teach your dog how to sit is to use treats. Stand in front of them, so that they are looking up. Say the dog’s name and command them to sit. As you offer the treat, gently push their bum down if they do not do it automatically. When your dog sits, give them the treat and some positive praise. You can then replace the treats with hand signals.

Stay – Teaching your dog to stay in place is an important command. It could literally save their life when crossing a road or in similar situations. The easiest way to train them is to teach the dog to sit next to you. Again, use a reward when they listen to your command. Say their name when you teach them and use hand signals.

Come – When teaching a dog recall, you will start them in the sitting position and use the same tone to call them over to you. Use a treat and offer praise when they understand the command.

Heel – Another important command every dog must know is how to heel. This allows you to control them when they are on a leash. You a progressive strategy and build up to a simple movement that informs the dog to heel.

It is best to be consistent when you train your dog. Use the same tone of voice, body language, and training methods to teach your canine. It is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks, so do not worry about their age. It is important to be patient and practice as much as possible.