Simple Training Cues Every Puppy Needs To Know

by Margret Barclay February 17, 2025

Welcoming a puppy into your home is like inviting a little ball of chaos wrapped in fur—adorable, but oh-so-demanding! Training a puppy is one of the most rewarding and essential tasks every pet owner should undertake. Early training not only helps your puppy become a well-mannered family member but also strengthens the bond between you two. While it may seem overwhelming at first, keeping things simple and consistent will help you build a solid foundation for a well-behaved dog. Here are the basic training cues every puppy should learn to ensure a harmonious life together.

1. Sit

Think of “Sit” as the canine version of saying “Please.” It’s easy, effective, and it helps manage their energy, while ensuring they’re paying attention to you.

Here’s how to do it:

Hold a treat close to your puppy’s nose (think of it as a puppy magnet).
Slowly move your hand upward, so their head follows the treat and their bottom naturally plops down.
Say “Sit” once—clearly and confidently—rather than repeating it (“Sit, sit, sit, sit”), which can turn the command into background noise. Once they sit, reinforce it by saying “Sit” again in your proud parent voice, then reward them with a treat and plenty of praise.

2. Stay

“Stay” is like hitting the pause button on your puppy. It’s a lifesaver— a reliable recall command is vital for your puppy's safety. Teaching them to come when called can prevent dangerous situations and is crucial for bonding.

Here’s some tips:

Start with your puppy in the “sit” position.
Show your palm like a stop sign and say “Stay.”
Take a step back and wait. If your pup stays put, reward them!
Slowly increase the distance, then slowly increase the duration and soon you’ll have a pro.

3. Recall

A reliable recall command is vital for your puppy's safety. Teaching them to come when called can prevent dangerous situations.

Here’s how we did it:

Start indoors where distractions are minimal (no squirrels allowed!).
Start by calling your puppy’s name in a cheerful tone while standing a few feet away.
When they come toward you, reward them with treats and praise.
Practice in different environments and add distractions to make sure they respond.
Don’t overcomplicate by using “Here” “come” “Come here” etc. Just use the dog’s name.

4. Leave It

"Leave it" is a crucial command that teaches your puppy not to pick up or chew on something they shouldn’t- like your shoes, food on the ground, or the neighbor’s garden gnome. This is especially important in environments where there might be harmful objects or food they could ingest.

Take note of these suggestions:

Place a treat in one hand and say “Leave it.”
When they look away, immediately mark the behavior and reward them with the tasty treat from the other hand.
Once your puppy reliably looks away, add the cue "leave" before holding out the boring item. Reward them when they look away.
Practice in new locations, add distractions, and increase the value of the "leave it" item. If they struggle, return to an easier step and progress more slowly.

5. Down

Teaching your puppy to lie down is not only a good way to calm them but also provides an alternative to jumping or pacing.

Let’s dive into some tips:

With your dog sitting, hold a treat near their nose and move your hand towards their chest * and then straight down to the floor. Your dog should follow the treat into a lying down position.
As soon as your dog lies down, praise and reward them with the treat.
Once your dog consistently follows the treat into the down position, say the word "down" just as they lie down.
While your dog is lying down, offer treats to encourage them to stay in the down position longer.

* You may need to gently move the front legs down to encourage then the follow treat the first couple of times.

Training your puppy is a journey full of treats, tail wags, and the occasional mess-up. With these basic cues, you'll transform your playful pup into a superstar companion. So, grab those treats and let the training adventures begin! There are many important things to teach your dog when you first bring them home, so be sure to put in the time and effort—find more helpful tips at dogstrust.co.uk.