If your dog isn’t properly trained in the basics, that it can be more than annoyance and turn into a safety hazard. For example, if you are out on a walk you need to be 100% certain that your dog will come to you should anything unexpected happen.

In general, teaching a dog follows the same outline with only the details changed depending on what you want to teach the dog. Below are instructions for training your dog to sit, but you can adapt them to whatever command or trick you wish.

So here is how to train a puppy to sit:

1. First of all, you need to set the right environment to teach your dog. Try to have training sessions while your dog is hungry so it will be more receptive to the treats you’ll be using as rewards. Also make sure your puppy isn’t tired or it won’t be able to learn as effectively.

2. Now onto the actual training. Hold a treat in your hand so it is visible to the dog and then slowly raise it upwards. At first your dog will try to look up, and then it will sit so it can jeep its eyes on the treat.

3. As soon as the dog sits issue the “sit” command. With practice, the dog should associate the act of sitting with the right command.

4. Repeat this several times then have a break. New puppies have notoriously short attention spans, and over training will provide poor results. As the puppy gets more confident try issuing the “sit” command without moving the treat.

Before long your puppy will associate the command with the action. The next step is to practice it in an environment where there are distractions, so that you know that when you’re really need your dog to be obedient it will be.

Training your puppy to sit should not be a chore for you or the puppy. Think of your puppy like a small child, and try to make training sessions fun. You’ll find you get much better results this way.