Treat, Train, Repeat! Fun Training Tips for Your Dog

Lure and Learn

Hold a treat in your hand and close your fingers around it. Show your hand to your dog and let them sniff it. When they touch your hand with their nose, say “Yes!” or click, then give them the treat. Start moving your hand a little at a time, encouraging your dog to follow with their nose. Keep practicing by making them follow in different directions, like zigzags and circles. The goal is for your dog to follow your hand wherever it goes!

Clicker Training

‘Loading the clicker’ means pairing the sound of the clicker with something valuable to the dog (like a treat) To load the clicker, you need to teach your dog that a click means a treat is coming! Start with your dog in any position, then click and give a treat at the same time. You can also say “Yes!” in a happy voice. Repeat this until your dog starts looking for a treat whenever they hear the click. Try waiting for your dog to look away, then click—if they turn back expecting a treat, they’ve learned that the click is a good thing! Keep practicing to make the connection strong.

Teaching ‘Sit’

Teaching your dog to sit is like showing them a super cool trick! With some treats and practice, they’ll learn to sit like a pro! To start, hold a treat above your dog’s head and slowly move it back until their bottom touches the ground. The moment they sit, say “Yes!” or click, then give them the treat. Use the word “Okay” to let them know they can move again, but don’t give a treat after the release word. Keep practicing, and once your dog sits reliably, start using the word “Sit” as a cue. Over time, have them stay in the sit position longer before giving a treat. Sitting can become your dog’s go-to behavior, making training and daily life easier!

Sit and say Hi!

To teach your dog to sit when meeting people, start with the Sit cue. Hold a treat at their nose to get their attention while someone approaches. Let your puppy nibble the treat while they stay sitting. Keep greetings Short and sweet! When the person finishes petting, reward your pup with love and another treat. Always use the release word when the greeting is over.

This handout is sponsored by Arfordable Dog Training