So training dogs in the beginning should be fun, there should be no behavioral work if you can help it, only in extreme cases should there be behavioral training in the beginning. In the first month or two of being with your dog, it should be about building that bond, making sure they see you as that amazing person who takes them to fun places and provides them with those amazing treats. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to start the foundations of a well trained dog and a safe dog. These basic commands are commands that not only are easy to learn, but are seriously important to teach for safety reasons. Teaching these commands require no punishment of any kind and nothing but happy times. When it is done correctly, give a treat, when nothing happens then try again. If nothing continues to happen, ask these questions: how long has the training session been going on? and, is how I am trying to train this command getting through to this dog?
Now a training session of any new command or behavior should not be for longer than 15-20 minutes and afterward it should be followed by something fun and tension releasing such as a heavy play session, or a nice walk/run even it's only for 30 minutes. Remember an exhausted dog, both mentally and physically is not just overall happier, but also less likely to get into trouble. Training basic commands is usually pretty simple and usually the way I am going to write about is the best way to build the bond between a new dog and their owner, they are also relatively fool proof as most dogs will learn them all several different ways and one way usually works just as well as with the others. However, as Dewey as the example, certain dogs don't respond well to certain words and either don't learn them or don't react normally and healthily when you say the word. That is when you find a word that works better, just because it's different doesn't mean it's any less than any other word. Now as far as the action you get to do them to do it, you honestly want to avoid physically pushing them or moving them into the position if you can help it. Remember you have just gotten this dog, you technically don't really know all the issues it could have, you want to build a good relationship between you two before you even start introducing any sort of bodily anything into your relationship (whether that is corrections or whatever). Now I understand if that is unavoidable in some situations, but preferably we won't have to be in situations like that if we don't have to.
So onto the basic training-
Sit: Simple and something that every dog should know as it is a good basic command to start position training that can lead to the sit and stay, the sit then lay down, the sit can then lead to a stand. etc.
As your dog is standing, carefully take a treat, something that smells amazing, and lure his nose to realize you have it in your finger tips and make him much more attentive to you. Then slowly lure his nose backward until you are tracing his nose back to his head almost in a way. Don't be too close and don't be too far, be just an inch out of his reach, if you are too far he will be encouraged to try and jump to bite it out of your hand. If you've done it right, his nose should follow your fingers back and his butt should automatically hit the floor. Once it does you mark the action with either the word "yes" or "good". Something simple and to show he has done a good job. Don't even try adding the command yet. Instead immediately give the treat and offer praise and pets. The next time he does it successfully once again no command. Then the third time you add the command and the hand signal you wish to use instead of the marker praise word. Eventually you work with the command word and the consistent luring/hand signal until your dog has it well in mind, then you only use the hand signal and word command, no longer offering treats like you used to, instead you offer treats from places hidden around the house, and places on your body if you are out and about. I recommend if you have an incredibly smart dog (like I have dealt with) that you switch up your stash spots on a regular basis or they will learn where they are and not perform their command until they see your hand in the area where the expected treat is. I have learned this the hard way sadly.
Lay (lay down or down): Use any word form you want. I will use lay down for this purpose, as it is what I taught Dewey.
You want to have preferably taught your dog sit by now. Lay down will follow from a sit position. So lure your dog into a sit position, then bring a high value training treat in front of it's nose. Waft it about until your dog once again becomes interested. Then like before with Sit command lure his nose by keeping it just about an inch in front of it the entire time. Slowly bring it down almost straight and ending up in between the paws, then slowly, hopefully with your dog's nose still following the treat, drag the treat outward until your dog follows it and it should automatically end up in a laying position. Once again, when you get the desired act, mark with the "yes" or "good" marker word you have chosen, and reward with treat and lots of love. Once the trick is well learned through this method, which it should only take three to five times of repeated actions, add the command word you want. Continue to teach with the command word and hand signal you choose, until you are at the stage where you need to wean off.
Stay (Wait): There's not many variations people use on this command, but hey whatever works for you and your dog.
I usually start from a sit position, preferably you will have a lighter leash or some sort of light rope to use as a control lead (and usually this will be longer than the usual leash your dog is walked with). With a slow calm voice you say the command and connect a hand motion with it, I usually do some sort of stop signal with my hand. Say the command, slow and firmly. Then walk back several places with a treat obviously in your hand but not leading your dog with it. If it moves to follow you, say no (not harshly) and place the dog in the exact same place and position it was in before. Once again give the command and follow through if your dog does the opposite of what you want. Continue to do this until the dog stays where you want, I recommend only going five to seven steps back and waiting ten seconds once you stop to make sure your dog stays. Then step quickly towards your dog and mark the stay command with the "yes" marker word, and a treat. Do not give the treat or any sort of praise if you dog leaves the spot before you reach it or give the marker word. If this takes longer than 15 minutes, do not end until you have had at least one successful stay, once you have you can end it. Always end training sessions on good terms.
Leave it: This also doesn't have many variations. What this command allows is many things a simple "no" won't do. Leave it allows the dog not to think the certain item it is supposed to leave is completely horrible and bad to never touch it, leave it allows you to have control for the moment. It also doesn't make the dog think it is in trouble for what it's doing and allows it to think for itself in many ways. A lot of what I use Leave it for is completely natural instinct for dogs and I don't want a dog to think it is bad for doing something that it's body tells it to do, however I do want my dog to think and know that there are other options.
Leave it is often started from the sit position, though it works from generally any position, it often works best from some sort of position you cause because then the dog's brain is already in the "training" set of mind. Get some sort of really smelly treat, preferably a favorite of your dog's. Hold it tightly in your fist, so your dog can't get to it and allow your dog to nuzzle and sniff/worry your hand. As soon as your dog stops worrying your hand and looks at it expectantly, mark the action with the "yes" marker word and a treat. Do this several times until the dog starts doing it almost immediately, once that starts happening (it should take three times averagely) mark it now with the "Leave it" command and a treat. After a few sessions where they successfully do this without trying to eat the treat, you can start putting the treat on the ground and saying leave it and don't be afraid to continually enforce the command several times so your dog completely leaves it alone.
These are the four basics that every dog should start with, these are the platforms for everything else. My next dog training post will be about behavioral issues and how to deal with them.
