Dog Training 101

Dog Training 101: Basic Obedience Training at Home

Training your dog—whether you just got a puppy or want to teach an old dog new tricks—can be a rewarding experience for both you and your pup. Obedience training for dogs not only keeps everyone safe in unpredictable situations, but it’s also an excellent way to strengthen your bond and deepen your relationship.

Plus, the better trained your dog is, the more places you can go together and the bigger your adventures can be.

This guide will serve as your step-by-step resource for training your dog at home, whether you’re just starting out or looking to revisit the basics. We’ll cover the principles of effective training and the basics of dog behavior, then walk you through the process for key cues. Having trouble? Hop to the end to review troubleshooting and where to get help on your training journey. Happy practicing!

Chapter 1: Foundational Tips

Before you start training your dog, learning the fundamentals for how dogs learn is a game-changer for making the process more enjoyable. Read why rewards-based methods and knowing dog's body language gets you and your dog closer to understanding each other. Already feeling overwhelmed? We've included advice on how to find the best obedience dog trainer near you.

Chapter 2: Puppy Training

Starting puppy training as early as possible will make your training journey easier. Puppies are little sponges. They're eager to learn and quickly absorb new information but also need a more flexible schedule than adults. Here are the training routines to lock down.

Chapter 3: Adult Dog Training

Obedience training for dogs is a lifelong journey. Even if you've started young, you'll still want to refresh and reinforce preferred behaviors. If you're starting your training journey with an older dog that's perfectly okay, too—older dogs CAN learn new tricks. Your approach might just look a little different.

Chapter 4: Basic Dog Cues & Communication

Whether you have a puppy or an adult dog, these basic cues will lay the foundation for your training. They'll also help build your dog's confidence and set them up to learn more complex behaviors. In each article, we also share how to turn basic cues into advanced behaviors.
Corgi on leash sitting up for training

How To Sit

This useful cue is easy to teach and can help prevent unwanted behaviors like jumping on people.
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Dog touches outstretched human palm with nose in snowy field

How To Touch

A touch is another simple but versatile cue that makes it easy to redirect your dog's attention and movement.
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Chapter 5: Party Tricks for Fast Learners

Adding dog tricks into your obedience training for your dog can be a nice break between all the life skills. Whether you're teaching your dog to shake and high five for some delight or secretly teaching "speak" so they know when not to, these tricks are a fun way to bond.

Chapter 6: Addressing Common Dog Behaviors

Even with the best laid plans for obedience training, dogs can develop new habits or stray off course. Dogs aren't robots, and they live in a very human-centric world. We walk through how to address fear responses and redirect unwanted natural behaviors through a positive reinforcement lens.
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About Our Experts

Nicole Ellis is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), American Kennel Club CGC evaluator and APDT trainer. Using positive reinforcement methods Nicole has trained hundreds of animals from basic behavior and puppy manners, to trick training, therapy work, and service dog training. Nicole believes with love and positive reinforcement we can train any dog.

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Find a Dog Trainer Near You

If you’re feeling stuck in your training journey, we’ve got you covered there, too. Working with a professional trainer on Rover means ongoing guidance, check-ins, and customized practice plans. Reach out to a local dog trainer for added support.

Puppies in a training class

Cost of Dog Training

Depending on how motivated your dog is to learn more (or stir up their own antics), training at-home may not stimulate their smart brains enough to keep them from creating their own chaos at home. That’s when a trainer can help—but how much will professional dog training cost? We break down the cost of different classes, from private vs. group, here.

Two happy dogs pull on leash, walking together in park

Rover's Guide to a Confident Dog

A core part of good dog training is socialization and desensitization. If this concept is new to you—or if you want a dog who can eventually go (almost) everywhere with you, check out our guide to puppy socialization. This guide will explain which steps to take to build your dog’s confidence in different and unfamiliar situations.