Puppy obedience basics for sit, down, stay and come

Raising a puppy is a busy job, and obedience training fits into the small pockets of time between walks, meals and play. Sit, down, stay and come become useful signals your puppy can learn at home, in the yard and outdoors. The goal is calm, safe communication, not instant or perfect responses.

Australian homes often shape the way puppies are trained. In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other cities, apartment living, small backyards and busy shared spaces mean many dogs spend much of their day indoors. After-work walks around the block and weekend visits to local ovals are familiar routines, but they contain far more distractions than a quiet training session beside the sofa.

Reward-based methods suit puppies because they build a positive association with listening to you. A marker word such as “yes”, followed promptly by a treat, tells your puppy that the behaviour you wanted has occurred. Keep rewards small, praise calmly and stop each exercise while your puppy is still succeeding.

Good results depend on brief, regular practice rather than long drills. Puppies often have short attention spans, so several sessions spread through the day are more useful than one exhausting session. Your puppy should also have suitable chew toys, a secure harness, a long lead for controlled practice and access to water before training begins.

Build a reliable training foundation

Begin by teaching your puppy to offer attention. Say their name once in a neutral tone, wait for them to look towards you, mark the moment with “yes” and reward them. Repeat this in several rooms so the behaviour does not depend on one location. If your puppy ignores you, move closer and reduce distractions rather than repeating the name continuously.

A mat or designated training spot can provide a consistent routine. Place your puppy on the mat, reward a calm sit and keep the first session easy. The mat can later become the place your puppy waits while you answer the door, prepare food or need uninterrupted time. This quiet structure supports the other obedience skills because it gives your puppy a clear expectation of where to go and what to do.

Practise for three to five minutes, then finish while things are going well. Training before a meal can increase motivation, but keep the session short and do not use hunger to push a puppy beyond their limits. Use part of the puppy’s normal food ration as rewards so treats remain part of a balanced diet. Once your puppy is ready for public puppy classes, check age and vaccination requirements before attending.

Teach sit and down with clear cues

For sit, hold a treat close to your puppy’s nose and move it slowly upwards and slightly backwards over their head. As the puppy raises their hindquarters and sits, mark the behaviour and give the treat. Practise the movement without constantly repeating the verbal cue. Say “sit” once your puppy understands the movement, then reward the complete sit.

For down, begin with your puppy on the floor. Hold a treat near their nose, then move it slowly towards their front paws and down towards the floor between them. Many puppies will lower their body naturally. Mark any helpful approximation, such as a bent head or lowered shoulders, and reward progress towards a full down. Avoid pushing your puppy down, as this can create resistance and make the exercise unpleasant.

Pair each spoken word with one clear hand signal. An open palm can become the cue for sit, while a downward-facing palm can signal down, although some trainers prefer separate gestures. Keep the wording consistent: if you use “lie down” in the kitchen, do not alternate randomly with “down” outside it. To chain the skills, ask your puppy to sit, reward, then ask for a down and reward again.

If your puppy sits whenever you reach for a treat, move the reward hand away before delivering it. If they walk towards you during a down exercise, start closer and make the movement smaller. Reward the position immediately, release them with a cue such as “free” or “all done”, and let the puppy leave voluntarily.

Shape a safe and lasting stay

Start a stay from a sit so your puppy understands that remaining in place is part of the behaviour. Use a flat-palm hand signal, say “stay” once, then remain still for a few seconds. Mark the first moment your puppy holds the position and reward them. Build the duration gradually, rewarding before your puppy begins to fidget, look around or shift their feet.

Once your puppy can remain sitting for around ten seconds, introduce a small distance. Step back one pace, pause and return to reward them. Increase only one challenge at a time: first duration, then distance, then distractions. Practice in different rooms, on different surfaces and at various times of day. A stay that works only in an empty kitchen is not yet a reliable skill.

Always give a release cue before your puppy gets up. “Break”, “release” or “all done” tells them they may move and prevents the stay from becoming an attempt to hold them indefinitely. If your puppy struggles, return to a shorter duration or an easier position. A puppy who is tired, frightened or overstimulated should not be asked to remain still, so use a mat settle or a secure area instead.

Build a recall your puppy wants to use

Begin the recall indoors, where distractions are manageable. Attach a long lead to your puppy’s harness, say their name and “come” in an upbeat voice, and encourage them towards you. When they reach you, mark the arrival, reward generously and release them to play again. The reward should always follow a prompt return, which teaches your puppy that coming to you is worthwhile.

Move to a quiet, secure outdoor area before increasing distance. Practise near a fence, on a flat path or in an enclosed yard, checking local access and leash rules first. Reward your puppy for looking towards you, then for moving in your direction, and finally for completing the recall. If they hesitate, reduce the distance or return indoors rather than repeating the cue in an excited voice.

Keep the everyday “come” separate from an emergency recall. Choose a different word or phrase for urgent situations, such as “front” or a distinctive whistle, and practise it occasionally with especially appealing rewards. Never call your puppy to punish them, use the recall to end every enjoyable activity or call them when you need them to stop enjoying themselves. Their enthusiasm for the cue will decline if it repeatedly leads to something unpleasant.

Public training must also fit Australian rules. In New South Wales, dogs generally need to be on a lead in public places unless they are in a designated off-leash area. Victorian, Queensland and other state and territory requirements vary, while local council signs and by-laws control many shared spaces. Check the relevant rules before using a long lead in a public area, and keep registration and microchipping details current.

Practise the skills and take your next step

Embed obedience into ordinary household routines. Ask your puppy to sit before opening the food cupboard, wait at a doorway, down on a mat during a video call and come when called from another room. Short repetitions during daily life help your puppy understand that these words have a purpose. Keep a simple record of sessions, rewards and successful distractions so you can identify progress and adjust the next exercise.

Generalisation takes time. Ask other household members to use the same words and hand signals, and reward your puppy for responding to them. Practise with doors open, visitors nearby or everyday household sounds. Australian pet shops and online retailers offer training treats, long leads and dispensing toys, while puppy classes and private trainers are available in most capital cities and regional areas. Compare Australian-dollar fees, class sizes, vaccination policies and training methods, and favour providers who use reward-based methods.

Start with one five-minute session today, teach one clear behaviour at a time and reward each successful response. Subscribe to Lisa’s free Puppy Crash Course by email and begin building your puppy’s basic obedience routine.