How to Train Your Dog at Home

Updated October 13, 2026 · 2 min read · 3 sources

Short answer

To train your dog at home, use short sessions of about 5 to 10 minutes, reward the behavior you want with treats, toys or praise the instant it happens, and teach one skill at a time. Start with the AKC's "basic five": come, loose-leash walking, sit, down and stay. Avoid punishment like leash jerks or yelling, and practice in new places once a skill is solid at home.

You don't need a trainer for the basics. With short, consistent sessions and good rewards, most dogs learn core skills at home. These steps follow AKC guidance and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's recommendations.

Before you start

  • Rewards: small, soft, high-value treats; a favorite toy; praise.
  • A marker: a clicker or a word like "yes!"
  • A quiet room with few distractions.
  • 5 to 10 minutes per session, a few times a day.

The basic five, step by step

1. Sit

Hold a treat at your dog's nose and move it up and back over the head. As the rear goes down, mark and reward. Add the word "sit" once your dog does it reliably.

2. Down

From a sit, lower a treat from the nose straight to the floor, then slowly along the floor. When elbows touch the ground, mark and reward.

3. Stay

Ask for sit, show a flat palm, wait one second, mark and reward. Slowly build duration, then distance, then distractions, one at a time.

4. Come (recall)

Say your dog's name and "come" in a happy voice while moving away; reward generously when they reach you. Never call your dog to something unpleasant.

5. Loose-leash walking

Reward your dog for being at your side. If the leash tightens, stop; continue when it loosens. Practice in the house and yard before busy streets.

Golden rules

  • Reward within a second of the behavior.
  • One skill at a time, and end on a success.
  • No punishment: AKC advises avoiding leash corrections and yelling; AVSAB links aversive methods to stress and aggression.
  • Practice everywhere: dogs need to relearn skills in new places.
  • Everyone uses the same cues.

House training at home

Take your puppy to the same spot, use a cue word and praise calmly when they finish. America's VetDogs says never to scold accidents. See potty training.

When to call a professional

  • Growling, snapping or biting
  • Panic when left alone
  • Fear of people, dogs or everyday sounds
  • No progress after several weeks of consistent practice

See trainer or behaviorist and find dog trainers near you.

Sources

  1. AKC: Teach your puppy these 5 basic commands (2026)
  2. AVSAB: Humane dog training position statement (2021)
  3. America's VetDogs: How to potty train a puppy

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This article is general information for pet owners, not veterinary, legal or financial advice. Prices vary by city and clinic; always ask your veterinarian or provider about your own pet.

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