What is a cue?
A cue is a name or label for a behavior. Cues tell your puppy which behavior gives them access to a reward. The term “cue” has largely replaced the word “command” in dog training, because “command” suggests coercion while “cue” better reflects the principles of reward-based training.
Once a behavior is put “on cue,” the puppy can predict that, by doing the behavior when asked, they will earn a reward. For example, after the puppy has been taught the cue “sit,” they know exactly what behavior is expected; they will sit immediately when they hear the cue and will be rewarded.
What can I use to reward my puppy during training?
In positive reinforcement training, the reward can be anything the puppy likes.
- Primary reinforcers are rewards that are innately valuable (e.g., food treats). For most puppies, their own kibble can be used as a nutritious reward for much of basic training. Other primary reinforcers include toys or access to a preferred activity.
- Secondary reinforcers are rewards that are not innately valuable and only become rewards through association or learning. For example, verbal praise and pets are always provided in pleasant contexts, so puppies quickly develop a positive emotional response when they are praised or petted. Once this association has been made, you may use praise and pets to reward your puppy during some training.
If your puppy moves away when you reach out to pet them, then they do not view being petted as a reward, and petting during training can interfere with their ability to learn new cues. Monitor your puppy’s enthusiasm and body language to ensure that the rewards you provide in training are fun and desirable for them.
Primary reinforcers are the strongest rewards and should be continued long-term, at least intermittently. Verbal praise may not be enough to sustain a strong behavioral response to trained cues.
How do I introduce important cues to my puppy?
The first step in training is to reward your puppy for simply engaging in the behavior you would like to teach. Cues are not used until a behavior is well established. If you introduce the cue before the puppy clearly understands the desired behavior, then the cue will lose some of its freshness.
Introduce the cue when you can predict with great certainty that your puppy is about to do the behavior. There are three main ways to establish behavioral skills on cue: luring, capturing, and shaping.
How is luring used in training?
Treats or toys can be used to lure a puppy into position. To begin, hold a treat in your hand. Your puppy’s nose will follow the treat as if it were a magnet. Simply lure or steer your puppy into the desired position and immediately reward. Luring can be used to train basic behaviors such as sit, as well as complex behaviors such as twirl or go to bed.
Here is an example of using luring to teach your puppy to sit on cue:
- Hold several tiny, delicious treats in your hand.
- Place your hand, with the treats, right at the puppy’s nose, as a magnet.
- Slowly move the treat up over your dog’s nose and then slightly further back, toward their rear. As your puppy’s nose and muzzle begin to go up, they will almost certainly sit to keep their balance. Immediately reward with a treat.
- Soon the puppy will sit as soon as they see the treat in your hand. Now, you are ready to introduce the verbal cue. Say “sit” just as the puppy’s rear is heading toward the ground.
How is capturing used in training?
Sometimes, your puppy will naturally engage in a behavior that you would like to put on cue. For example, your puppy may spontaneously lie down whenever you sit to watch TV.
- Be ready with a treat, and as soon as your puppy lies down, hand them the treat. Keep the treat low or put it on the ground so they can stay in the down position while enjoying the reward.
- After a few sessions, introduce the verbal cue “down.” As you notice your puppy beginning to shift their posture in preparation for lying down, say “down,” let them lie down (as they had planned to do), and give them a treat.
How is shaping used in training?
With shaping, you reward baby steps toward the ultimate behavioral goal until your dog demonstrates the complete, desired behavior. During shaping, you should remain in a neutral position. Do not try to lure your puppy; just wait patiently for them to offer the first step toward the behavior. For example, you can use shaping to teach your puppy to go to her bed on cue.
- Sit in a chair near the bed. If your puppy looks toward the bed, toss them a treat. It is helpful if the treat lands on or near the bed.
- Next, toss the treat away to “reset” your puppy.
- After you’ve given a few treats for looking at the bed, toss the treat only if your puppy looks at the bed and takes a step toward the bed.
- Continue the baby steps until, every time you reset (toss a treat away from the bed), your puppy takes the treat and quickly trots back to bed. By returning to bed each time, they are communicating that they know “going to bed” is a valuable behavior.
- Finally, you will add the verbal cue “go to bed.” You know that your puppy will trot to bed if you sit in your chair with a treat. So just as the puppy is about to trot to bed for the expected treat, you say “go to bed.” They will follow along and get the treat. The behavior now has a name and your puppy has learned a new cue.
What if I give the cue and my puppy does not respond?
It can take many months for a puppy to reliably follow a verbal cue. Be sure to reward with a primary reinforcer (treat or toy) every time your puppy responds, until their response is reliable. When your puppy responds consistently in a quiet area, practice in different environments, including different rooms in the house. Then add some distractions.
Remember to use a leash and harness to keep the puppy safely supervised when working in new areas. If a distraction is too irresistible, move further away. If it’s not possible to reduce distractions to the puppy’s current skill level, take a short break and try again with a lower-level distraction.
If your puppy is sluggish about responding, return to some of the foundational steps you used to teach the behavior. It is important that you don’t simply repeat the cue repeatedly: just say the word once, using a pleasant tone of voice, and wait patiently. Otherwise, your puppy might become frustrated or even frightened. If your puppy does not respond to the cue, quietly use a lure to get your puppy to do the behavior and then reward. Practice a few times before re-introducing the cue.
If you recognize that your puppy is distressed, distracted, or excited, don’t try to use a cue. It may take several weeks or months before your puppy is ready to work when faced with major distractions. Consider that professional working dogs train for years before they are ready for competition-level performance. Always set your puppy up for success.
When can I stop using treats?
Plan to use treats intermittently to maintain the skill in the long term. Your puppy will always appreciate positive reinforcement. Once your puppy can sit on cue for a treat every time, begin using treats every other repetition, then every third or fourth repetition. When you don’t provide a treat, use verbal praise and a smile to let your puppy know they have made a good choice. Puppies rely on positive feedback to keep their good habits going.
How do I teach my puppy to lie down using a lure?
The key to luring is to move the treat “magnet” along the path the puppy will take to reach the lie down position. To lure a puppy from sit to lie down:
- Hold several tiny, delicious treats in your hand.
- Place your hand, with the treats, right at the sitting puppy’s nose, as a magnet.
- Slowly move the treat down between the front paws and slightly back, under their chest. As the nose goes down and back, the puppy will usually lie down.
- Feed the puppy one of the treats as they reach the down position.
- If you like, just before you hand your puppy the treat, you may use a clicker to mark the moment your puppy reaches the perfect lie down position. If you don’t have a clicker, you can “mark” the moment with a word such as “Yes.”
To lure a puppy from stand to lie down:
- Hold several tiny, delicious treats in your hand.
- Place your hand, with the treats, right at the standing puppy’s nose, as a magnet.
- Slowly move the treat down between the puppy’s elbows under their chest. As the nose goes down and back, the puppy will usually move into a play-bow position.
- Feed a small treat in the bow position, several times.
- Once the bow is easy to achieve, move the treat the rest of the way to the ground and wait a few seconds. Most puppies will fold their rear legs into the full lie down position.
- Feed the puppy one of the treats as they reach the down position.
How can I teach my dog to stand on cue?
To lure your puppy into the stand position:
- Hold several tiny, delicious treats in your hand.
- Begin with your puppy in a sit or lie down position.
- Place your hand, with the treats, right at the puppy’s nose, as a magnet.
- Slowly move the treat forward at nose level.
- As soon as the puppy stands up, and before they take a step forward, deliver the treat.
How can I teach my dog to stay?
It can be useful to have your dog maintain a still position. A “stay” cue means “please don’t move until I invite you to move.”
- A “sit-stay” position can be handy for helping dogs wait their turn to go outside or get a treat.
- A “down-stay” position is helpful if your dog needs to remain in place for a more extended period.
- A “stand-stay” position is useful for grooming and veterinary exams.
A simple way to train a stay is to delay the reward delivery. Once your dog fully understands the behavior associated with a cue, you can wait a second before giving a treat. If that goes well, next time wait two seconds, then three seconds, and more, before delivering the reward. To keep the connection and let your puppy know they are doing well, you may add a verbal confirmation such as “good puppy” or “good stay” while they wait.
When training, it is helpful to sometimes deliver a treat immediately and other times delay the delivery. That way, your puppy will learn to wait patiently.
What else can I teach my puppy?
The only limit to a dog’s ability to learn a new skill or behavior is their own physical limitations. Any tricks or behaviors you teach should be safe for your puppy. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian.
- Remember to set your puppy up for success by working in an environment where they can succeed, and by using a leash and harness to keep them safe.
- Be ready with a range of rewards. Challenging environments demand higher-value rewards.
- Learn to recognize your puppy’s signs of distress or confusion and keep training sessions comfortable and fun.
- Always train quietly — there is no rush to naming cues.
- Be sure to strengthen behaviors by training in different environments.
- Consider one of the many organized dog sports and lessons available in person and online (e.g., dog agility, nosework, and Rally Obedience).
