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Pomsky Training Part 4: The Two Commands To Teach Your Pomsky Today

The Two Commands To Teach Your Pomsky Today

Welcome to part four of our pomsky training mini-series. In this mini-series, we’re giving you bits
and pieces from our Pomsky Training Book to help you train the perfect pomsky.

This is just part four of the five-part Pomsky training mini-series. You can access the other parts of our training series here:

For additional pomsky training tips including step by step instructions on how to train engagement and important commands, download our pomsky training guide.

Download Now – Pomsky Training and Owners Guide

Pomsky Command Training

Every well-trained dog understands commands; this is the bread and butter of training. When you hear “dog training”, you think command training.

Today we are going to introduce the top two commands (recall and sit) including the best phrase and gesture to use for each command, along with step-by-step instructions to teach your Pomsky each command (we cover the top 11 commands in the Pomsky Training Book).

The two commands we will cover today are what we call “basic commands”. The basic commands are the most important commands to teach your Pomsky, these are vital to the success of a well-trained dog. Teach your Pomsky the basics first before moving onto the advanced commands. The basic commands include:

  • Recall
  • Sit
  • Laydown
  • Stay
  • Drop
  • Leave

What we call “advanced commands” are fun tricks to teach your Pomsky, these commands are not necessarily important for every Pomsky but they are great for keeping your Pomsky engaged and learning. The advanced commands include:

  • Kiss
  • Speak
  • Paw
  • Roll over
  • Play dead

Today, we are just covering the two most important basic commands. We will cover how to teach your Pomsky recall and sit.

 

Before You Begin

Before you start with the step-by-step exercises, let us cover a couple basics that are vital to successful command training.

Choose a phrase

Remember the training consistency article from part 3 of the training series, you must choose one phrase per command and stick to it. Each command should be associated with a unique word.  You cannot say “down” for lie down and also say “down” for get off the furniture. Choose one unique word per command, “down” should mean get off the furniture while “lay” means lay down.

Choose a unique phrase per command and stick to it. Make sure your family is on the same page knowing which phrase to use for each command.

Choose a gesture

Similar to how you chose a unique phrase for each command, you must also choose a unique gesture. Each command should be associated with a gesture. Point to the ground; say “down” to indicate get off the furniture, tap on the floor and say “lay” to indicate lay down. As Jo of Moonlit Pomskys says, “Dogs speak body language not English.” It is important to use a gesture to teach your Pomsky commands.”

Choose a unique gesture per command and stick to it. Make sure your family is on the same page knowing which gesture to use for each command.

 

Basic Command – Recall

Recall is one of the most important and probably the most common command to teach a dog. Recall is the act of calling your Pomsky back to your location, meaning your Pomsky drops whatever it is doing and comes running to your side.

It is important to have a strong recall command. You should be confident that your Pomsky will drop anything to come running back to you when commanded. Recall can be a lifesaver. It can save your Pomsky if they are off leash running across the road or keep your Pomsky out of trouble if they are sniffing something they should not be.

Recall phrase

For the recall command, we recommend saying, “Come”. For example, “Charlie! Come!” to encourage your Pomsky to come running back to your side when they wander away.

Recall gesture

As a gesture, we recommend bending slightly at the knees and waist with arms open and palms facing the Pomsky. This puts you a little lower to the ground, closer to the Pomsky. Arms open is an inviting gesture that indicates to your Pomsky that they will be rewarded if they come running into your open chest.

For example, with your Pomsky looking at you, bend over slightly, open your arms a bit with palms facing out towards the Pomsky and in an excited tone say “Come! Come on boy! Come Charlie!”. This gesture is open and inviting, making the Pomsky want to come towards you. For added positive reinforcement, you can wave your hands towards you, pat your knees or snap your fingers a little to get the Pomsky more excited to run to you.

Teaching recall

Now that you have your phrase and gesture chosen, here is the step-by-step process to teach your Pomsky the recall command.

  • Step 1: Start in the house in a quiet area without any distraction. Have a handful of treats for this training.
  • Step 2: Position yourself into a squat position with your arms open, you want your gesture to be low and inviting. Say the word “Come” in a positive and upbeat tone of voice.
  • Step 3: If the Pomsky begins to walk towards you, encourage the Pomsky with verbal praise in a happy and upbeat tone of voice. Once the Pomsky fully reaches you, reward the Pomsky with praise and a treat. If the Pomsky does not start moving towards you after you have given the “come” command, attach a leash to the Pomsky and guide the Pomsky to the spot where you called them. Praise the Pomsky while leading them to the spot where you said “come”. This teaches the Pomsky to move towards you when you say “come”.
  • Step 4: Repeat this exercise until your Pomsky is responding to the “come” command and gesture. Reward your Pomsky each time the exercise is completed successfully.
  • Step 5: Once your Pomsky is coming on command indoors, increase the difficulty by practicing in different areas with different distractions. Practice outdoors, while out for a walk and at the dog park. Your Pomsky should listen to the recall command no matter where you are. Continue to reward your Pomsky with treats and praise each time they respond to the recall command.
  • Step 6: Continue to increase the difficulty as you teach your Pomsky the recall command. Add some distractions, such as throwing a toy or treat across the room then give the “come” command before they can reach the treat. Your Pomsky should ignore the distraction and come running back to you. You want to increase the difficulty as much as possible while you are in a safe training environment so when the time comes that your Pomsky is off leash and about to chase that squirrel across the road, you can give the recall command and be confident your Pomsky will stop and listen.

Teaching recall – another method

Jo of Moonlit Pomskys teaches her Pomskies the recall command a little differently. Here is how Jo recommends you teach your Pomsky to come.

  • Step 1: Start in the house in a quiet area without any distraction. Have a handful of treats for this training.
  • Step 2: Allow the Pomsky to sniff your hand to let them know you have treats, give the Pomsky a treat for engaging with you.
  • Step 3: Throw a treat across the room and let the Pomsky go get it.
  • Step 4: The Pomsky will come running back to you for more treats after it finds the first treat that you threw across the room. Reward the Pomsky with a treat when they come running back.
  • Step 5: Repeat this game for about 5 minutes. Continue to throw a treat across the room and allow your Pomsky to come running back, reward your Pomsky when they come running back.
  • Step 6: Once you are comfortable that the Pomsky understands the game, start saying the phrase “come” and use your recall gesture when the Pomsky comes running back to you. Throw a treat and let the Pomsky go find it. Once the Pomsky eats the treat, they will come running back for more. As the Pomsky is running back, give the “come” command and gesture.
  • Step 7: Repeat step 6 until your Pomsky associates the “come” command and gesture with a reward.
  • Step 8: Once your Pomsky has mastered the game, ask your Pomsky to “come” without throwing a treat. If your Pomsky comes running to you, reward them with a treat. If your Pomsky does not respond to the come command, repeat the exercise and continue the game until your Pomsky associates the phrase “come” with the correct action and reward.

Once your Pomsky learns the recall command indoors, try the command in different areas and continue to increase the difficulty. Try using the command when out for a walk. Call your Pomsky into different rooms, let your Pomsky run around the garden then call them back, and have a friend or family member call the Pomsky. The gradual increase in difficulty teaches your Pomsky to respond to the recall command no matter the circumstances, reward the Pomsky each time they correctly respond to the recall command.

Pomskies are quick learners so you should be able to teach your Pomsky the recall command within one to two weeks of training if you set aside time for a couple training sessions per day. The recall command is important. It is a command you will be using everyday so you should plan to continue teaching and practicing the recall command for the Pomsky’s entire lifetime.

 

Basic Command – Sit

Sit is another critical command, this teaches the Pomsky to stop and sit on their butt. The sit command can be used to calm your Pomsky, if your Pomsky is hyperactive or jumping simply ask them to sit and behave.

Sit phrase

For the sit command, we recommend simply saying, “sit”. For example, “Charlie! Sit!” to encourage your Pomsky to sit where they are.

Sit gesture

As a gesture, we recommend lifting your hand above the Pomsky’s head and pointing down at the floor or at the Pomsky’s backside when you say “sit”. The Pomsky will follow your hand as your raise it above their head, guiding the Pomsky into a natural sitting position. The action of pointing downwards is an easy gesture for the Pomsky to recognize and remember.

Teaching sit

Now that you have your phrase and gesture chosen, here is the step-by-step process to teach your Pomsky the sit command.

  • Step 1: Start indoors in a quiet training environment with few distractions. Crouch down in front of your Pomsky and hold a treat up to your Pomsky’s nose allowing them to sniff and engage with your hand.
  • Step 2: Move your hand upwards above the Pomskies head allowing the Pomsky to follow the treat with their nose as you raise your arm. This will naturally lower the Pomsky’s butt as they raise their head higher and higher.
  • Step 3: As your Pomsky begins sitting naturally, say “sit” and point to the floor with your hand raised above the Pomskies head. If your Pomsky does not fully sit, put your other hand on the Pomsky’s butt and gently guide the Pomsky down into a sitting position. You may need to assist the Pomsky into a full sitting position the first few times through the exercise. If the Pomsky still does not sit, do not reward with a treat. Simply put the Pomsky on a leash, walk in a quick circle and then restart the exercise from step 1. The quick walk in a circle acts as a reset. This allows the Pomsky to get up and refresh before jumping back into the training exercise.
  • Step 4: Reward the Pomsky with a treat and lots of praise when the Pomsky sits with its butt fully on the floor. Marking the sitting motion with the word “sit” and your chosen gesture will teach the Pomsky to sit and be rewarded when they hear the command. Lauren of Pristine Pomskies cautions to make sure the Pomsky is fully sitting on the ground before you offer a reward because some Pomskies will learn to squat instead of fully sitting.
  • Step 5: Repeat this exercise a couple times per day for two weeks, or until your Pomsky learns that sitting when commanded results in a treat.
  • Step 6: Continue to practice in various settings with increased difficulty such as outdoors and at the dog park. You should continue to ask your Pomsky to sit a couple times per day even after you master the sit command. Ask your Pomsky to sit before walks, before they eat and when a guest comes over. Once comfortable, you can pair this command with your recall training. Call your Pomsky to you and then ask the Pomsky to sit. Remember to always reward your Pomsky with treats and praise when they obey the sit command.
  • Step 7: Continue to increase the difficulty as you teach your Pomsky the sit command. Ask your Pomsky to come and then sit before you reward with a treat and add some distractions, such as throwing a treat across the room then give the “sit” command before they can reach the treat.

With consistency, you should be able to teach your Pomsky the sit command within one to two weeks of training. Continue training the sit command throughout the Pomsky’s life. This is an important command that the Pomsky will need to perform frequently. As mentioned in step 6, you should use the sit command daily to reinforce the behavior. Ask the Pomsky to sit before walks, before mealtime, and before going out to potty.

Download Now – Pomsky Training and Owners Guide

Summary

This is one of the most actionable articles of our five part training series. I hope by the time you are reading this summary, you have already gone through some of the step-by-step exercises with your Pomsky. If you have not done it yet, put the computer away and start training. Start with the recall command right now.

Here are the biggest takeaways from this article:

  • Find a training schedule that works for you and stick to it. Plan for two or three short training sessions per day, find a schedule and keep consistent.
  • Start with the basics. Once your Pomsky masters the basics, you can move onto more advanced commands and tricks.
  • When you are just starting out, stick to one command at a time. Once your Pomsky begins to pick up the commands, you can combine commands and increase the difficulty of training but do not throw too much at the Pomsky at one time.
  • Take action right now. Start training as soon as you possibly can, the basic commands can be lifesavers. Make sure your Pomsky masters all of the basics before moving onto anything more complex.
  • Your Pomsky is always in training, to keep your Pomsky engaged and having fun try moving onto the advanced commands after the basics.

 

Next Steps

Begin training the basics. Start with recall, then sit, and then stay and so on down the list of basic commands. Allow your Pomsky to master each basic command before moving onto the next. Gradually increase the difficulty by combing basic commands, training in new locations and having different people give the command. Once your Pomsky masters the basics, move onto the advanced commands. The advanced commands will keep your Pomsky engaged, helping to build a stronger bond between Pomsky and owner.

If you want step by step instructions to training more commands including lay, stay, rollover, and play dead, check out our Pomsky Training Book.

Once you teach your Pomsky the Recall and Sit commands, move onto the next part of our Pomsky training mini-series:

More Pomsky Resources

Need more help raising and training your Pomsky? Check out our other Pomsky articles and videos including:

Need more help training and raising your Pomsky? Click here to download our complete guide to owning a Pomsky (Includes step by step training instructions).

Download - POA's Guide To Owning A Pomsky

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