Last Updated on October 2, 2026 by Fumipets
Ask most people what to teach a new dog first, and they’ll say sit, stay, and loose-leash walking. In our latest video, certified dog trainer Jae Thomas makes the case for three different foundations – and why they come before any of the basic cues. She sits down with Kate O’Connor to talk through what she teaches every dog first.
A few things covered in this video:
- The three things Jae teaches before sit or stay
- Why teaching a dog to settle on their own changes everything
- What “engagement” really means, and how to build it
- Where most owners go wrong with a new dog
- Why letting your dog make choices is better than forcing them
The post Video: What to teach your dog first (it’s not sit and stay) appeared first on Whole Dog Journal.
