How to train a St. Bernard Puppy. St. Bernard's are loyal dogs that make great pets. They can be stubborn although they're intelligent, so it's important that you train your St. Bernard Puppy early to help combat this stubbornness. Work on house training your puppy, teaching them basic commands, and creating a positive environment for them. Teaching your puppy basic commands. Try clicker training. To ensure all training is positive, try clicker training to teach your puppy basic commands. Use a device that makes a clicking noise when your pooch has done something correctly to reinforce its behavior. Avoid punishing your pup when it makes a mistake. Teach the sit command. The sit command is the easiest to teach your dog, so it should be first. In a firm, clear voice, tell your St. Bernard Puppy to sit, then, gently help them place their bottom on the floor. Praise them, keep repeating until your puppy sits when you command it. You can use treats to reward your puppy. When you get them on their bottom, give them a treat immediately. This way, they can associate sitting with a positive reward. Do this every day until your puppy learns it. You should start with short sessions of around 5 minutes since your puppy is young, but you can increase the amount of time spent on these sessions as they learn. Be patient and don't lose your temper if your St. Bernard doesn't get it quickly. You can use treats to reward your puppy. When you get them on their bottom, give them a treat immediately. This way, they can associate sitting with a positive reward. Do this every day until your puppy learns it. You should start with short sessions of around 5 minutes since your puppy is young, but you can increase the amount of time spent on these sessions as they learn. Be patient and don't lose your temper if your St. Bernard doesn't get it quickly. Train your puppy to come. Training your St. Bernard puppy to come when called is important. This skill will enable them to go off leash and have more freedoms. Tell your puppy to come while walking backwards. The puppy will probably follow you. When your St. Bernard gets to you, say come again before moving backwards. This helps your dog learn what the word means. Reward your puppy when they come to you. Try using treats, toys, petting or verbal praise. Reward your puppy when they come to you. Try using treats, toys, petting or verbal praise. Teach your dog to stay. Stay can be taught to your St. Bernard puppy once they learn to sit and come. From a sitting position, hold their collar and say, stay, then move away from them a short distance before calling them to you. Repeat in short intervals at first, then increase how long they have to stay and how far you walk before you let them come to you or move. You can also teach your puppy a release word such as, OK, or move, which will let them know when it is OK to move. Stay is a very important command for your St. Bernard puppy, especially if you plan to take them in public. This command can help keep them out of danger and trouble. Train your dog to lay down. The command, lay down, is usually done after you teach, stay. After your St. Bernard puppy learns to stay, tell them the command, down, from that position. At first, you will have to gently guide them down into that position as you say, down. This pairing will associate the action with the position. Keep doing it over and over again until your puppy does it on their own. You can use a treat in your hand to help guide your puppy into the lying position. Keep doing it over and over again until your puppy does it on their own. You can use a treat in your hand to help guide your puppy into the lying position. Leesh train your St. Bernard puppy. St. Bernard puppies grow into large dogs, so you should teach it to walk on a non-retractable leash in a controlled manner. Take your puppy for short walks on the leash to start, when the puppy tries to run ahead and pulls the leash, stop. Stand still without letting the puppy go where they want to go. When the puppy comes back to you or sits, start walking again. Praise good behavior on the leash with verbal praise, petting, and treats. Consider teaching your puppy to sit before they get the leash on them. This helps reduce jumping because they're too excited. Praise good behavior on the leash with verbal praise, petting, and treats, consider teaching your puppy to sit before they get the leash on them. This helps reduce jumping because they're too excited.