In the realm of dog training, particularly within obedience disciplines, a common misconception is that a vast repertoire of commands is necessary for a dog to be well-trained. This article challenges that notion, advocating for a streamlined approach that emphasizes clarity and situational understanding for the dog. By simplifying commands, trainers can foster better communication and reduce unnecessary complexity, ultimately leading to a more effective and enjoyable training experience.
The Myth of Extensive Command Lists
Early in my career, I was involved in training service dogs for individuals with physical handicaps. These dogs were taught to perform a multitude of tasks, from picking up dropped items and operating doors to pulling wheelchairs and controlling light switches. While impressive, the sheer number of commands is often inflated. Some organizations boast of teaching dogs over 90 commands. However, upon closer inspection, many of these are redundant or lack distinct meaning for the dog. For instance, separate commands for opening and closing a door are unnecessary when the action—pulling a string to manipulate the door—is identical from the dog’s perspective. My approach simplifies this by using a single command, “Kennel,” to signify entering various spaces like a crate, kennel run, or even a specific area in the house. This is because, to the dog, the core action is entering a designated space, and they can discern the specific location from context.
Essential Obedience Commands: Less is More
The complexity of obedience training often leads to an overabundance of commands, creating a virtual glossary for both the handler and the dog to memorize. However, a dog’s foundational obedience training does not require such an extensive vocabulary. The focus should be on clear, concise commands that the dog can readily understand and apply.
Foundational Novice Commands
For basic obedience, a dog needs to learn commands related to desired positions and actions.
Position-based Commands:
- Sit: Assume a sitting position.
- Down: Lie down.
- Stand: Stand upright.
- Front: Move to a position in front of the handler and sit.
- Heel: Move to the handler’s side and sit. This command can also indicate a “swing finish” in certain contexts, though a different command might be needed for an “around finish.”
- OK: A release command signifying the end of an exercise.
Action-based Commands:
- Come: Stop current activity and return to the handler.
- Let’s Go: Walk near the handler in a casual manner, not necessarily in a formal heel position.
- Heel: Walk attentively at the handler’s left side.
- Back up: Move backward, a useful skill when establishing the heel position.
- Around: Complete an exercise by circling to the right.
Commands like “Stay” and “Wait” are often considered superfluous. Once a dog is in a commanded position, it should maintain that position until given a new instruction. While “stay” is often used out of habit, it’s not functionally necessary if the dog understands that its current position is held until released.
The word “Heel” effectively serves a dual purpose: designating the position next to the handler and the action of maintaining that position while walking. The dog is capable of understanding the appropriate response based on whether the handler is stationary or in motion. This eliminates the need for numerous “get” commands (e.g., “Get in,” “Get back”) by allowing the dog to determine the most efficient way to reach the heel position, provided it doesn’t involve circling behind the handler.
Helpful Cues for Enhanced Communication
Cues act as signals, preparing the dog for an upcoming action rather than directly commanding it. Helpful cues can include “Hurry” and “Easy,” which assist the dog in modulating its pace.
The cue “Ready” is sometimes used to indicate that an exercise is about to commence. However, this can be problematic if the dog does not respond promptly. A more reliable approach is to assess the dog’s attentiveness and, if ready, proceed. If the dog is not attentive, a firm “SIT!” command can regain its focus, allowing the handler to confidently signal readiness to the judge.
Streamlining Advanced Commands
Even in more advanced training scenarios, the principle of minimal commands holds true. Many exercises can be taught using existing commands, leveraging the dog’s situational awareness.
Open Commands
- Drop on Recall: A verbal command for “drop” is sufficient. Since the dog already understands “come” and “down,” it can learn to differentiate between a standard down and a “sphinx” position drop when in front of the handler, as opposed to lying down beside them.
- Retrieve on Flat:
- Fetch: Pick up the object.
- Drop: Release the object into the handler’s hand.
A separate “hold” command is generally unnecessary, as “fetch” implies holding the object. “Hold” might be reserved for dogs with mouthing issues.
- Retrieve over High Jump: The command “Jump” initiates the sequence. While teaching, handlers may break down the entire action (“jump, fetch, come, jump, front”), but ultimately, the chain begins with the initial command.
- Broad Jump: The command “Jump” is sufficient for this exercise as well.
Utility Commands
Utility training introduces new exercises with minimal new commands and cues.
- Signals: Dogs learn to respond to non-verbal cues for actions they already perform based on verbal commands, without extending the command list.
- Scent Articles: While some trainers use a distinct command for retrieving articles to avoid confusion with a prompt retrieve, dogs are intelligent enough to discern situational differences. If a dog shows anxiety with “Fetch,” alternative command words like “Search” or “Find it” can be employed.
- Gloves: A directional cue indicating the desired glove is sufficient, eliminating the need for unique commands for each glove.
- Moving Stand: The dog already knows verbal and signal cues for “stand.” Commands like “heel” or “around” can be used to guide the dog into the desired position after standing.
- Directed Jumping: The “Go-out” command directs the dog away from the handler. The existing “sit” and “jump” commands are then used.
Open & Utility Cues
Cues can enhance preparation and motivation. A cue like “mark” can signal the upcoming article exercise and draw the dog’s attention to the article pile. Similarly, “look” can be used before directed jumping to prompt the dog to scan for the target location.
Enthusiastic cues such as “Ready to fetch?” or “Want to jump?” can be motivating for dogs during open and utility classes, tapping into their enjoyment of these activities.
Key Takeaways for Effective Training
When encountering training challenges, resist the urge to alter commands. Performance issues are seldom due to the command itself. Similarly, when exploring different dog sports like agility or fieldwork, avoid introducing new commands unless absolutely necessary. For instance, using a single command for “come” across various disciplines simplifies training rather than adopting different words for the same action.
A concise list of commands offers significant advantages: they are easier for handlers to recall under pressure and simpler for dogs to learn and apply across similar situations. By focusing on a core set of commands, trainers can build a stronger foundation for their dogs and foster a more effective communication system.
How extensive is your dog’s command list? Could it benefit from simplification?
