In the realm of dog training, particularly for obedience competitions, the question of how many commands a dog truly needs is a recurring debate. While some organizations boast of teaching dogs upwards of 90 commands, a closer examination often reveals a significant number of redundancies or commands with little practical distinction for the canine learner. This article delves into the concept of essential commands, emphasizing clarity, efficiency, and the dog’s natural understanding of context, rather than an exhaustive glossary of terms.
For those involved in training service dogs, the principle of economy in commands becomes even more critical. Training a dog to perform tasks such as opening and closing doors, or picking up dropped items, requires precise actions. However, dedicating separate commands for nearly identical actions, like opening versus closing a door, can be counterproductive. A dog grasps the core action—pulling a string to operate the door—regardless of its direction. This leads to the fundamental idea that a command should represent an action or a desired position, not a specific environmental circumstance. For instance, the command “Kennel” can effectively encompass entering a crate, a kennel run, a van, or even a designated kitchen space, as the underlying action for the dog remains consistent: entering a specific area.
The Core of Obedience: Essential Commands
The sport of obedience training does not require an overly complex lexicon of commands for both dog and handler. A well-trained dog needs a concise set of commands that clearly communicate desired positions and actions.
Novice Commands: Positions and Actions
For foundational obedience, a dog needs to understand commands indicating specific positions:
- Sit: Assume a sitting posture.
- Down: Assume a lying-down posture.
- Stand: Assume a standing posture.
- Front: Move into a position in front of the handler and sit.
- Heel: Move to the handler’s side and sit. This command can also be used for a swing finish, though a distinct command might be needed for an “around” finish.
- OK: A release command signifying the end of a task or exercise.
In addition to positions, commands should clearly indicate desired actions:
- Come: Cease current activity and approach the handler.
- Let’s Go: Walk near the handler in a casual manner, not necessarily in a formal heel position.
- Heel: Walk attentively beside the handler’s left side.
- Back Up: Move backward, a useful command for establishing heel position.
- Around: A command to circle around the handler to the right.
Addressing Common Objections: “Stay” and “Wait”
Commands like “Stay” and “Wait” are often perceived as crucial, yet they can be rendered unnecessary by a solid understanding of primary commands. When a dog is instructed to assume a position (e.g., “Sit”), it should maintain that position until explicitly released or given a new command. The habitual use of “Stay” in obedience rings is often a carry-over from tradition rather than a functional necessity for the dog’s comprehension.
The Versatility of “Heel”
The command “Heel” serves a dual purpose: defining the precise position beside the handler and indicating the action of maintaining that position while moving. When a dog is told “Heel,” it should move to the handler’s side and sit. It is the handler’s role to guide the dog into position, eliminating the need for numerous “get” commands. Furthermore, the dog’s ability to differentiate between “Heel” as a stationary position and “Heel” as an action during movement highlights canine situational awareness. The dog understands the context—whether the handler is standing or walking—and responds accordingly, negating the need for separate commands for each scenario.
Introducing Cues for Enhanced Communication
Cues are distinct from commands; they signal what is about to happen rather than issuing a directive. Helpful cues can include “Hurry” and “Easy,” which assist the dog in adjusting its pace.
The cue “Ready,” often used to indicate the impending start of an exercise, can be problematic. If the dog is not attentive when “Ready” is given, the handler may face difficulties. A more effective approach is to assess the dog’s attentiveness and, if necessary, issue a firm command like “SIT!” to regain focus before signaling readiness to the judge.
Advanced Commands and Cues
As training progresses into more complex exercises, the command list can remain manageable by leveraging existing vocabulary and introducing a few new elements.
Open Commands: Simplifying Complex Actions
- Drop on Recall: This exercise combines the dog’s existing “Come” and “Down” commands. The key is teaching the dog to adopt a “sphinx” position when in front of the handler, contrasting with the “side-down” position learned earlier. This situational understanding eliminates the need for a new command.
- Retrieve on Flat: Requires only two commands: “Fetch” (to pick up an object) and “Drop” (to release it into the handler’s hand). The command “Hold” is generally unnecessary, as “Fetch” implies holding the object.
- Retrieve over High Jump: The primary command is “Jump,” initiating a sequence of actions. While individual actions might be cued during training, the initial “Jump” command serves as the trigger for the entire chain.
- Broad Jump: The “Jump” command is sufficient for this exercise as well.
Utility Commands: Expanding the Repertoire
The addition of utility exercises typically requires only two new commands and a couple of new cues.
- Signals: These are non-verbal cues that prompt actions the dog already knows verbally. The verbal command list remains unchanged.
- Scent Articles: While some trainers use a distinct command for retrieving scent articles to ensure thorough scenting, the situational nature of dogs suggests they can differentiate. If “Fetch” proves anxiety-inducing, alternatives like “Search” or “Find it” can be employed.
- Gloves: A directional signal combined with the “Fetch” command is adequate. There is no need for a unique command for each glove.
- Moving Stand: This utilizes existing “Stand” commands and transitions, such as “Heel” or “Around,” to guide the dog into the desired position.
- Directed Jumping: The “Go-out” command directs the dog away from the handler, leveraging existing “Sit” and “Jump” commands.
Open & Utility Cues: Motivating and Preparing
Cues like “Mark” can signal the upcoming article exercise and draw the dog’s attention to the article pile. Similarly, a “Look” cue before directed jumping encourages the dog to survey the area for the go-out location. Fun cues, such as “Ready to fetch?” or “Want to jump?”, can enhance motivation and enthusiasm during training.
Key Training Principles
When encountering training challenges, resist the urge to change commands. Performance issues are rarely a result of the command itself. Similarly, when exploring different dog sports, avoid altering commands unless absolutely necessary. For instance, using a single command like “Come” consistently across various disciplines (e.g., obedience and retriever fieldwork) simplifies training and avoids confusion.
The benefits of a concise command list are numerous. It reduces pressure on the handler in the ring and makes it easier for the dog to learn and apply commands across similar situations, rather than memorizing a vast array of context-specific directives. The goal should always be to simplify and maximize clarity in communication with your canine companion.
