When embarking on the journey of dog training, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of teaching an extensive repertoire of commands. While organizations may boast of teaching dogs over 90 commands, a closer examination often reveals many redundancies. This article explores a more streamlined approach to obedience training, focusing on clarity and efficiency for both dog and handler.
The Importance of Concise Commands
The effectiveness of dog training often hinges on the clarity and simplicity of the commands used. For instance, instead of using separate commands for opening and closing a door, a single command like “pull” can suffice, as the action for the dog remains the same. Similarly, a command such as “Kennel” can encompass various situations, from entering a crate at home to getting into a travel crate, eliminating the need for multiple, confusing directives.
Essential Obedience Commands for Your Dog
The goal of obedience training is not to overwhelm your dog with a complex glossary of terms, but rather to teach essential commands that foster a strong understanding and responsiveness. A well-rounded obedience dog requires a focused set of commands.
Foundational Positions and Actions
Your dog needs to learn commands that clearly indicate desired positions and actions:
- Sit: A fundamental command for a dog to assume a seated position.
- Down: Instructs the dog to lie down.
- Stand: Directs the dog to stand.
- Front: Guides the dog to move in front of you and sit.
- Heel: This command signifies moving to your side and sitting. It can also imply a swing finish, though a different command might be needed for an “around” finish.
- OK: A release command, signaling the dog that the exercise is complete.
In addition to positional commands, your dog needs to understand action-oriented cues:
- Come: Signals the dog to stop their current activity and return to you.
- Let’s Go: Encourages the dog to walk near you in a relaxed manner, not necessarily in a formal heel position.
- Heel: For attentive walking alongside your left side.
- Back up: A useful command for refining heel position.
- Around: Instructs the dog to finish by circling to your right.
Commands like “Stay” and “Wait” are often considered unnecessary in a streamlined training program. When a dog is instructed to assume a position, such as a sit, they should maintain that position until given a new command. The word “Heel” effectively serves a dual purpose: it designates the position next to you and also the action of maintaining that position while walking. Dogs are adept at understanding the context of “heel” whether you are standing still or moving, negating the need for separate commands.
Utilizing Cues for Enhanced Communication
Cues are distinct from commands as they signal what is about to happen, rather than dictating an action. Helpful cues can include “Hurry” and “Easy,” which assist the dog in adjusting their pace. Some trainers use “Ready” as a cue to indicate that an exercise is about to commence. However, a more reliable approach is to assess your dog’s attentiveness and then communicate your readiness to the judge. A firm “SIT!” command can quickly capture your dog’s attention, ensuring they are prepared.
Streamlining Advanced Training
Advanced training levels do not necessitate a significant increase in commands.
Open Commands
- Drop on Recall: When your dog understands “come” and “down,” an additional command for “drop” is usually not needed. The dog can learn to perform a sphinx-like drop in front of you and a side-lying drop when beside you, demonstrating situational awareness.
- Retrieve on Flat: Essential commands here are “Fetch” (pick that up) and “Drop” (place the object in hand). A “hold” command is generally implied by “Fetch” and is typically reserved for dogs with mouthing issues.
- Retrieve over High Jump: The primary command is “Jump,” initiating a sequence that includes fetching and returning. While individual actions might be taught with separate commands initially, the chain of events starts with the first cue.
- Broad Jump: The command “Jump” is sufficient for this exercise.
Utility Commands
Introducing new exercises in utility training typically requires only a couple of new commands and cues.
- Signals: Dogs can respond to non-verbal cues for actions they already know, without extending the verbal command list.
- Scent Articles: While traditional to use a distinct command for articles, the command “Fetch” can be adapted. Dogs can differentiate between promptly retrieving a single object and carefully searching a pile. If “Fetch” causes anxiety, alternatives like “Search” or “Find it” can be used.
- Gloves: No new commands are needed. A directional signal combined with “Fetch” guides the dog to the correct glove.
- Moving Stand: The dog already understands verbal and signal cues to stand. Commands like “Heel” or “Around” can be used for transitioning into position.
- Directed Jumping: The “Go-out” command directs the dog away from you, and they can then use “Sit” and “Jump” commands.
Enhancing Motivation with Cues
Cues like “mark” can be used before article exercises to focus the dog’s attention on the upcoming task and the location of the articles. Similarly, a “look” cue before directed jumping encourages the dog to scan for the go-out location. Fun cues, such as “Ready to fetch?” or “Want to jump?”, can also be employed to boost enthusiasm and motivation during training.
Key Training Insights
- When facing training challenges, resist the urge to change commands. Performance issues are rarely due to the command itself.
- When exploring different dog sports, avoid unnecessary command modifications. For instance, if “come” is used in obedience, stick with it rather than adopting “here” for field work, unless there’s a compelling reason. Consistency is key.
A concise list of commands offers significant advantages. They are easier to recall under pressure in the ring and simpler for your dog to learn and apply across similar situations. By focusing on essential commands and clear communication, you can build a stronger partnership with your dog, ensuring a more effective and enjoyable training experience.
