For many dog owners, the journey of training their canine companion is often accompanied by a growing list of commands. However, the question arises: how many commands are truly necessary for effective training and a strong bond? This article explores the idea that less can be more when it comes to dog training vocabulary, emphasizing clarity and efficiency for both you and your dog.
Early in my career, I was involved in training service dogs for individuals with physical handicaps. These remarkable dogs were trained to perform a variety of tasks, from picking up dropped items and pulling wheelchairs to operating doors and light switches, all tailored to the specific needs of their owners. While the training was intricate, the core principle remained consistent: clear communication.
One prominent organization in our field boasts training each dog with over 90 commands. While this number sounds impressive, a closer look reveals a significant amount of redundancy. For instance, separate commands might be used for opening and closing a door, despite the action being fundamentally the same for the dog – to grasp a string and pull. As handlers, we can simplify this. I use the command “Kennel” to signify entering any designated space: a crate, a kennel run, a crate in the van, or even the kitchen. The dog’s task is to enter the space I indicate, and the specific type of space is secondary to the core action.
The Essentials: What Your Obedience Dog Truly Needs
So, how extensive does your dog’s command list need to be? Generally, obedience enthusiasts tend to overuse commands. The sport itself isn’t so complex that it requires a vast glossary for both dog and handler to memorize.
Foundational Commands
Your dog needs to learn commands that clearly indicate desired positions:
- Sit: Assume a sitting posture.
- Down: Lie down.
- Stand: Stand upright.
- Front: Move in front of me and sit.
- Heel: Move to my side and sit. This can also be used for a swing finish.
- OK: A release command signifying the end of a task.
Additionally, commands that direct specific actions are crucial:
- Come: Stop current activity and come to me. This is a fundamental command for safety and responsiveness.
- Let’s Go: Walk near me in a relaxed manner. This indicates you expect your dog to walk with you, not necessarily in a formal heel position.
- Heel: Walk attentively by my left side.
- Back up: A useful command for refining heel position.
- Around: A command to finish by circling to my right.
Many may object to the omission of “STAY!” and “WAIT!” However, a dedicated “stay” command is often unnecessary. Once a dog is instructed to assume a position (like “Sit”), they should maintain it until given a new command. The obedience regulations permit the use of “stay,” but it’s often a habitual inclusion rather than a functional necessity after a position command.
The word “Heel” serves a dual purpose: designating the position next to me and the action of maintaining that position while walking. When I say “Heel,” my dog should move to my side and sit. I don’t need separate commands like “Get in” or “Get up” because the dog understands the context. The dog is situational and can differentiate between “Heel” as a position when standing still and “Heel” as an action when moving.
Understanding Cues
Cues are distinct from commands; they signal what’s coming without demanding an action. Helpful cues can include “Hurry” and “Easy” to help your dog adjust their pace.
Some trainers use “Ready” as a cue that an exercise is about to begin. However, this can be problematic. If your dog isn’t attentive when you say “Ready,” you might be in trouble if the judge then starts the exercise. A more effective approach is to assess your dog’s readiness. If attentive, nod or say “I am.” If not, say “No” and give a firm “SIT!” This ensures your dog is focused before the exercise commences.
Streamlining Advanced Training
Drop on Recall
If your dog knows “Come” and “Down,” no additional command is needed for “Drop on Recall.” While in novice training, “Down” might involve rolling onto the side, for “Drop on Recall,” the desired action is a sphinx position. Dogs are situational learners; they can distinguish between dropping beside you and dropping in front of you.
Retrieve on Flat
- Fetch: Pick up the object.
- Drop: Release the object into my hand.
A separate “Hold” command isn’t necessary, as “Fetch” implies holding. “Hold” is best reserved for dogs who have mouthing issues and need specific grip training.
Retrieve over High Jump
- Jump: This initiates the sequence of actions. While you might initially teach each step (jump, fetch, come, jump, front), ultimately, the command “Jump” starts the chain of events.
Broad Jump
The command “Jump” is sufficient for this exercise as well.
Utility Commands: Minimal Additions
Introducing new exercises in utility often requires only two new commands and two cues.
Signals
Dogs can learn to respond to nonverbal cues for body movements they already perform with verbal commands. Your existing verbal command list doesn’t need to expand for these.
Scent Articles
Traditionally, a different command is used for scent articles than for a retrieve. The reasoning is that “Fetch” implies promptness, and using it for articles might lead the dog to retrieve too quickly without thoroughly scenting. However, dogs are situational. They can learn to be deliberate when scenting a pile of objects and prompt when retrieving a single item. If your dog seems hesitant with “Fetch” in this context, consider commands like “Search” or “Find it.”
Gloves
No additional commands are necessary. “Fetch” indicates retrieval, and a directional cue specifies which glove to target. There’s no need for a unique command for each glove.
Moving Stand
No new commands are required. The dog already understands verbal and signal commands to stand and can be directed into a heel position with “Heel” or circle behind with “Around.”
Directed Jumping
The “Go-out” command directs your dog away from your side. They already know “Sit” and “Jump.”
Open & Utility Cues: Enhancing Motivation
A cue like “Mark” can be used before the article exercise to signal the dog to pay attention to the article pile as it’s being set out. This cue alerts the dog that the article exercise is next and indicates the location of the pile.
Similarly, a cue such as “Look” before directed jumping prompts the dog to scan and locate the “go-out” target. These cues can be given before the judge asks, “Are you ready?”
Using fun cues for exercises your dog enjoys can boost enthusiasm. Just as pet dogs recognize “Do you want to go for a walk?”, an obedience dog might respond excitedly to “Ready to fetch?” or “Want to jump?” These motivating cues can enhance performance in open or utility classes.
Two Additional Training Tips
- Problem-Solving: When encountering training difficulties, avoid the immediate urge to change commands. Performance issues are rarely caused by the command itself.
- Cross-Discipline Consistency: When exploring other dog sports like agility, herding, or fieldwork, resist adding or changing commands unless absolutely necessary. For instance, many retriever trainers use “Here” instead of “Come.” Both mean the same thing. You need one consistent command for “come to me” that can be used across different sports.
My command list is intentionally short, offering numerous benefits. Commands are easier to recall under pressure in the ring. Furthermore, teaching a concise set of commands that apply to similar situations is more effective than overwhelming your dog with numerous commands for every conceivable scenario.
How long is your dog’s command list? Could it be simplified for clearer communication and a stronger training partnership?
