Bringing a new dog into your home is an exciting time, and establishing clear communication is key to a happy and harmonious relationship. Teaching your dog basic commands not only helps them understand what you expect but also strengthens your bond and ensures their safety. This guide will walk you through some of the most essential commands, categorized for ease of learning.
Foundational Commands
These commands form the bedrock of dog training and are crucial for everyday life:
- Sit: A fundamental command that helps manage your dog’s energy and position. When your dog sits, their rear end touches the ground.
- Down: This command encourages your dog to lie down fully on their belly. It’s a more relaxed position than a sit and can be useful for settling your dog.
- Stay: Unlike “Wait,” “Stay” requires your dog to remain in their current position even when you move away. This is vital for safety, such as at doorways or near roads.
- Come!: This is a life-saving command. It means your dog should immediately return to you when called, regardless of distractions.
- Leave It: A critical command for safety, “Leave It” teaches your dog to ignore something they are interested in, whether it’s a dropped piece of food, a tempting object, or even another animal.
Manners and Etiquette Commands
These commands help your dog navigate social situations and household rules:
- Off: Use this command to tell your dog to get their paws or body off furniture, people, or other dogs.
- Gentle: This command teaches your dog to take treats or toys more softly, preventing nipping.
- Hold It: Useful for training, this command instructs your dog to keep an object in their mouth for a period.
- Outside: A cue that it’s time to go outdoors, typically for potty breaks.
Advanced and Useful Commands
These commands add a layer of enrichment and practical application to your training:
- Paw/Shake: A fun trick that teaches your dog to lift a paw.
- Beg/Sit Pretty: This command has your dog balance on their hind legs, a visually impressive trick.
- Roll Over: From a down position, this command teaches your dog to roll onto their other side.
- Crawl: This teaches your dog to move forward while keeping their belly on the ground, similar to an army crawl.
- Find It: This command encourages your dog to use their nose to sniff the ground. It’s excellent for enrichment activities like scent games and can also help redirect a dog who is reacting to other dogs on leash.
- Touch: A simple command where your dog touches their nose to your hand. This is a building block for many other behaviors.
- Load Up: This command teaches your dog to willingly enter a vehicle, making travel much easier.
- Look at Me: This command is used to gain your dog’s eye contact and focus, especially in distracting environments.
- Back: Teaches your dog to move backward or out of your personal space.
- Move: A general command to get your dog to shift their body out of your path.
- Drop: Similar to “Leave It,” but usually used when your dog already has something in their mouth and you want them to release it, often so you can throw it.
- Wait: Instructs your dog to pause and wait for further instructions or a release cue, often used at doorways.
- Okay/Free: The release cue that tells your dog they can move from a “Stay” or “Wait” command.
- Let’s Go: Indicates it’s time to walk together.
- All the Way: A variation of “Come,” prompting your dog to return fully and make contact with you.
- This Way: Used when your dog is going the wrong direction, prompting them to change course and pay attention to you.
- Heel Up: Teaches your dog to walk alongside you in a more controlled manner.
- Leash: A cue for your dog to remain still while you attach or detach their leash.
- Fix Your Leash: A practical command to help your dog adjust their position so the leash doesn’t get tangled.
- Pick Up: For smaller dogs or puppies, this command means to hold still so you can lift them.
- Wanna Go Potty? / Potty, Potty?: Direct questions to ascertain if your dog needs to relieve themselves.
Encouragement and Corrections
- Good (command)!: This is a marker word used to indicate a correct response to a command, reinforcing the desired behavior.
- Hey!: A versatile command used to break your dog’s distraction and regain their attention, or as a mild correction if a command has been ignored.
- No!: A clear command to stop an immediate action.
- Bad!: A stronger directive indicating that a behavior is unacceptable and should not be repeated.
- Easy: Used in a sing-song voice, this command encourages your dog to pay attention, slow down, and lower their energy levels.
- Settle: Especially helpful for puppies, this command encourages them to calm themselves down.
- Out: A command to disengage from a situation or stop an unwanted behavior.
- Leave it: As mentioned earlier, this is crucial for safety, instructing your dog to disengage from an object or stimulus.
Consistent practice and positive reinforcement are vital for successful dog training. Remember to keep training sessions short, fun, and rewarding for your canine companion.
