As a dog trainer, I’ve learned that many owners use far too many commands for their dogs. This can be confusing for both the dog and the handler. The key is to use a concise, clear set of commands that your dog can easily understand and apply to various situations.
Understanding Dog Commands: Less is More
When training service dogs, the goal is to teach them specific tasks. However, some organizations boast of teaching hundreds of commands, many of which are redundant. For instance, differentiating between opening and closing a door uses the same action for the dog – pulling a string. Similarly, I use a single command, “Kennel,” to cover entering a crate, a kennel run, a van crate, or even the kitchen. The dog understands the core action: enter the designated space.
Essential Commands for Obedience Training
Your dog needs a foundational set of commands to understand desired positions and actions.
Positional Commands:
- Sit: Assume a sitting position.
- Down: Lie down.
- Stand: Stand up.
- 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 indicating the dog is finished.
Action Commands:
- Come: Stop current activity and come to me.
- Let’s Go: Walk near me in a casual manner.
- Heel: Walk attentively next to my left side.
- Back up: A helpful command for teaching heel position.
- Around: A command to finish by circling to the right.
Commands like “Stay” and “Wait” are often unnecessary. Once a dog is in a commanded position (like “Sit”), they should remain there until given another command. The word “Heel” effectively covers both the position next to you and the action of walking in that position, as dogs are situational and can discern meaning based on context.
Helpful Cues for Enhanced Training
Cues are signals that prepare your dog for an upcoming command or action. Useful cues include “Hurry” and “Easy” to help regulate pace. Instead of relying on “Ready” as a cue for an exercise to begin, which can put you in a difficult position if your dog isn’t attentive, it’s more effective to assess your dog’s readiness and then signal to the judge. A firm “SIT!” command can quickly get your dog’s attention when needed.
Simplifying Advanced Commands
Drop on Recall
If your dog knows “Come” and “Down,” no additional command is needed for “Drop on Recall.” Dogs can differentiate the “Down” command based on the situation – a sphinx position when in front of you, and a side-lying position when beside you.
Retrieve on Flat
- Fetch: Pick up the object.
- Drop: Release the object into your hand.
The “Hold” command is typically implied by “Fetch” and may only be necessary for dogs with mouthing issues.
Retrieve over High Jump
The command “Jump” initiates the sequence. While you might initially teach all actions (jump, fetch, come, jump, front), the primary command to start the chain is sufficient.
Broad Jump
The command “Jump” is adequate for this exercise.
Utility Commands: Minimal Additions
Introducing new exercises often requires only a couple of new commands and cues.
Signals
Dogs can learn to respond to nonverbal commands for actions they already know verbally. Your existing verbal command list does not need to expand.
Scent Articles
While traditionally a different command is used for scent articles than for a retrieve, “Fetch” can be adapted. Dogs can understand to be more thorough when scenting articles in a pile versus a single object. If “Fetch” causes anxiety, consider alternatives like “Search” or “Find it.”
Gloves
No new commands are needed. “Fetch” prompts the retrieve, and a directional signal indicates the correct glove.
Moving Stand
The dog already knows verbal and signal cues to stand. They can then transition into heel position using the “Heel” command or circle behind with the “Around” command.
Directed Jumping
The “Go-out” command directs the dog away from you. They can then execute a “Jump” command.
Motivational Cues
Cues like “Mark” can signal the start of the article exercise, drawing the dog’s attention to the article pile. Similarly, “Look” can be used before directed jumping to encourage the dog to scan for the go-out location. Fun cues such as “Ready to fetch?” or “Want to jump?” can boost enthusiasm and motivation.
Key Training Principles
- Avoid changing commands when encountering training issues. Performance problems are rarely due to the command itself.
- Maintain command consistency across different dog sports. If a command has the same meaning, use it consistently, whether in obedience or field training.
Adopting a concise command list simplifies training, reduces handler pressure in the ring, and makes it easier for your dog to learn and apply commands effectively across various situations.
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