Training your dog can be an incredibly rewarding experience, strengthening your bond and ensuring better behavior. A solid foundation of basic commands is essential for a well-behaved canine companion. This guide breaks down common commands, their meanings, and how they can be used to improve communication with your dog.
Foundational Commands
These are the building blocks of dog training, crucial for everyday life and safety.
- Sit: A fundamental command that cues your dog to lower their rear to the ground while keeping their front paws planted. This is often the first command taught and is useful for impulse control.
- Down: This command instructs your dog to lie down on their belly, ideally with their hips relaxed. It’s a more relaxed position than “sit” and can be used for calming a dog.
- Stay: This command means your dog must remain in their current position (sit, down, or stand) until released. It’s vital for safety, preventing your dog from running into traffic or away from you.
- Come!: This is arguably the most important command for safety. It means your dog should immediately return to you from any distance. Ensure this command is always associated with positive reinforcement.
- Leave it: A critical command for preventing your dog from picking up or ingesting harmful objects or substances. It teaches them to ignore something desirable.
- Drop: This command tells your dog to release whatever is currently in their mouth. It’s useful for preventing them from chewing on forbidden items or relinquishing a toy.
Socialization and Manners Commands
These commands help your dog navigate social situations and interact appropriately with people and their environment.
- Off: This command is used to tell your dog to get their paws or body off of furniture, people, or other dogs.
- Up up: The opposite of “Off,” this cues your dog to jump or place their feet onto something, such as a sofa or a low platform.
- Paw/Shake: This command teaches your dog to lift one of their front paws, often used in a friendly greeting or as a trick.
- Gentle: Useful for dogs who tend to be a bit too enthusiastic when taking treats, “Gentle” encourages them to take food more softly.
- Hold it: This command instructs your dog to keep an object in their mouth without chewing or swallowing it. This can be a precursor to other training activities.
- Touch: This teaches your dog to make nose-to-hand contact. It’s a versatile command that can be used as a targeting exercise or to redirect attention.
- Load Up: This command trains your dog to enter a vehicle willingly. Positive association with the car is key here.
- Look at Me: This command is for gaining your dog’s full attention and eye contact, especially in distracting environments.
Advanced and Enrichment Commands
These commands can add variety to training and provide mental stimulation for your dog.
- Beg/Sit Pretty: This teaches your dog to balance on their hind legs, a visually impressive trick that requires core strength.
- Roll Over: A fun trick that involves your dog rolling from a lying down position to the other side.
- Crawl: This command teaches your dog to move forward while keeping their belly low to the ground, mimicking a military crawl.
- Find it: Excellent for scent work and enrichment, this command encourages your dog to use their nose to sniff out hidden treats or objects.
- Wait: Similar to “Stay” but often used for shorter durations or in specific contexts like waiting at doorways before going outside.
- Okay/Free: This is the release command that tells your dog they are free to move from a “Stay” or “Wait” position.
- Let’s go: This signifies the start of an activity, such as going for a walk.
- All the way: This command encourages your dog to come all the way back to you and make full contact.
- This way: Used when your dog is going in the wrong direction, this command redirects them to pay attention to you and change course.
- Heel up: This command instructs your dog to walk closely by your side in a controlled manner.
- Leash / Fix your leash: These commands help with the practicalities of putting on a leash or adjusting it if it becomes tangled.
- Pick up: For smaller dogs or puppies, this command can be used when you need to lift them.
- Outside / Wanna go potty? / Potty, potty?: These commands are related to house-training and signaling the need to go outside for elimination.
Reinforcement and Correction Commands
These commands are used to mark good behavior or to interrupt unwanted actions.
- Good (command)!: This is a marker word used to immediately signal to your dog that they have performed a correct behavior or responded accurately to a command.
- Hey!: This is used to break a distraction and regain your dog’s attention. It can also serve as a mild correction if a command has been ignored.
- No!: A direct command to stop an immediate action. It should be used clearly and consistently.
- Bad!: This command signifies that a particular behavior is unacceptable and should not be repeated in the future.
- Easy: Used in a gentle, sing-song tone, this command encourages your dog to slow down, pay attention, and lower their energy level.
- Settle: Particularly useful for puppies, this command encourages them to calm down and relax.
- Out: This command tells your dog to disengage from a situation or stop an action.
- Back: This instructs your dog to move backward or out of your personal space.
- Move: A general command for your dog to shift their body position, often used when they are obstructing your path.
Mastering these common commands will not only improve your dog’s obedience but also deepen the connection you share. Remember to always use positive reinforcement, keep training sessions short and fun, and be patient. For more insights into training, explore commands like teaching your dog a new trick or the easiest commands to teach a dog.
