Dog Training Command List – Dog Training – Dog Trainer – Behaviorist
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Sam Basso
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What are the typical commands taught for Obedience?
They really aren’t that complicated. It’s the teaching and doing of the commands that make them complicated. There are really two parts that should be considered to answer this question properly. The first consideration is WHAT BEHAVIOR do you want the dog to do? The second consideration is WHAT COMMAND WORD OR WORDS are best for that situation?
1.) THE BEHAVIORS: Here are the kinds of things you are going to command a dog to do in obedience… using single commands, whether the dog is on leash or off leash. You need to have an exact idea of what you are going to teach before using or introducing your dog to any command:
Sit – we all know what it looks like when a dog sits
Sit / Stay – this means not only for the dog to get in sit position, but to not move from that position
Sit Out Of Motion – this means that the dog is supposed to stop instantly, sit, and then not move from that position
Down – we all know what it looks like when a dog lays down
Down / Stay – this means not only for the dog to lay down, but to not move from that position
Down Out Of Motion – this means that the dog is supposed to stop instantly, lay down, and then not move from that position
Heel – means for the dog to go over to the handler’s left side, then remain in that position whether while walking or running. It also means if the handler is to stop, the dog is to also stop at the handler’s left side, parallel to the handler, and sit. If the handler starts walking or running again, the dog is supposed to keep up with the handler, remaining at the handler’s left side.
Come – the dog is supposed to run as fast as it can, and sit directly in front of the handler, facing the handler.
2.) THE COMMANDS: The choice of command has a lot to do with what kind of environment the dog will be expected to deal with. Companion dogs are taught in English. However, police dogs are often taught in a foreign language so as to have greater control over the dog around a tricky criminal. Whatever commands you are going to use should be taught consistently from the very start. The basic commands are:
Sit
Down
Heel
Come
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Seems pretty simple, right? Well, it isn’t. People will train a dog for 2 solid years before entering the dog into obedience competition, just to do these commands properly, around distractions, with a good attitude, precision, and speed.
It is the COMBINATION of teaching the dog the proper skills with the best choice of words, that makes those commands mean anything or do anything.
