5 Basic Obedience Commands Every Dog Should Know

Dogs are known for their loyalty, love, and obedience.

Owning a dog is a wonderful experience, but it comes with great responsibility. Training them is essential to ensure they are well-behaved and happy. One of the most crucial aspects of dog training is obedience.

Let’s discuss the five basic obedience commands that every dog should know.

1. Sit

The “sit” command is one of the most important commands your dog should learn. It is a simple command, but it is essential for your dog’s safety. Sit teaches your dog to sit on command and stay in that position until released.

To teach your dog to sit, start by holding a treat above their nose. Then slowly move the treat towards the back of their head. As their head follows the treat, their rear end will naturally lower to the ground. As soon as their bottom touches the floor, praise them for sitting and give them the treat.

Repeat this process several times a day until your dog can sit on command without the use of a treat.

2. Stay

The “stay” command is another important command every dog should learn. This command is especially useful in situations where you need your dog to stay put, such as when crossing a busy road or when greeting visitors.

To teach your dog to stay, start by having them to sit. Once they are sitting, put your hand in front of their face and say “stay.” You can use a different word if you like too. For example, I use “wait” with my Havanese and give her the one minute finger as a signal. Once you have given the command, take a step backward. If your dog stays in place, give them a treat and praise them.

Gradually increase the distance between you and your dog and increase the amount of time that they have to stay in place before being rewarded.

3. Come

Come is a command that can save your dog’s life.

It teaches your dog to come to you when called, regardless of the situation. This command is especially important in situations where your dog may be in danger, such as when they are about to run into traffic.

To teach your dog to come, start by calling their name and saying “come” in an enthusiastic tone. As your dog begins to approach you, back away and encourage them to follow you. When they reach you, give them a treat and tons of praise. Repeat this process several times a day, gradually increasing the distance between you and your dog.

4. Down

Down teaches your dog to lie down on command. This is useful for getting your dog to settle down, such as when you want to watch TV or read a book. It can also be helpful in situations where you need your dog to be quiet, such as when you are on the phone or if you stop to talk to someone while out on a walk.

To teach your dog to lie down, start by commanding them to sit. Once they are sitting, lower your hand with a treat to the ground in between their paws while pulling the treat in an “L” shape and say “down.” If your dog follows your hand and lies down, give them a treat and lots of praise.

If they don’t understand at first, pull their front legs out in front of them slowly. They typically won’t like it and will pop right back up. Continue practicing this until they are actually laying down. Even if they do pop right back up, but sure to praise them as soon as they are down.

Repeat this process several times a day until your dog can lie down on command without the use of a treat.

5. Leave It

The “leave it” command teaches your dog to leave something alone, whether it’s a toy, food, or something dangerous. This command is essential for your dog’s safety and can prevent them from ingesting something harmful or getting into a dangerous situation.

To teach your dog to leave something alone, start by placing a treat on the ground and covering it with your hand. When your dog sniffs or paws at your hand, say “leave it” in a firm tone.

When they back away from your hand, give them a different treat and praise them. Repeat this process several times a day, gradually increasing the difficulty of the challenge by using different items for your dog to leave alone, such as their favorite toy or a piece of food on the ground.

Once your dog has mastered these five basic obedience commands, you can move on to more advanced training. However, it’s important to continue practicing these basic commands regularly to keep them fresh in your dog’s mind.

Tips for successful obedience training:

1. Be patient: Dogs learn at their own pace, so it’s important to be patient and consistent with your training.
2. Use positive reinforcement: Reward your dog with treats and praise when they follow your commands correctly. Avoid using punishment, as it can be counterproductive and damage your relationship with your dog.
3. Keep training sessions short: Dogs have short attention spans (so do I), so it’s important to keep training sessions brief and frequent, rather than long and infrequent.
4. Be consistent: Use the same commands and techniques every time you train your dog, and make sure that all members of the household are using the same commands and techniques.
5. Train in a distraction-free environment: Start training in a quiet, distraction-free environment and gradually increase the level of distraction as your dog becomes more proficient in following your commands.
6. Find their favorite treats: Like us, dogs have favorite flavors and favorite treats. If you are using a treat your dog doesn’t find too appealing, why would they do the work to earn something they don’t like. When you are using a treat they do like, they will be that much more inclined to do what you are asking them to do.

Obedience training is crucial for your dog’s safety, well-being, and happiness. The five basic obedience commands every dog should know are sit, stay, come, down, and leave it. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can teach your dog all of these basic commands and build a strong bond with them.

Happy training!

Do you have any training tips or tricks that have helped you in training your dogs? Share them in the comments!