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Start your dog or puppy off right with the complete set of commands to be a better dog.
Why it matters
Clear commands build a predictable, safe relationship between you and your dog.
Consistent training prevents common behavior problems (jumping, pulling, excessive barking).
A well-trained dog is more enjoyable at home, in public, and around guests, children, and other animals.
Core commands every dog should learn
Come (Recall)
Purpose: Keeps your dog safe and under your control off-leash.
How to teach: Use a cheerful voice, high-value treats, and practice at short distances first. Reward immediately when your dog reaches you. Gradually increase distance and add mild distractions.
Tip: Never punish a dog for coming to you — you want recall to be positive.
Sit
Purpose: Foundation for many other behaviors; useful for greetings and preventing jumping.
How to teach: Hold a treat above the dog’s nose and move it back over their head so their rear lowers. Say “Sit” as the hips go down, then reward.
Tip: Fade treats to a hand signal and intermittent rewards.
Stay (or Wait)
Purpose: Teaches patience and impulse control; critical for safety around doors, streets, or food.
How to teach: With the dog in sit or down, give a clear “Stay” cue, step back one small step, then return and reward. Increase duration and distance gradually.
Tip: Use a release word like “Okay” or “Free” to end the stay.
Down
Purpose: Stronger calm position than sit; useful for settling and long-duration control.
How to teach: From sit, lure with a treat down toward the floor between the dog’s paws. Mark and reward when they lie down.
Tip: Some dogs resist because they see down as “submissive.” Move slowly and keep sessions positive.
Leave It / Drop It
Purpose: Prevents ingestion of dangerous items and teaches trading for better options.
How to teach Leave It: Present a low-value treat in your closed hand, say “Leave it.” When the dog stops trying and looks away, reward from the other hand. Progress to loose items on the floor.
How to teach Drop It: Play with a toy, then offer a higher-value treat while saying “Drop it.” When the dog releases, reward and return the toy or exchange for play.
Tip: Practice frequently with different objects and at different value levels.
Heel / Loose Leash Walking
Purpose: Makes walks pleasant and safe; prevents pulling and handler strain.
How to teach: Reward your dog for staying at your side. Stop moving when they pull; resume when the leash relaxes. Use short, frequent sessions and praise for attention.
Tip: Decide whether you want heel (strict side position) or loose-leash walking (more relaxed attention-focused walking) and be consistent.
Place / Mat
Purpose: Sends your dog to a designated spot to relax and self-settle; useful during meals or when guests arrive.
How to teach: Reward the dog for going onto a mat with “Place,” then practicing longer stays and distractions until they relax on cue.
Tip: Use a comfortable, consistent surface and start with short durations.
Watch Me / Focus
Purpose: Gets the dog’s attention quickly for safety and smoother training transitions.
How to teach: Hold a treat near your eyes, say “Watch me,” reward when the dog makes eye contact. Build duration and add distractions.
Tip: Use this as a polite alternative to pulling a dog’s attention by calling their name loudly.
Quiet / Speak
Purpose: Controls excessive barking and teaches an appropriate alert behavior.
How to teach Speak: Encourage barking with excitement and mark the behavior. Teach Quiet by rewarding silence after a cue; introduce a brief “Quiet” command and reward calm behavior.
Tip: Timing is crucial — reinforce immediate quiet rather than delayed.
Emergency Stop / Emergency Recall
Purpose: Overrules all other behavior for immediate safety.
How to teach: Use a highly unique cue (different word, whistle, or long enthusiastic voice) and only practice in controlled situations with very high-value rewards. Reinforce frequently so the cue maintains reliability.
Tip: Reserve the cue for urgent use to keep its value high.
Training basics and structure
Short, frequent sessions: 5–10 minutes, 2–4 times daily for puppies; slightly longer for adult dogs.
Positive reinforcement: Reward desired behavior with treats, praise, or play. Avoid
Start your dog or puppy off right with the complete set of commands to be a better dog.
Why it matters
Clear commands build a predictable, safe relationship between you and your dog.
Consistent training prevents common behavior problems (jumping, pulling, excessive barking).
A well-trained dog is more enjoyable at home, in public, and around guests, children, and other animals.
Core commands every dog should learn
Come (Recall)
Purpose: Keeps your dog safe and under your control off-leash.
How to teach: Use a cheerful voice, high-value treats, and practice at short distances first. Reward immediately when your dog reaches you. Gradually increase distance and add mild distractions.
Tip: Never punish a dog for coming to you — you want recall to be positive.
Sit
Purpose: Foundation for many other behaviors; useful for greetings and preventing jumping.
How to teach: Hold a treat above the dog’s nose and move it back over their head so their rear lowers. Say “Sit” as the hips go down, then reward.
Tip: Fade treats to a hand signal and intermittent rewards.
Stay (or Wait)
Purpose: Teaches patience and impulse control; critical for safety around doors, streets, or food.
How to teach: With the dog in sit or down, give a clear “Stay” cue, step back one small step, then return and reward. Increase duration and distance gradually.
Tip: Use a release word like “Okay” or “Free” to end the stay.
Down
Purpose: Stronger calm position than sit; useful for settling and long-duration control.
How to teach: From sit, lure with a treat down toward the floor between the dog’s paws. Mark and reward when they lie down.
Tip: Some dogs resist because they see down as “submissive.” Move slowly and keep sessions positive.
Leave It / Drop It
Purpose: Prevents ingestion of dangerous items and teaches trading for better options.
How to teach Leave It: Present a low-value treat in your closed hand, say “Leave it.” When the dog stops trying and looks away, reward from the other hand. Progress to loose items on the floor.
How to teach Drop It: Play with a toy, then offer a higher-value treat while saying “Drop it.” When the dog releases, reward and return the toy or exchange for play.
Tip: Practice frequently with different objects and at different value levels.
Heel / Loose Leash Walking
Purpose: Makes walks pleasant and safe; prevents pulling and handler strain.
How to teach: Reward your dog for staying at your side. Stop moving when they pull; resume when the leash relaxes. Use short, frequent sessions and praise for attention.
Tip: Decide whether you want heel (strict side position) or loose-leash walking (more relaxed attention-focused walking) and be consistent.
Place / Mat
Purpose: Sends your dog to a designated spot to relax and self-settle; useful during meals or when guests arrive.
How to teach: Reward the dog for going onto a mat with “Place,” then practicing longer stays and distractions until they relax on cue.
Tip: Use a comfortable, consistent surface and start with short durations.
Watch Me / Focus
Purpose: Gets the dog’s attention quickly for safety and smoother training transitions.
How to teach: Hold a treat near your eyes, say “Watch me,” reward when the dog makes eye contact. Build duration and add distractions.
Tip: Use this as a polite alternative to pulling a dog’s attention by calling their name loudly.
Quiet / Speak
Purpose: Controls excessive barking and teaches an appropriate alert behavior.
How to teach Speak: Encourage barking with excitement and mark the behavior. Teach Quiet by rewarding silence after a cue; introduce a brief “Quiet” command and reward calm behavior.
Tip: Timing is crucial — reinforce immediate quiet rather than delayed.
Emergency Stop / Emergency Recall
Purpose: Overrules all other behavior for immediate safety.
How to teach: Use a highly unique cue (different word, whistle, or long enthusiastic voice) and only practice in controlled situations with very high-value rewards. Reinforce frequently so the cue maintains reliability.
Tip: Reserve the cue for urgent use to keep its value high.
Training basics and structure
Short, frequent sessions: 5–10 minutes, 2–4 times daily for puppies; slightly longer for adult dogs.
Positive reinforcement: Reward desired behavior with treats, praise, or play. Avoid
