10 Basic commands a dog should know

When training dog everyone has their own way to go about it. There are however 10 basic commands all dogs should know to really make them better to be around. Some people will cite 5 or other numbers as the basics and other words are often used for the same results. These are my own personal basic 10 commands that all dogs I have are trained to.

1. Sit : This is a position I use for feeding times, for most stay, waits, comes and gives. It is great for pausing a puppy in full puppy insanity and calming them down a little. I use a whistle, hand signal and the word itself to allow more flexibility in different situations. This is the first word I train to with a dog.
2. Leave : From it’s obvious use to getting the dog to not sniff where shouldn’t or eat your food, leave has a lot of great applications. Dillon was trained to the word by using toys placed on floor and not taking hand off until got the idea not to poke or lick it with his nose. Dogs tend to get this one really quickly after just a few times. It has saved a lot of trouble with things that may stray onto the labrador floor area. Also useful for not launching onto people as the are walking or for not lurching for roadside snacks.
3. Stay : The difference between stay and wait is that stay means I am going to do something you are not. Stay is used when you are leaving the dog like in a leave and come back test. Only use this when no action is going to be required or command given for the dog to do something. All that should be said after a successful stay is ‘good dog’ or other praise.
4. Wait : Wait is the amber light to dogs. After you say it you are going to ask them to do something else. It is useful for fetches and gives them a pause before they retrieve.
5. Give : People can use drop for this also as it’s the same result. Basically it means give me whatever you have in your mouth. This could be a toy or anything, just give it nicely and let me take it without grabbing right back off. Always a useful command and one of the basic aspects of training.
6. Come : This one is I think one of the hardest to get a dog to do. Well, it seems to be that way for me anyways so not sure what that says about me. The aim of this is the down the park and getting dog back to you situation. Come can be trained for using treats, rewards and just making yourself attractive in the means that your dog wants to come back to you. If you aren’t interesting what is the point of coming back when everything is so interesting?
7. Fetch : Not just useful to get your slippers brought to you, fetch is great for the all purpose ‘get it’ (if you want you can even use get it for this command). The idea behind it is a retrieve and that means getting AND bringing back. It’s one of the more advanced things to get done with a dog and at 6 months we are just working on this with Dillon.
8. No : From day one you are boss and you say no you mean it. No is the get out of trouble word. When they hear it whatever they are doing should be stopped without hesitation. No can be backed up by stay, wait or sit. It depends on the situation.
9. Down : This one isn’t the lie down often used, the down I am suggesting is the ‘get down’. Where or what ever they are jumping up on at the time, or actually on, should be left and the floor should be where the dog ends up on hearing the word down. Often they will do a sit as this is the ‘get out of jail free’ reaction often used when told a negative word.
10. Heal : If you like your arms in their sockets and have a dog then more than likely the word ‘heal’ will be a good one to have. If come is one of the hardest commands then heal is up there with it. Heal is something only persistence will bring you and I know this from personal experience. When used on a dog that knows what it means it can also be a safety word for walking should they be straying or something happen that means you need them by your side straight away.

So, that is the 10 basic commands a dog should know. Most are common sense and I am sure all are well known. People may disagree with what their own should be, ultimately training is about doing what works for you. There are some basic commands all dogs should know no matter what age. It’s not a matter of not being able to teach older dogs, we’ve done that it just takes a little longer as you have to get the bond.