How to better use dog obedience commands

Obedience will teach your dog focus and self-restraint while making him better behaved. It is also a great way to stimulate your dog mentally.

Here are some great ways to use commands to make life with your dog easier.

Sit

What it means:

Your dog sits and holds the sit until released. No sniffing, scratching, barking, whining, lying down, standing up, etc.

When to use it:

 Entering and exiting doors (house, car, kennel, store, vet’s office, etc)
 Wiping feet after being outside
 For examinations (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc)
 Nail trimming and brushing
 Greeting new people
 Answering the door
 Before feeding or giving treats
 During play (before playing fetch)
 Putting on collars
 When talking to friends or neighbors
 At curbs and intersections

Why it is helpful:

Keeps your dog from pulling on the leash, jumping on people, helps build self-restraint

Heel

What it means:

Your dog walks at your side and matches your pace and direction; when you stop the dog sits. No pulling, sniffing, elimination, veering off, barking, whining, etc.

When to use it:

 On walks
 Around the house
 In crowds or busy streets
 In pet stores or vet’s office
 When the dog is excited or anxious
 When passing runners or bikers

Why it is helpful:

Keeps your dog focused on you, the dog cannot get ahead and pull, teaches self-restraint

Down

What it means:

Your dog lies down and holds the down until released. No sniffing, scratching, barking, whining, standing up, rolling over, creeping/crawling forward etc.

When to use it:

 Trimming nails and brushing
 For examinations at the Vet’s office
 Entering and exiting doors
 Answering the door
 When talking to friends or neighbors
 While eating dinner, watching TV, or reading
 While you cook dinner or are cleaning/busy

Why it is helpful:

Keeps your dog from pulling on the leash, jumping on people, helps build self-restraint

Stand

What it means:

Your dog stands on all four feet and stays in this position until released. No sniffing, scratching, barking, whining, sitting, rolling over, creeping/crawling forward, etc.

When to use it:

 Trimming nails and brushing
 For examinations at the Vet’s office
 When being groomed or bathed
 to make your way around your dog when you need to

Why it is helpful:

It allows you to check the dog’s underbelly or groom it.

Place

What it means:

Your dog goes to a placemat and stays there until released. All four feet must be on the mat, but the dog can sit, stand, lie down, play, eat, or sleep. No barking, whining, leaving the mat.

When to use it:

 While you are cooking or eating dinner
 When you are cleaning or busy
 While you are watching TV, movies, or reading
 When answering the door
 When you have company
 As an alternative to the kennel/crate

Why it is helpful:

Helps develop a great deal of self-restraint, allows the dog to be near you without getting in the way while you are busy

Leave It

What it means:

Used to keep your dog from approaching, eating, sniffing, licking, or grabbing any person, place, or thing (people, cats, dogs, food, decorations, rooms, etc)

When to use it:

 With your children’s toys
 With dog toys
 With food or treats (used with “take” command)
 With other dogs or cats
 With leaves, shoes, feces, socks, or any other object
 Preventing the dog from entering rooms or places

Why it is helpful:

Can keep your dog safe, helps develop self-restraint, can help
prevent a kitchen floor scavenger

Say Hi

What it means:

Your dog politely greets another person or animal (can also be used to socialize with inanimate objects). No pulling on the leash, jumping, mouthing, excessive licking, or bowling people over.

When to use it:

 When meeting new people or animals
 When greeting guests
 When socializing to objects that the dog may be frightened of

Why it is helpful:

Teaches our dog to greet people or animals while minding his manners, teaches self-restraint

Come

What it means:

Your dog comes directly to you and sits in front of you (within 2 feet). No veering off, running away, or sniffing along the way.

When to use it:

 To keep your dog from running into the road
 When across the room
 When in the backyard and it is time to come in

Why it is helpful:

Keeps your dog safe when needed, shows the dog respects and trusts you

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