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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