Dog Training Commands
Article by JoAnn Poppie
Your dog needs to understand you so you can be happy together. To understand what you mean your dog needs a combination of your body language and commands.
‘Commands‘ are the words you use to tell your dog what you want it to do. This means just gently and firmly making sure they know what the rules are. For these commands to be most useful you have to be consistent. It’s no good you saying one thing one day, and using a different word 5 minutes later. That’s because Digger will simply get confused and not do anything, or do the wrong thing because he’s trying to work out what you DO want.
To help you get started here are some dog training commands. Please know that you are free to use or not use any of these words. It’s more important that you use the same word all the time for the same purpose than what word you use.
Useful dog training commands
Off: (Not to be confused with Down). It means “GET OFF”, like.. get off me, the couch, the bed, my kids,
Down: To lie down where ever you point or say.
Enough: Stop whatever you are doing, digging at the blanket, barking, licking…whatever!
Leave it: Leave it alone, don’t touch it, smell it, or take it.
Sit: Put your tush on the floor right now; I won’t say it again.
Don’t even think about it: I am on to you, don’t do it.
Basket / bed : Go to your bed please
Stay: Don’t move from that spot until I release you or give you another command.
Wait: (Not to be confused with Stay) Don’t follow me.
No jump: A warning BEFORE the jump happens.
No bark: A warning BEFORE the barking starts.
Take it: It’s o.k. to pick it up, or even go get it.
Drop it: It’s NOT o.k., spit it out N O W !
Come: Move to me now, face me, sit and stay.
Come on: (Not to be confused with come) Come with me.
In : In the car, in the dog crate, back indoors please
Out : Out of the car, OUT of that puddle!
Walk time : Lets go for a walk together
Heel: Walk directly at my side at the exact same speed.
Yes: YOU DID IT CORRECTLY! (training)
No: You didn’t do it correctly. (training)
Good: That pleases me.
Bad: That doesn’t please me.
Goodbye: Go away and leave me alone, (for now).
Easy: Slow down or take it easy, cool your jets.
I’ll be right back: I am returning immediately. You don’t have to follow me (It’s a courtesy that rarely works)
I’ll be back later: I’ll be gone a while. (Another courtesy)
Please feel free to use these words PLUS any more you can think of. Your dog has an incredible vocabulary that just gets bigger the more you use it. What dog doesn’t know “Who wants to go for a ride in the car?” Or “Who wants a cookie?“. I personally had to spell BALL and PIZZA, until they learned how to spell those, too!
About JoAnn
JoAnne Poppie is the owner of Poppie’s Puppies and a dog trainer for over 40 years. She lives in Orland Park, Illinois, with her miniature Australian Shepherd ‘Asher’, who is going through his naughty stage. Previously she worked at Pet Smart as a dog trainer but now offers private pet dog and service dog training. Contact JoAnne here
Recommended dog training resources
Training your dog means a happy life together. There are many e-books around on dog training but only a few of them are worth your money. Handpicked from hundreds are the following:
Secrets to Dog Training By Daniel Stevens – The number 1 online dog training guide used by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide
Dog Training Home Study Course by Ray Coleiro – Covers all the essentials and a good option on slightly lower budget
Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Trainer – A video training series where you can pick and choose what you need from the library. First month’s membership is just $1.
Dove Cresswell’s Dog Training Online – A nice basic introduction in a 7 video series.
A well-trained dog is a happy dog, so get started today!