A Comprehensive List of Dog Training Commands Used for Obedience Training.

Teaching your ‘companion dog’ to understand what you want of him/her should be an enjoyable experience, strengthening the bond between you as the owner and master with your loyal dog. Training obedience is also important and rewarding, allowing you and your dog to socialise with family and friends, not only at home but out in the wider community, on walks, at dog parks, and enjoying a coffee together at one of the many pet-friendly cafes (has your dog tried a ‘Pup-a-Chino’?).

This article covers the most important dog training commands, listed in order of importance when undertaking obedience training with your dog.
As we touched on above, dog training is one of the most rewarding aspects to owning a pet, but it takes a degree of knowledge, practice and patience. As I also alluded to above, this list of dog commands is aimed at training ‘companion dogs’, not to be confused with security, armed forces or Police dogs, which have an additional list of commands to handle a very specific set of tasks.

So below you’ll find a list of the most important commands used, some of which are obvious, and some will take you some time to get used to saying when asking or commanding your dog to do what you want him or her to do.

Dog Training Commands

As we mentioned in a previous article ‘positive reinforcement techniques’, it’s important to be consistent with what you expect from each command. Each has its own desired response that with practice and repetition will ultimately get the outcome you want from your obedient dog.
Although this list of dog commands will be the same, some desired outcomes may have different commands, based on country, breed, club or association. What’s important, especially for a companion dog is that you use the word you want for a desired outcome consistently.

1/ Basic Obedience Commands

This first section comprises the most important and most frequently used dog commands you and your pooch need to become proficient with before moving on. Best of all, they don’t require lots of space, so can be practiced to perfection at home, even inside if you don’t have an outdoor area to practice in.

I should also mention that along with most verbal commands is an accompanying hand signal. With practice, a well-trained dog will pick up on both and respond to in the appropriate manner. You’ll notice your dog will recognise different situations and will often pre-empt your command. Sitting for a gate to be opened and standing to have a harness put on after seeing you grab it with the leash are two examples where a dog can read the play!

• Your Dogs Name

  The very first command or habit you want to instil into your dog is to pay attention to you by using his/her name. When you call his/her name, he/she should look straight into your eyes, waiting for further instructions.

  » Teaching the Name Command.

• Come

  The ‘Come command’ is the single most important basic dog command to teach dogs. Apart from retaining control over your dog if not on a lead, it could one day save his/her life. This can also be one of the hardest commands to learn for dogs that have a head strong nose for scents, such as Beagles and for those that are easily distracted or get over excited with the sight of other people or dogs.

  » Teaching the Come Command.

• Sit

  Using the ‘Sit command’ will get your pooch to rest back on their hind legs and be stationary. It’s a place of calmness that typically leads to another command.

  » Teaching the Sit Command.

• Down

  If you’d like your dog to be stationary, yet also be comfortable for extended periods of time, the ‘Down command’ is invaluable. It’s also good for when you’re approached by friendly people and smaller dogs than yours as a sign of being non-threatening.

  » Teaching the Down Command.

• Stay

  The ‘Stay command’ is another potentially lifesaving instruction, so extremely important to practice in as many distracting situations as possible. Having your dog stay put is normally learnt in the sitting position but can also be learnt after the ‘Down’ command.

  » Teaching the Stay Command.

• Stand

  Need your dog stationary on all fours? The ‘Stand’ verbal cue and hand signal is useful in all manner of situations including a visit to the vets, while being groomed or for when you’d like to pick up your pet.

  » Teaching the Stand Command.

2/ Walking Commands

Now you have the important basics taken care of, it’s time to stretch the legs. Even in a small backyard using a leash, these commands will make going for ‘walkies’ an enjoyable experience for the both of you.

• Heel

  ‘Loose leash walking’ is a must for any polite pooch. Practice to have your dog walking close by your side, not pulling or lagging behind will make ‘walkies’ fun for both you and your four-legged companion.

  » Teaching the Heel Command.

• Slow

  Great for puppies and some dogs prone to excitable bursts of speed, the command to slow is to request a slower, calmer pace if your dog is walking at a faster pace than you.
  The command is also useful, along with other techniques to stop dogs pulling on their leash.

  » Teaching the Slow Command.

• Wait

  Not to be confused with the ‘Stay command’, the ‘Wait command’ is used to halt the dogs intended action until being released with the use of ‘Come’. This instruction is essentially teaching your dog patience, waiting momentarily, not for extended periods of time.

  » Teaching the Wait Command.

• Okay

  After using ‘Wait’ comes the ‘Okay command’ which lets your dog know it’s Ok to proceed with his/her original intent and carry on after being put on pause.

  » Teaching the Okay Command.

3/ Retrieving Commands

The next set listed below are classed as ‘Advanced’ as opposed to those listed above, which cover the ‘Basics’ of dog obedience training. Some are useful when ‘playing with your dog’ and some are useful from a behavioural standpoint.

• Drop

  Naturally, after the ‘Fetch’ comes the command to ‘Drop’ where your pooch drops the ball or toy back at your feet, ready to go again. Well, that’s what training and practice is for right?

  » Teaching the Drop Command.

• Release

  Not to be confused with ‘Drop’, the ‘Release command’ is used to let your dog know to relax his/her mouth in a gentler way, releasing the object while your hand is on it too. The action is one of passing to you as opposed to dropping on the floor for you to pick up.

  » Teaching the Release Command.

• Fetch

  Playing with your dog, throwing a ball for him/her to retrieve for example is a favourite pastime of dog owners, but how often do you see the owner walking off to collect the ball? Teaching your dog to go after and bring back a thrown item will give your four-legged companion a bigger workout, clocking up more Km than you.

  » Teaching the Fetch Command.

4/ Jumping & Climbing Commands

The next two maybe more associated with agility competition but are useful out on a jog in the bush or transgressing rocky terrain.

• Jump

  To clear a fallen tree when out for a walk, sitting up on a park bench seat, or getting your dog into the car, the command ‘Jump’ can be quite useful.

  » Teaching the Jump Command.

• Climb

  Dogs are naturally good climbers, but if you’re wanting it achieved when you want, the ‘Climb Up’ and ‘Climb Down’ commands will have your furry friend scaling steps or ramps in front of him/her. It’s also useful for owners of larger dogs, helping you climb up a steep or slippery hill with ‘pooch power’.

  » Teaching the Climb Command.

5/ Barking Commands

With a high entertainment factor, they can also be practical commands for quieting your excited and very vocal dog.

• Speak

  Teaching your pooch to bark is a more difficult trick to learn, because in general you don’t want to get your dog excited to the extent, he/she barks continuously.

  » Teaching the Speak Command.

• Quiet

  The more commonly used command ‘Quiet’ is used to teach a vocal dog to be, yep you guessed it, to be quiet and stop barking.

  » Teaching the Quiet Command.

6/ Praise & Correction Commands

These vocal instructions are typically used to acknowledge or correct unwanted behaviour.

• Good Boy/Girl

  A reward for being good is the ‘Good Boy/Girl command’. This is often followed by a rub. The inflection in your voice should be read as you being happy.

  » Teaching the Good Command.

• No

  To let your dog know he/she is doing something you are unhappy with use the command ‘No’ with a stern disapproving inflection to your voice, but not aggressively so!

  » Teaching the No Command.

• Leave It

  A very useful way of letting your dog know sniffing some items left on the ground, should be left alone, or to let your dog know they shouldn’t pay attention to something. The command ‘Leave It’ needs to have a stern inflection in your voice as you say it.

  » Teaching the Leave It Command.

7/ Directional Commands

The next set of vocal instructions are used while walking your dog and can be practiced in a ‘drill’ like manner, walking in a square pattern, clockwise, then in an anticlockwise direction.

• Straight

  Keep your dog moving straight forward, often used after the command ‘Heel’ and to focus your dog’s attention if there are path options, or you’re taking a seldom used route. ‘Straight’ can also be used to keep your dog focused if there are distant distractions, left or right of you.

  » Teaching the Straight Command.

• Left

  Need to turn or veer to the left? The verbal command ‘Left’ will be used with a hand signal to teach your dog to turn left.

  » Teaching the Left Command.

• Right

  Need to turn or veer to the right? The verbal command ‘Right’ will be used in conjunction with a hand signal to teach your dog to turn to the right.

  » Teaching the Right Command.

• Turn Around

  Teach your dog to execute a 180° turn, or ‘U Turn is commanded with the verbal cue ‘Turn Around’.

  » Teaching the Turn Around Command.

8/ Miscellaneous Commands

The following have been added primarily to add some fun with a high ‘show off’ factor, great to entertain friends at parties, although some also do have a valuable practical purpose attached.

• Bed

  Learn how to teach your dog to go to their bed on command and to stay there until ‘released’ with another command.

  » Teaching the Go To Bed Command.

• Shake

  The command ‘Shake’ hands is a cute trick that you can teach and use after ‘Sit’ very easily. We’ve also included a ‘High Five’ variation too.

  » Teaching the Shake Command.

• Roll Over

  Teaching your dog to roll over is a dog trick that can be tough to teach some dogs because it’s sometimes difficult to physically guide your dog through the motion, especially if they down with one hip tucked underneath, not perfectly straight.

  » Teaching the Roll Over Command.

• Spin

  Teaching your dog to spin in a circle or do a figure-8 through your legs is actually one of the easiest tricks for dogs to learn.

  » Teaching the Spin Command.

• Crawl

  ‘Crawl’ combines “down” with “come” and should be relatively easy to teach to your dog with a little physical guidance. Remember that it’s pretty tiring for dogs to crawl around and should not be attempted by dogs with arthritis or hip dysplasia.

  » Teaching the Crawl Command.

• Eliminate

  I have left this one last because while useful, this command can be difficult and depends on how much food and water is in your dog, ready to come out. Timing plays a big part in what’s going to be possible.

  » Teaching the Eliminate Command.

Summary of Dog Training Commands

As you can see the list of commands used to train dogs to perform specific tasks is large. Don’t be daunted by this though and bare a thought for your dog if you as the human find it a lot to take in and learn because you speak the language and know what each of these commands mean, your furry friend does not!
This list is not what some will call complete either. While there are more categories of commands, such as those used for Police Dogs, I have not listed them because they’re used in a very specific set of circumstances, and to an audience outside the scope of this article.

If you have however come across a dog training command, not listed here, please feel free to let us know by adding your comment below.

I strongly recommend you join one of the local dog training clubs near you to get some skills under your belt, which you can then practice at home and when you’re both out for a walk. Remember every interaction and outing is a chance to practice your dog training commands so you can be confident and proud of your obedient fur baby out in public.

If your dog is older or perhaps showing some signs of fear, it would be worth engaging the services of a pet behaviourist, who is trained to work out what the underlying issue is that’s preventing your dog from responding to different situations the way you would like him/her to.

Bear

Hi, I’m Bear, the Training Manager at PetsBook. With over 20 years experience using positive reinforcement dog training techniques, I’m proud to have the opportunity to help you develop a stronger bond with your fur baby, by teaching you useful commands with obedience training.