10 Commands Your Dogs Need to Know
A well mannered dog is a reflection on his owner. Socialization is an important part of a dog’s education, along with learning commands that can help keep him safe. There are lots of great summer activities and adventures you can enjoy with your pet.
Whether you’re off to a free outdoor concert, heading to the beach or a family picnic at the park, there are certain commands you should teach your dog before going into any public place.
Knowing that your furry friend understands and follows specific commands makes every outing safe and fun for everyone.
1. “Come/Recall” Command
This command can be taught by putting a collar and a leash on your dog, in a specific a distance to the dog, and asking him to “Come” towards you – at the same time pulling the leash a little.
The moment the dog comes to you, you must give him a treat to make him aware the purpose of the exercise – as the dog associates right with the treat.
This exercise must be repeated several times, daily, also, and when you want to release the dog simply say “Okay” and show him your affection.
This is a very helpful exercise since it can protect the dog, if trying to get in trouble with other dogs and if he runs away in the streets or if chasing something or someone.
2. “Wait” Command
This command is taught by walking the dog towards the door and commanding him to “Sit” in front of the closed door. Then, pointing your fingers upwards, presenting the palm of your hand & commanding to “Wait”.
As he waits, you open the door gradually, and when the dog tents to move towards the door you close it – as a sign he needs to wait until he crosses the door.
Do this several times, daily, until he masters it – a time when you will open the door completely and the dog will not make a move without your command. When you want to let the dog free to walk, you just say “Okay”, “Yes” or “Brake” & reward the dog with a treat – as a sign you agree for him to walk anymore.
This command is very useful as it tells the dog not to run away, as he can run through public doors, hallways or stores’ entrances towards the road and put himself in danger.
3. “Stay” Command
This command is taught by asking the dog to “Sit” at first, putting him a treat close to the nose, and giving the command “Stay” & next making few steps away.
In case the dog stays and waits – offer him a treat, if he does not – then you say “No” & gradually move few more steps away the dog – in order for him to distinguish when he is carrying the exercise correctly and when he is not.
In order for the command to be properly learned by the dog, the exercise must be repeated several times daily. This command is very practical, as it keeps the dog self-controlled, something that is highly required – particularly in the hyper-energetic dogs.
4. “Drop It/Take It” Command
This command can be taught by keeping a toy or other object that is of a value for the dog – in one hand, provoking the dog to follow the thing struggling to grab it.
The moment the dog opens the mouth to catch the thing, you must give the command “Take it”– so the dog makes a conditional association of the right thing with a treat (reward).
As he is enjoying his game, playing with that object, offer him an object that is duplicate of that one, that the dog is playing with, then the dog – as the object is of the same value to him, will be provoked to drop the first object and grab the second identical object.
The moment he drops it, give the command “Drop it” and as he opens the mouth to grab the second object you give the command “Take it”.
This exercise needs to be repeated daily until the dog masters at it. This command is very important as it helps you to easily take away from the dog things that he harshly grabs.
5. “Watch Me” Command
To teach this command to your dog, you should keep the eye contact with the dog, while offering a great treat that you hold in your hand and moving the hand from the dogs nose upwards your face – so to be easy for the dog to watch you & when he watches at you give the command “Watch me”.
Repeat this exercise several times/daily until the dog is properly trained at this. Try to avoid using treat as a distraction when the dog learns the exercise, only use it as a reward.
This command is greatly needed to get the dog’s attention, and it is the bridge for teaching him other commands.
6. “Heel” Command
This command is taught by holding your dog’s leash in your right hand and pulling it on your left side while you are walking, and at a certain point commanding the dog to “Sit”. You also should hold the treat in your left hand & give the command “Heel” in a positive tone of voice.
Next, you should make few steps, keeping the treat (typically a food or toy) by your side.
At the moment you take a break, move the treat upwards and the dog will sit – then, you can praise him with a treat to show him he is carrying out the task well.
Through this command the dog will be told to walk right beside you, until you say differently & it is very useful one, as it teaches the dog to behave next to you – as the owner, when he is not leashed and your hands are busy.
7. “Leave It” Command
This command can be taught by keeping a treat in both of your hands. Putting one of the hands close to the dog’s face – in order for him to smell it and lick it – and give the command “Leave it”.
Initially the dog will lick and smell the treat and possibly bark to have it, but eventually he will lose the interest. That is the moment when you will offer the treat that you are hiding on the other closed hand.
Repeat the exercise it until the dog leaves the first treat as soon as he hears “Leave it” & when he comes for the second treat you give him and show some affection. This exercise must also be repeated daily until the dog properly understands it.
8. “No” Command
This command can be taught by putting a treat on the ground and keeping the dog leashed while walking towards the treat. The moment the dog gets provoked by the treat and makes efforts to grab it, you need to tell the dog your command “No” and pull the dog slightly through the leash against you.
As he comes approaches and watches you – give him a treat that you are holding in the off-leash hand and say “Yes”- and show him some affection.
Repeat the same command over and over again, daily, and the dog will master at it eventually.
This command is especially important as it keeps the dog away from an improper behavior that might end up doing at home, street, or elsewhere and it immediately brings him back to you.
9. “Down” Command
This is considered a challenging command, as it puts the dog in a passive position. The command can be taught by getting some good smelling treat in a closed hand, then moving that hand close to the dog’s nose & at the moment he smells it you move the hand to the floor and the dog will follow.
Next, you move the hand along the floor to provoke him to follow the food in a laid on position. The moment the dog is laid on, you give the command “Down” and give him the treat.
In order for the dog to learn the command, the exercise must be repeated several times/daily & in case the dog tries to grab the treat with force say “No”. Release or set the dog free with an “Okay” or “Brake.
10. “Place, Bed, or Crate” Command
This command can be taught by having your dog leashed, holding a leash in one hand and with a treat in the other hand. Guiding the dog with a leash & with the treat that you are holding in the other hand provokes the dog to move towards the place (that can be a bad, a crate, a carpet or a blanket) where you want the dog to stay, & at the moment the dog gets inside the place you must give the command “Place” & give him the treat.
Repeat this exercise a few times until the dog gets the command properly. To release the dog from the place, just grab it through the leash and say “Okay” or “Brake”.
This command is very beneficial as it tells the dog to stay in his own chosen place. Instead of term “Place” you might use the term such as “Your bed”, “Your crate”, “Your blanket” or else when you teach this command to your dog.
This command will help you to positioned your dog when you want for him to sleep, take a nap or when you have people or kids around & you do not want destruction from the dog.
Image Credit: Pixabay
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