5 ESSENTIAL COMMANDS EVERY DOG SHOULD KNOW

from Las Vegas Pet Scene Magazine, March/April 2023

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The “Sit” command is often the first obedience command people teach their dog. While it may seem pretty basic, it plays an important role in managing many unwanted behaviors. The act of sitting intrinsically brings on a momentary sense of calmness to your dog. They are less prone to quick movements while sitting and are much less likely to jump on visitors or other dogs. Having them sit while you greet someone at the door or while waiting to cross a street will help keep them calm and more controllable. It also cues them that they have been given a command and will help keep them focused on you for further instructions.

The "Come or Here" command is important when you need your dog to come back to you quickly. It is probably the most critical command for your dog to obey to keep them safe. (You should decide which specific word you want to use for this request so your dog will not be confused.) If your dog is off-leash for any reason, you will need to depend on this command to keep your dog away from dangerous situations. You may need to call your dog away from an aggressive dog at the dog park or keep them from chasing smaller animals (like cats, squirrels, or birds) into traffic. The “Come” command will help you control your dog and avoid any situation you determine is potentially dangerous.

Training your dog to obey specific commands can sometimes be a difficult task. Although it can be a little frustrating at times, it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences a pet parent can have. A solid training foundation will strengthen the bond you have with your dog and will help in the overall socialization of your pup. While there are many commands you may eventually teach your dog, there are 5 basic obedience commands every dog should know. 1 "SIT" 2 "COME"

The “Stay” command is useful in a variety of situations. Unfortunately, it is sometimes one of the most difficult commands to teach your dog. Dogs do not like to sit still for very long, so teaching them to stay in one place can definitely test their patience. During the training for this command, it is usually successful by rewarding them for ANY amount of time they remain in the “Stay” position. Even if they only stay for a few seconds, reward them with a treat and lots of verbal praise. Gradually extending the amount of time they will stay (followed by rewards) will help you successfully accomplish them learning the stay command. You will find this command to be extremely useful in your everyday life with your pup. It can keep them from bolting out of an open door, darting out into traffic, or accidently jumping on an invited guest. It will help keep them controlled in a variety of social settings, as well as potentially dangerous ones.

3 "STAY"

The “Drop It/Leave It” command may not seem all that important, but it actually is! Curious dogs LOVE to pick up all kinds of interesting things they find. Candy wrappers, banana peels, mysterious dog poop, and all kinds of other unidentifiable items are definitely on their list of treasures to bring home! Unfortunately, many of these “treasures” can be dangerous to your dog’s health. Items found along your walking route may have been sprayed with poisonous weed killer or insecticides that could potentially harm your dog. The “drop it” command will be extremely useful when you see them with anything you don’t want them to have, including one of your brand-new shoes they found in the bedroom!

"DROP IT" 5 "LOOK"

The "Look/Watch Me" command is probably the most helpful tool you may teach your dog in conjunction with the other words you are teaching him. Essentially, you are telling your dog that you need his attention right now. You need him to focus on you for further instructions. This command will alert your dog to give you one hundred percent of his attention and ignore any other distractions. It is an important precursor for him to await further commands.

When training your dog to obey any of these commands, it is important to pair treat rewards with verbal rewards. You may not always have treats with you, but you can always exuberantly reward your pup with kind words. Sometimes the pleasure expressed with your appreciative words are all that they need.