Essential Dog Training Commands Every Dog Owner Should Know

While walking through my neighborhood the other day, I noticed my neighbor, Mrs. Thompson, struggling with her spirited Golden Retriever, Buddy. Buddy enthusiastically greeted every passerby, jumping up and pulling on his leash. And poor Mrs. Thompson was just there for the ride.

I approached her slowly with my 3 leashed dogs, trying not to overexcite the pup. As we settled in to walk beside them, my dogs helped a distractable Buddy find her rhythm.

As she did, we humans began to discuss how to train a dog basic commands and the many ways dog training commands have helped me manage 3 leashed dogs on our daily walks.

Why Basic Dog Training Commands Matter

Teaching my dogs basic commands has been an absolute game-changer. It enhances their safety and my peace of mind. It improves their behavior and strengthens our bond.

Dogs are social animals. They consider you a pack leader and want to do what's "socially" acceptable as a member of your pack. Training your K9s with commands communicates what this desired behavior is.

It takes the unpredictability out of their life, reducing their anxiety and the pet parent's, too!

To some, training a dog may sound restrictive. But let me tell you, it's freeing. A well-trained dog is manageable in every situation because basic commands like "sit", "come", and "down" apply universally to regain control. I can take my pups almost anywhere—no worries.

Let's look at some basic commands.

How to Train a Dog Basic Commands (Step-By-Step Guide)

Sit

1. Hold a treat close to your dog's nose.
2. Move your hand up, allowing their head to follow the treat, while gently pressing their bottom to lower.
3. Once in a sitting position, say "sit," and immediately give the treat followed by a show of shared affection.

And when you're ready, you can take "sit" to the next level. Just check out this video from my friend Amanda, where she demonstrates the "Sit Pretty" Command.

Stay

1. Start in the sit position (needless to say, you have to practice Sit first).
2. Open your palm in front of you and say "stay".
3. Take a few steps back.
4. When they stay after you've stepped back, praise them and give them a treat. OR If they come forward, return them to Sit position and try again.
5. Once they stay, gradually increase the distance using the same word and hand gesture. Reward with praise, since you're at a distance.
6. Increase the duration for them to stay. Reward them with praise.

Give them a more substantial reward like a dog bone or trachea chew after a successful session. This can generate positive memories around training, so they want to learn more.

Come

1. Put a leash on your dog and palm a treat.
2. Gently pull and say, "Come", encouraging your dog to move forward.
3. When they come toward you, give them a treat and show affection.
4. Practice in your home and progress to the yard, then on the street, in the dog park, at the lake.

Then, be ready with your treat bag for opportunities to test their skills. When a squirrel runs across the yard, say "come,".

Yes, you're spoiling the fun. But their safety is more important.

Whether faced with danger of a stray dog encounter or the distraction of children playing at the park, your dog will always come to you.

Down

1. Hold a treat in your closed hand, near your dog's nose.
2. Lower your hand to the ground, encouraging them to follow your hand.
3. Slide your hand across the ground in front of them, encouraging your dog to lie down.
4. Once they are down say "down", give them the treat, and show affection.

My friends over at K9 Connoisseur have a 7-day training program, valued at $149, that covers these commands and more - totally free. Get it here! 

Using Treats for Dog Training Commands

Treats are an essential part of training. They must smell irresistible to a dog but not be smelly or messy to you. Fortunately, dogs have a sense of smell that's 1000X better than mine. K9 Connoisseur's single-ingredient, grass-fed beef bones and treats are nutritious options that can serve as high-value rewards during training sessions. Remember to use treats in moderation to maintain a balanced diet.

Other Ways to Use Treats for Training Dogs

When training, you have two basic kinds of dog treats. The instant reward. And the more substantial chew. They serve very different purposes.

The instant reward treat is small. They can eat it in a gulp. And you may need many for one training session. It allows you to communicate with your dog in multiple ways that they did well. Your words, body language, affection, and treats together reinforce this fact.

As you progress with training, you won't have to give them a treat every time. Just intermittently reinforce behaviors with their favorite treat.

Be careful never to reward nervous or overexcited behavior. Get them to calm down first, using a command word like "sit". Then, give them the treat when they comply.

Small treats are also great for mental stimulation when you hide the treats and make them work for it. I love this video where Amanda teaches the "Find It" Command.

More substantial training treats include dog bones and cartilage-based treats like trachea chews. These are great for redirecting a dog's natural instinct to chew on things and to reward calm behavior.

Regular chew bone sessions mentally stimulate pups, helping alleviate boredom and dog anxiety. This can make dogs easier to train, as they'll stay focused on you.

Both types of treats can be used to train dogs to follow your hand, which allows you to direct pups into a car or along a ramp. I love this video where Amanda uses treats this way when she teaches a middle-aged dog to use a ramp to prepare them for ramps as they age. See how she does it! 

My Favorite Treats for Training Dogs

Best for Quick Rewards with Dog Training Commands: Beef Lung Bites Dog Training Treats

You'll notice that Amanda also uses these in her videos. That's because most dogs can't resist these single-ingredient organ meat treats. They're easy to break apart. And they don't smell, so I can carry them on the go to be ready for training opportunities with beef lung.

Best for More Managing Dog Mood and Behavior: Meaty Marrow-Filled Dog Bones

For a more substantial reward that also helps manage destructive behavior and reinforce our bond with our dogs, give them a meaty dog bone.

These come in single-ingredient healthy dog treats in multiple sizes, which is important because larger dogs may swallow a smaller bone. Plus, they stand up to aggressive chewing and last a really long time.

I also like to refill empty marrow bones with nutritious dog-approved people foods like yogurt or pumpkin for digestion and raw green beans or blueberries for extra fiber, C, and K. You can check out this free dog bone refill guide for more ideas.

How to Train a Dog with Basic Commands

Mrs. Thompson and I are now working with Buddy on basic commands. She's been a faster learner. And I can see the difference when I walk past them in the neighborhood. If you also have a dog that likes to tug on the leash during walks, you'll want to check out this video before you go. 

Available On: