When you are a first-time dog owner, you want to know where to begin and what commands are most important. There are a lot of dog commands that you can teach. I don’t want to overwhelm you so let’s start with the 7 basic dog commands that your dog needs to learn first.
These will be the foundation that you can build on other commands to:
- Name recognition
- Look at me
- Come
- Wait/ Stay
- Leave it
- Sit
- Down/ Off
These might save your dog’s life later on!
Your dog doesn’t understand our world as we do. The basic dog commands will keep you and your dog safer and everyone else around you. Our commands and body language are really important. We need to study the language of our dogs as well because dogs communicate with us using their body language.
Your dog will learn a new language with you and you will learn the language of your dog.
But let’s start with these basic commands.
With repetition, you and your dog will master all of them!
Always practice in an area that has no attractions. If there are attractions around you, you will set up your dog to fail and I know you don’t want that.
The first command you should teach your dog
Having a connection with your dog is the first one to focus on. Bonding with your dog can be done by playing with your dog and getting to really know your dog. Every dog has their own likes and dislikes.
Usually, Sit -command is one of the first ones that a new dog owner is advised to teach to their dog. I would advise you to focus on the commands that could actually save your dog’s life. When you have those under your belt, you can start to teach everything else.
I advise you to start with a Look at me and Stay/Wait -commands.
In my opinion the Wait -command is more important to learn than the Sit -command. When your dog waits, it’s not important if your dog does it standing or sitting down. As long as they don’t move when in command.
Let’s go over those most important ones together and how to teach them to your dog.
The order you should teach your dog basic commands
Your dog might have learned the name you call your dog already. If this is not the case or you are getting a rescue dog and want to change the name, that’s perfectly fine. The age of your dog doesn’t matter if you are thinking about changing the name.
Look at me -command is really important in the beginning after the name recognition.
It has to do with connecting with your dog and that’s the base of dog training. When your dog has learned those two, you can move to the next, which is Come -command.
Stay/Wait -command is the next that I would recommend. It’s fairly easy and will help you and your dog to master the next commands. It doesn’t matter at this point if your dog stands or sits when in Stay/Wait – command. We can work on that later.
One really important thing that new dog owners forget is to release their dog from the command. This is as important as the command itself. Dog can’t decide when the command ends. Every command where your dog needs to stay in place (sit, stay, wait etc.), you need to release your dog from that command.
If you think of a situation where you are waiting to cross the road. You will put your dog into Wait – command. Your dog can’t decide when it’s a good time to move again. You need to release your dog from the command. You can use what is natural to you, like “Okay, let’s go!”
You need to remember to release your dog from the command every single time.
Leave it -command is important and can save your dog’s life. Dogs might eat everything that comes in their way. Let’s look at how you can teach this to your dog a little later.
Down/ Off -command is used when your dog jumps on you and/or other people. Dogs do this because they have gotten affection when they have jumped on people. It’s important to teach your dog early on that nothing happens when they jump.
Sit -command is one of the first things that new dog owners teach to their dogs. This command can actually wait a little longer. It’s a good command to learn but not the most important one.
You can start using double commands as soon as you can.
You can use a double command like “Name, come..!” or “Name, leave it..!” It’s confusing for your dog if you just use your dog’s name. That’s like someone is calling you by name, you don’t have any idea why and no one tells you why.
1# Name recognition
This is something that new dog owners usually already do with their new doggo. They give their dog a name and it’s cute when they start to recognize it.
When your dog starts to recognize the name and comes when called, remember a few things: only call your dog when good things are happening, don’t ever punish your dog when it comes to you.
Coming to you has to be the best thing your dog knows, always.
You can teach a new name to a dog if you have a rescue dog with this method. You can also use this if you think your dog doesn’t really have the hang of this yet.
How to do this:
- When your dog is not looking at you, say your dog’s name in a very happy tone.
- When your dog turns to look at you, say “yes” or “good,” and then immediately give your dog a treat.
- If your dog isn’t listening, move to a more quiet place with fewer attractions and try again with a smaller distance.
2# Look at me
It’s important to connect with your dog before going forward with teaching any commands. This is done by teaching your dog to look at you when you need to. Dog training is based on the connection between you and your dog.
Your dog needs to know that all the commands come from you.
How to do this:
- Hold a treat in your hand and let your dog sniff it. If your dog is distracted, move the treat a little closer to your dog’s nose so the smell is stronger.
- Move your treat-hand in front of your face, close to your eyes and nose. This is to teach your dog to look at your eyes.
- Say “Name, look at me” and give your dog the treat when your dog looks at you.
3# Come
This is one of those commands that can actually save your dog’s life. This usually comes almost naturally when you call your dog. Just add the command to this action and practice with a leash. Make this a game for your dog.
How to do this:
- Try this first in your home with fewer distractions.
- Show your dog a toy or a treat, praise them as they are coming to you.
- Reward them when they come to you and use the Come -command. Make sure to reward your dog with a high-value treat like a little piece of chicken or cheese.
- If your dog is not engaging with you, you can use a leash and gently guide your dog to come.
4# Stay / Wait
You will use this often with your dog and this is a lifesaver! You can start using this in your home when you need your dog to stay in one place for a while.
Good training situations are when the doorbell rings and you invite people in, when you eat dinner or you are cleaning your home.
How to do this:
- Start by standing in front of your dog, give the command, hold on for a few seconds and then give a lot of praise/favorite toy/ treat.
- When your dog can stay for a few seconds, train your dog to wait a few seconds more before giving the reward.
- Keep going until your dog is comfortable waiting several minutes. If your dog can’t wait as long as you wanted, you went too fast so take a few steps back.
5# Leave it
This is one of the lifesavers as well! Your dog might want to eat everything that will drop in front of them like medication or something from the dinner table.
With this command, you can protect your dog from getting seriously ill.
Ideally, your dog should always look at you for permission to take something from the floor. This is why that “Look at me” -command and connection with your dog comes really handy. You don’t have eyes on your back so you can’t possibly notice everything. Your dog needs to learn not to take anything from the floor without your permission.
How to do this:
- Place a treat in your fist and let your dog smell it in there.
- As soon your dog stops trying to get the treat, give praise, open your fist and say “Go ahead”. Your dog will learn that not doing anything is the road to get the treat.
- Now place the treat on the floor with your hand over it. Have another (better) treat ready for your dog as the final treat.
- When your dog is ignoring the treat under your hand, try to remove your hand. Be ready to put your hand over it quickly again if necessary.
- When your dog leaves the treat on the floor alone, pick it up, give a lot of praise and give the ultimate better treat to your dog.
6# Down / Off
Your dog should only get affection when all four paws are on the floor.
Usually, this is a hard one because you need to educate everyone around you and new people that are in contact with your dog. They might not mind your dog jumping on them but you can’t slack with this one. Stay strong!
When your dog grows bigger and has used to jumping, it can take longer to teach your dog out of learned behavior.
This command is a little different because you need to wait for unwanted behavior. It’s good to have treats around your home close to the places where you don’t want your dog to be like the couch or putting the paws up on the kitchen table.
How to do this:
- When you see your dog doing something you don’t approve of, use “Off” with a stern voice so the dog knows you mean business, but don’t yell.
- React quickly so your dog can connect your command with its action.
- As soon as your dog’s four paws are on the floor, give a treat or a lot of praise.
7# Sit
Finally one of the easiest ones again. This is a really basic command and can be taught to a puppy that’s only a few months old. If your dog has already learned the “Leave it” -command, this one is going to be a breeze.
How to do this:
- Put a treat into your hand and let your dog smell it.
- Your dog will most likely try to do anything to get it.
- When your dog’s butt touches the floor, give your dog the treat. This might take a while but just sit and wait. I don’t recommend helping your dog in any way at this early stage.