Common Dog Commands

There are, after all, many reasons for house owners to need a calm, obedient and trustworthy dog.  For one, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs.  One more reason is that a lot of communities require that the dogs living in their neighborhoods be well trained.  This can be especially true for many breeds thought to possess aggression and behavior problems - dog breeds like pit bulls and rottweilers for instance. It is for these reasons your pet should be well trained in some common dog commands.

And in fact, coaching your dog well will also make him or her a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children.  Several studies have shown that correct dog training makes a huge impact when it comes to lowering the number of dog bites and different behavior issues encountered by people who own dogs.

When considering coaching your own dog, or having someone else train it for you, there are certain basic commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained.  These common dog commands are:

• Heel - it's necessary that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, and do so without pulling away or falling behind.

• Respond to the word No - the word no is the one word that all dogs absolutely must learn.  Coaching your dog to reply to this vital command will prevent a ton of trouble.

• Sit - Coaching your dog to sit when told is a important part of any dog training program.

• Stay - A well trained dog should stay where their owner commands, so stay is a very necessary command in dog training.

• Down - Lying down on command is more than simply a cute trick; it is a key component of any successful dog training program.

• Off - Forms the basis for later training, especially when teaching the dog not to chase individuals, cars, bikes, cats, etc.

Dog training does much a lot of than simply produce an obedient, willing companion.  Coaching your dog properly really strengthens the bond that already exists between your dog and you.  Dogs are pack animals, and trust their pack leader to inform them what to do.  The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.
 
Establishing yourself as pack leader is a terribly vital concept for any potential dog trainer to understand.  There's only one leader in each pack of dogs, and therefore the owner should establish him or herself as the dominant animal, the alpha male or female.  Failure to do this leads to all types of behavior problems.

A properly trained dog can respond properly to all or any of the owner’s commands, and will not show anxiety, displeasure or confusion.  A smart dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn exactly what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward successful and desired behaviors.

In addition to making the dog a good member of the community, a good citizen in other words, obedience training is a great way to meet some of the dog’s own desires, including the need for exercise, the safety that comes with knowing what's expected of it, a sense of accomplishment and a good relationship with its owner.  Dog training offers the dog a necessary job to do, and an important goal to reach.

Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think.  Dogs were originally bred by humans to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Dogs without jobs to do can get bored, which will lead to neurotic behavior.

Basic obedience training, and ongoing coaching sessions, gives the dog a job to do.  This is especially vital for high energy breeds like German shepherds and border collies.  Coaching sessions are a great way for these high energy dogs to use their abundance of energy and to enjoy themselves in the process.

Incorporating playtime into your dog training sessions is a great way to keep both yourself and your dog from becoming bored.  Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the important bond between you - the pack leader - and your pet. Training should be fun for both of you. And teaching and learning these common dog commands is fun, important, and a true bonding experience.

But you want to make sure you dog your training correctly, and for that we highly recommend one of two sources.

Dog trainer Daniel Stevens has put together the best dog training guide you can get. It's called SitStayFetch and you can find out more by clicking here.

If you prefer to learn dog training by watching video, then be sure to check out Dove Cresswell's Dog Training Online. You can even watch a free sample video. It's available here.

No matter which one you get, you and your dog will be better for it.