These 8 commands form the foundation of a safe, well-mannered dog. Each one has a specific practical purpose in daily life. Master these and you have a dog that is safe around children, enjoyable in public, and pleasant to live with at home. Take your time with each command before adding the next — reliability in easy conditions first, then slowly add distractions.
1. Sit — The Foundation
Sit is almost always the first command taught because dogs naturally offer it and it creates an incompatible behavior to jumping, bolting, and other unwanted behaviors. Method: Hold a treat at your dog's nose. Slowly move it backward over their head. As the nose goes up, the bottom goes down. The instant the bottom touches the floor, mark "yes!" and give the treat. After 5-10 reps, add the word "sit" right before the lure. Fade the lure by using the same hand motion without food, then reward from your other hand.
2. Down — Impulse Control Foundation
From a sit, hold a treat at the dog's nose and slowly bring it straight down to the floor between their front paws, then slide it away from them along the floor. As they follow the treat, their elbows drop. Mark and reward the moment both elbows hit the floor. Never push down on the dog — this creates resistance. If they keep getting up, try from a sit on a slightly elevated surface (step) so the lure goes down between their legs.
3. Stay — Duration and Distance
Ask for sit or down. Say "stay" once and show palm signal. Wait 2 seconds. Mark and reward without the dog moving. Build duration in 2-second increments before adding any distance. Common mistake: moving away before the dog understands what "stay" means at all. Build 10 seconds of stay at your side first. Then take one step away, return, reward. The 3 Ds — duration, distance, distraction — are added one at a time.
4. Come — The Life-Saving Command
Recall must be a reliable, joyful response. Rules: never call your dog to you for something unpleasant (nail trim, bath); always make coming to you the best thing in their world. Practice 10+ recalls per day using the happiest, most exciting voice you have. Crouch down, open arms wide, back away from the dog to trigger the chase instinct. Reward with the best treat you have and enthusiastic praise every single time. Never punish a dog who comes to you slowly — even if they took forever, they came. Reward it.
5. Leave It — Safety Command
Hold a treat in your closed fist at the dog's nose level. They will sniff, lick, paw — ignore all of this. The moment they stop trying and pull their nose back even 1 inch, mark and reward with a treat from your other hand (NOT the one they were investigating). Build to leaving food on the floor, then items on the floor, then outdoors. This command prevents your dog from eating dangerous things on walks.
6. Drop It — Get Things Back
Teach when your dog has a toy in their mouth. Show a high-value treat near their nose. As soon as they open their mouth to investigate the treat, the toy drops — mark "yes!" and give the treat, then give the toy back. This trade game teaches dogs that giving things up doesn't mean losing them permanently. A dog who reliably drops items will bring you things instead of running away.
7. Watch Me — Attention Foundation
Hold a treat at your eye level. The moment your dog makes eye contact with you (not staring at the treat), mark and reward. This trains your dog to check in with you and gives you the ability to redirect attention in distracting situations. Proof this command extensively in outdoor environments — a dog who will look at you near a squirrel is a dog you can redirect from many problem situations.
8. Off — Stop Jumping
"Off" means all four paws on the floor. When your dog jumps, turn away completely and ignore. The instant all four paws are down, turn back immediately, say "off" (or simply reward the four-paws position). Consistency is everything — every person must respond the same way every time.