Picture yourself carrying groceries through the front door. Your dog sees the door swing open and the street just beyond it. In that moment, the only thing keeping your dog inside is whether they listen when you say one word. That is why a handful of basic commands matter more than any trick your dog could learn.
Every dog, whether a new puppy or a rescue who just came home, benefits from the same core skills. These five commands give your dog a clear way to understand what you want, and they give you a calm way to handle everyday life together. Here is what each one does and how to start practicing it at home.
1. Sit
Sit is usually the first command a dog learns, and it becomes the one you use most. A dog who is sitting can’t jump on a guest, bolt out the door or grab a sandwich off the coffee table at the same time. Ask for a sit before you put the food bowl down, before you clip on the leash and before you open the back door.
To teach it, hold a treat just above your dog’s nose and move it slowly back over their head. As their head goes up, their rear will go down. The moment it touches the floor, say “yes” and then give the treat. Repeat this a few times in a row, and then start saying “sit” just before you move your hand.
2. Down
Down asks your dog to lie flat on the ground, and it helps them settle when things get busy. You will reach for it on a restaurant patio, in the vet’s waiting room and when friends come over for dinner and your dog wants to be part of everything.
Start with your dog in a sit. Hold a treat at their nose, lower it straight down to the floor between their paws, and then slide it slightly forward. When their elbows touch the ground, mark it with “yes” and reward. Some dogs need a few tries before they fold all the way down, so keep your sessions short and end on a success.
3. Stay
Stay teaches your dog to hold a position until you release them. Sit and down tell your dog what to do, and stay tells them how long to keep doing it. This is the skill that keeps your dog in place while you sign for a delivery, carry a hot pan across the kitchen or unload the car.
Ask for a sit or a down, say “stay,” take one step back, and then step back in and reward. Add time first, then distance, and then distractions. Always end the stay with a release word such as “okay” or “free,” so your dog learns that they are finished only when you say so. We cover this pairing in our post on 5 terms every dog owner should know.
4. Come
Come, also called recall, is the command that can keep your dog safe. If your dog slips out of their collar at the park or takes off after a lizard toward the street, a reliable recall brings them back to you before anything bad happens.
Practice indoors first, where very little competes with you for your dog’s attention. Say your dog’s name and “come” in a happy voice, and reward generously when they reach you. Never call your dog to you to scold them or to end something fun, because they will start to hesitate the next time you call. As they improve, move to the backyard and use a long leash so you can guide them in if they ignore you.
5. Heel
Heel means your dog walks at your side instead of pulling you down the sidewalk. If your shoulder aches after every walk or you dread passing other dogs in your neighborhood, this command will change your daily routine.
Pick one side and keep your dog there. Reward them often while they are next to your leg, especially in the first few steps of a walk. When they pull ahead, stop or turn and walk the other way, and reward them as soon as they return to your side. Short, frequent sessions work better than one long walk where your dog spends the whole time practicing pulling.
Practice a Little Every Day
These five commands stick best when you practice them in short sessions of five to ten minutes, a few times a day. Work them into normal life as well. Ask for a sit before meals, a down while the family eats dinner and a heel on the way to the mailbox. The more often your dog hears a command the same way, the faster it becomes a habit, and our post on why consistency and timing are everything in dog training explains why that matters so much.
If you would like help building these skills, our trainers can work with you and your dog one on one through private lessons, so you learn the same methods your dog is learning.
When you’re ready for a dog who listens at the front door, on walks and around guests, our team is ready to help you get there.