What are the 7 most important dog commands?

For pet owners, here is my recommended list of words you should teach your dog: Come, Sit, Down, Heel, Out, and Quiet. You will be able to successfully live with your dog and manage most situations that pop up with those six skills. For the average pet, that is all you need. There is one last thing, thus the need for seven words. You need a word that lets your dog know when he’s all done. Free, All Done, At Ease, Break, That’ll Do…pick what you like. Definition of the six critical dog training skills: Come: Dog returns to you and remains in close enough proximity that you can reach down and touch them. Sit: Dog plants butt on the ground and doesn’t get up until you tell them otherwise. Down: Dog puts belly to the ground and doesn’t get up until you tell them otherwise. Heel: Dog remains at your side. Out: Dog releases what is in his/her mouth. Quiet: Dog stops vocalizing.

Dogs are fast learners, and with your loving guidance, training your dog how to ‘come’, ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and even go to the toilet will nurture your relationship as well as encourage good behaviour. Young puppies make eager pupils, so you can start training your dog as soon as you get them home. It’s a myth that pups need to be at least six months old before they can be properly trained – the younger they are, the easier it is to teach them. Think of them as little furry sponges, waiting to soak up all the learning you can give them. Teaching and training your dog basic commands and cues is a fun and rewarding experience for both of you. Well-trained dogs are less likely to stray, and generally have more comfortable and fulfilling lives compared to their untrained counterparts.

Here are the commands I like to see a dog learn first: Stop, Here, Down, Sit, Heel, Stay, Leave it. A “stop” command ensures that your dog stops whatever they’re doing whether on or off their leash. Here (the recall command) is extremely important, especially when your dog is off-leash. Sit is one of the easiest commands you can teach your dog, and it’s also one of the most important. Down helps your dog relax and stay calm, and prepares them to learn other commands that come from this position. Teaching your dog to stay at your side with the Heel command prepares them for walking on a leash next to you instead of in front of or behind you. Stay is a great command because like sit, stop, and here, this command ensures your dog stays put and is calm and focused. The leave it command tells them to ignore whatever they’re interested in and move along.

McMillan always teaches Sit first because it’s the most natural concept for most dogs. It's therefore also one of the easiest for them to learn, so even pets who are new to training can get the hang of it within a few sessions. A dog who knows how to stay won’t run into the street if she gets loose, so this is one of the most important skills for any dog to learn. If you plan to take your dog anywhere off-leash, she must know how to come when called. Dogs of all sizes should learn to heel, or walk calmly by your side, especially if you exercise your pup in busy urban areas where there's not much room on the sidewalk. Jumping on visitors or furniture is one of the most common dog issues, so if your pooch can't keep four paws on the floor, don't despair. McMillan sticks to No, period, to keep things simple. McMillan compares his favorite dog training technique, Down, to taking the keys out of a car’s ignition.