Basic Obedience Foundations
Sit, stay, come, down, heel — the five commands every dog needs to know and how to teach them without frustration.
“A dog that knows 'sit' is a good boy. A dog that knows 'stay' is a good boy who doesn't steal your sandwich.”
What you'll learn
Start with 'sit' — lure with a treat over the nose, say 'sit' as the butt hits the floor, mark with 'yes' and reward. 5-minute sessions, 3x/day. Dogs learn in short bursts, not hour-long marathons.
'Stay' is a duration behavior. Start with 3 seconds, gradually increase. Add distance before adding duration — never both at once. Release word ('free'/'okay') is critical; don't let them break early.
Recall ('come') is the most important safety command. Never call your dog for something negative (bath, nail trim). Always reward with high-value treats. Use a long line (30ft) for practice.
Loose leash walking: stop when the leash tightens, reward when it loosens. Don't let pulling work — if it does, it'll keep happening. Use a front-clip harness for dogs that pull hard.