Commands

Dog obedience training, in the right order

Which commands to teach first, which build on which, and how to know when to move on.

By Pawfessor Editorial TeamPublished 1 min read

A dog practicing obedience commands with its owner

“Obedience” sounds old fashioned, but the skills are what make life with a dog easy: coming when called, waiting at the door, walking calmly, leaving the chicken bone on the sidewalk. Here’s a sensible order, the one the Pawfessor app follows.

Part 1: the foundation

  1. Marker word: the “yes!” that makes everything faster.
  2. Name recognition: attention on cue.
  3. Sit: the dog’s “please”.
  4. Down: the start of settling.
  5. Stay: patience, built a second at a time.
  6. Touch: a hand target to move your dog anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 7 basic dog commands?

A common list is sit, down, stay, come, leave it, off and heel. We add a marker word and name recognition first, because they make the rest easier.

How many commands should I teach at once?

One or two new skills at a time, while practicing the ones your dog already knows.

Pawfessor programs for this

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