Are you looking forward to your first training session with your dog? If so, you might be wondering what voice commands you should use. It must be a coincidence because today we’re going to talk about the 10 most commonly used voice commands used for training a dog.
Dog commands are words (or gestures), which you teach your pooch to associate with certain behaviors – sitting, jumping, or fetching. Professional trainers usually use the same set of voice commands when training dogs, but some owners prefer to choose their own words.
That’s fine. Just remember that the commands should not be complicated or difficult to remember. Your dog is capable of understanding a lot of what you’re saying, but long words are going to be a challenge for him. Keep it simple and short. Furthermore, once you start training sessions, you shouldn’t change the voice command, or you’ll confuse your pet.
So, let’s see which the ten most commonly used voice commands are.
Most Common Voice Commands Used in Dog Training
#1 Sit
“Sit” is the first voice command, which owners teach their canines. Most dogs get it fairly quickly, and “Sit” can be useful in many different situations when you need your pooch to stay in one place and not dash through the door. Moreover, if you want to teach your dog some tricks like high-five or wave goodbye, he should know how to sit first.
#2 Down
You can use “Down” to make your dog lie on the ground. It’s a very useful voice command if you plan on taking Max with you in a coffee shop or a restaurant and keeping him calm around unfamiliar people. What’s more, “Down” is helpful when you’re having dinner guests, and you want your pooch to behave appropriately.
Most owners teach “Down” from a sitting position, so make sure that your pooch has mastered “Sit.”
#3 Come
One of the most important voice command for any dog owner is “Come.” You should be able to recall your dog if he wonders off/ runs away or Max might get injured or hurt. That’s a challenging command for most dogs because it goes against their nature in some cases. But with extensive training, your dog should drop everything and come back to you.
#4 Stay
“Stay” comes in handy when you want to keep your dog in a certain position for the time being. For example, sitting or standing. This commonly used voice command is also helpful for door-dashers. However, it that might take a while to learn, because dogs are naturally full of energy. You also should pick a release word to signal your dog that it’s alright to move.
#5 Stand
As a voice command, “Stand” might seem useless, but that’s far from the truth. You can use “Stand” when you want to remove your dog from the bed/couch, wipe its muddy paw, or clip his nails. “Stand” will also prove its worth during a vet exam, when your dog has to up on his four legs.
# 6 Heel
If you want your dog to stay close to your left side while walking on a loose leash, you use “Heel.” Keep in mind that it’s an advanced voice command, but it’s excellent for keeping your dog close to you and prevent leash pulling. “Heel” also can be used if you want your dog to come and sit by your side.
# 7 Fetch
When you want your dog to bring you back a toy or an object you say “Fetch.” You might think that “Fetch” comes naturally to all dogs, but that’s not true. Some dogs might chase after the toy, while others might just stare at you in surprise.
You can also pair “Fetch” with “Take it” and teach your pooch to take objects/treats from your hand.
# 8 Leave it
Another commonly used voice command is “Leave it,” and there is a good reason for this. Dogs are curious creatures, and their curiosity might get them in trouble if they want to investigate broken pieces of glass, for example. “Leave it” might also come in handy when you notice your pooch eyeing your new pair of shows.
# 9 Drop it
“Drop it” is also an important voice command, which you must teach your dog. It might save his life one day if he is about to eat something poisonous or dangerous. It will also allow you to play tug-of-war safely and make it easy to retrieve toys.
# 10 Find it
“Find it” can be used when you want your dog to track something/someone by scent. Of course, you might not be training Max to be a mountain-rescue dog, but “Find it” is a mind-stimulating exercise and dogs love it. You’ll also benefit from it if you tend to lose your car keys often.
Training a dog is a big responsibility because you’re shaping his character and teaching him what’s right and what’s wrong. But dog training should also be fun both for you and your dog and not something you do just because you have to. Keep your training sessions short and don’t get frustrated if your dog is a slow learner.
What do you think about these 10 most commonly used voiced commands? Does your dog know them? Share your story in our comment sections.
