Training your dog is one of the most rewarding things you can do as an owner. A fully trained dog is not only easier to live with but also safer, happier and a great companion. No matter what age your dog is, teaching them essential commands can make daily life smoother and strengthen your bond.

Commands such as sit, stay, and come lay the groundwork for basic obedience and control. Teaching a dog commands also opens communication, develops trust and ensures your dog understands what’s expected of them in different environments.

Let’s explore essential commands every dog should know and why they matter. Whether you’re a first-time dog owner or looking to brush up on your training routine, mastering these commands will help create a well-behaved and happy companion. 

Why Train Your Dog Commands? 

Dog training is essential to ensuring daily life is as smooth as possible. The top reasons commands are important are the following:

  • Ensures Safety: Commands can prevent accidents, keeping your dog from running into traffic or dangerous situations.
  • Promotes Good Behaviour at Home: Teaching sit and lie down helps prevent jumping, begging, and destructive habits.
  • Improves Social Skills: A well-trained dog is more pleasant around guests, other dogs, and in public spaces.
  • Provides Mental Stimulation: Learning commands keeps your dog’s mind engaged, preventing boredom and stops them doing bad behaviours.
  • Easier Outdoor Adventures: Reliable commands allow for safer off-leash activities at parks, trails, and beaches.
  • Eases Vet and Grooming Visits: Commands make medical check-ups and grooming appointments less stressful.
  • Strengthens Your Bond: Training builds trust and deepens the relationship between you and your dog.
  • Reduces Anxiety and Stress: Knowing what’s expected of them helps dogs feel more secure and confident in new or overwhelming situations.
  • Sets the Foundation for Advanced Training: Basic commands prepare your dog for learning fun tricks, agility training, or specialised tasks.

Top 5 Essential Command To Train Your Dog 

1. Sit

Teaching your dog to sit serves as a foundation for obedient behaviour, is an easy way to gain control and is easier to manage in day-to-day life. Whether you’re greeting guests, waiting at the vet, or preparing for a walk, the sit command helps your dog stay calm and focused. Instead of jumping on people or running around, your dog learns patience and good manners.

Teaching your dog to sit can also prevent dangerous situations. If your dog is excited and tries to run out the door or towards other dogs, a quick sit command can halt them. For dogs that get overly excited or anxious, sitting provides a structured way to calm them down. This is especially helpful in high-energy situations like meeting new people, being in busy environments, or during training sessions. Sitting helps them focus and reassures them that everything is under control.

Sit is often the first command dogs learn, and it sets the stage for more complex training. Once your dog masters sit, it becomes easier to teach them to stay, lie down, and other commands. It also reinforces their ability to listen and respond to you consistently.

2. Lay Down 

The lay-down command promotes calmness, improves obedience, and enhances overall safety at home and outside the home. Laying down is a naturally restful position for dogs. Teaching this command helps dogs settle down when they are overly excited, anxious, or energetic. It’s especially useful in situations where you need them to remain calm.

The lay-down command is also an essential building block for advanced obedience training. Many other commands, such as stay or roll over, often start from a lying position. It also reinforces discipline and responsiveness, making your dog more attentive to your commands.

When a dog is lying down, they are less likely to engage in behaviours like jumping, barking excessively, or pulling on the leash. This command is particularly useful for excitable dogs who need guidance in learning to remain still and patient.

3. Say Please 

Teaching your dog to say please is where your dog performs an action such as giving a paw before getting something they want, like food, treats, or attention. It teaches patience, impulse control, and strengthens your bond with your dog. A dog that understands how to say please behaves more politely in everyday situations. Instead of barking, jumping, or pawing at you to get what they want, they learn that calm, respectful behaviour earns rewards. This creates a more enjoyable and well-mannered companion.

By reinforcing the say please concept, dogs learn that waiting patiently leads to good things, preventing pushy behaviour and improves impulse control. They also start to understand that their actions have consequences. 

4. Come 

Whether you’re at home, in a park, or near a busy street, having a reliable recall ensures that your dog stays safe and under control in any situation. A strong recall (including emergency recall) can prevent accidents and save your dog’s life. If your dog ever escapes from the house or garden, is off-leash, or runs toward traffic, the come command can quickly bring them back to safety. This is especially important in areas where distractions like other dogs, people, or animals could tempt them to run off.

Teaching your dog to come when called also helps prevent them from engaging in undesirable behaviours, such as chasing animals, digging in the yard, or running up to strangers. Instead of struggling to catch them, you can simply call them back and redirect their attention. 

A well-trained dog that responds to come learns to trust and respect their owner. They associate returning to you with positive experiences, making training a rewarding process. Using treats, praise, and playtime as rewards reinforces their willingness to obey.

5. Leave It 

Training your dog to understand the leave it command helps prevent your dog from picking up dangerous objects, reduces unwanted behaviours and strengthens impulse control. Teaching leave it can also prevent dogs from eating toxic foods, medications or harmful objects like sharp bones or choking hazards. This command can be lifesaving in these situations. 

It can also stop behaviours such as chewing on furniture, stealing food, or picking up things they shouldn’t have. Instead of constantly taking things away from your dog, you can train them to ignore or move away from off-limits items. It also teaches respect for people’s personal belongings.

It can also be used when told to leave another animal, preventing potential fights or conflicts. This is useful when encountering aggressive dogs or other small animals.

Dog Training With A&T Trained Dogs 

Here at A&T Trained Dogs, we specialise in personalised dog training to help you achieve your goals. No matter what age or stage your pup is at, our expert trainers have experience tackling any behavioural challenges. Simple obedience is key to helping improve daily life in your home, so start your journey with the help of our team! For more information, please contact us online or call us on 01524 587315.