The best and easiest way we can communicate with our dogs clearly is by establishing commands. Sometimes these commands are for the dog’s safety, to let him know what we want or don’t want, and other times we do it for some props (who doesn’t like a dog who shakes on command?). 

What are the most essential dog training commands every pet parent must teach? Here are our top 12 to get you started! 

1. Sit

“Sit” is perhaps the first command we teach our dogs. It certainly is a primary keyword at puppy training classes and is deemed as an essential cue by the AKC. Teaching a dog to sit is a great neutral position before getting him to do other things such as wait. 

2. Come

Come is considered a safety word and the most important one to get your dog to come to you. This command is also one of the 5 essentials recommended by Cesar Milan. This is your lifeline for when your dog gets out of hand, goes where he isn’t supposed to, or if he gets into something dangerous. 

3. Down

“Down” is a crucial cue for when you want your dog to settle down and listen, or to just stay near you. The down position is also an essential move that will lead into other commands you can teach later, like roll over or belly. 

4. No!

Ah, the irreplaceable “no”. This is the keyword to utter when your dog is doing something you do not like and that is bad for him. The actions could range from chewing on something he shouldn’t to ingesting random things he picks up on walks, the quintessential “no” is the key to letting him know that whatever he is doing isn’t right and to stop it right away. 

5. Stay

After your dog has established a strong understanding of a neutral position such as sitting, you can then teach him to stay. Stay is a cue that should be taught early on, and it’s one that can keep your dog safe from oncoming dangers such as traffic. 

6. Wait

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Patience isn’t something a lot of dogs are born with, so they have to be taught. “Stay” and “wait” go hand-in-hand, it’s just that “wait” will signal a longer period in a neutral position.

7. Drop It

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Stop your dog from eating something he shouldn’t and before he gets into mischief by teaching “drop it”. This command is to tell your dog to stop and drop whatever he has in his mouth. 

8. Leave It

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“Leave it” should be taught directly after “drop it”. Your dog can easily drop what’s in his mouth and then pick it right up again, so “leave it’ will tell him to leave it alone and not to touch it anymore. 

9. Take It

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Then there is the opposite of number 7 and 8, which is “take it”. This command is used when you want your dog to take something from you, such as his favorite treat as a reward for learning all the commands on our list. 

10. Quiet

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Incessant dog barking can get pretty annoying, but you can try to solve it with the “quiet” command. This command is very useful when you have a vocal dog when it’s mealtime and you’re trying to feed your pooch the cheapest high-quality dog food and you need some peace and quiet. 

11. Bed/Crate

The “bed” or “crate” commands are imperative for dogs with separation anxiety or who are undergoing crate training. These keywords should tell your dog to go into his crate or onto his bed to settle down and unwind. The stipulation is that you need to make sure the bed or crate is a place where your dog feels safe. 

12. Shake/Paw

It’s all been serious up until now, and we thought we would include a fun command as well. You can also teach your dog other tricks to show off to friends and family - just remember to reward them after every successful attempt!

“Shake” is teaching your dog to give you his paw or to place it in your hand. This is an easy action that can lead to more complex tricks such as high five. Other fun commands you can try are:

• Roll over

• Stand up

• Flip

• Belly

• Kiss

Final Thoughts

Teaching your dog to be well-behaved and polite will require a lot of patience and time, and it’s better to start from a young age. You can enroll your dog in dog classes, which will involve a lot of the commands we mentioned, so why not get a jump start on it?