As a dog owner and handler I have to accept that I do not have control over other people, their pets, wild animals, and even the environment around me. However it is my responsibility to control my own dog and myself, the only two things I have full control over. The best way to assure control over a dog is through training. Lots… and LOTS of training. The goal of this thread is to compile a large variety of specific commands and behaviors that will help us to maintain control over our animals, protect them from those around them, and protect others from our dogs.
Are all of these commands necessary? No. Yet from my experience it is safer to have a larger pool of commands with which to communicate effectively with my dog(s). I’ve yet to meet a highly trained and socialized dog that turned out to be a PITA.
Please take from this what you like.
Recall: Come when called.
Climb: Climb and stay on object indicated. Benches, logs, stumps, boulders, and anything else elevated above the ground. This is a much more relaxed version of “stay” as they do not have to hold any formal position. It is also easier to enforce than the Place command listed below.
Place: To go to an indicated location and remain there, some trainers also include an automatic down in this command. Crate, tent, and mat are some forms of Place.
Sit/Stay: To sit and remain seated until released or given another command that would force the dog to break.
Down/Stay: To down and remain fully down until released or given another command that would force the dog to break.
Stand/Stay: To stand, on all four legs, and remain standing until released or given another command that would force the dog to break.
Release: Clear word or noise that tells the dog they are allowed to move from their stay, climb, place, and heel.
Potty: To potty on command.
Retrieve: Go to indicated item, pick it up, bring it to trainer, and keep holding it until told to drop it.
Orientation Specific: Heel – sit directly to my left side in heeling position, Front – sit directly in front of me and facing me, Board – sit directly to my right side, Behind – sit directly behind me and facing me, and Park – sit between my legs facing the same direction I am.
Forward: To walk straight out in front of me, even if tension is placed on the leash.
Back: To walk backwards, even if tension is placed on the leash.
Heel: To remain in heeling position, directly to my left, and at attention whether I’m standing still or moving.
Send Out: To run out in the direction indicated.
Obstacle Management: Around – “Around Left” and “Around Right”, Over - to go over the obstacle, Under – to go under the obstacle, Burst – to go through the obstacle.
Drop It: To immediately drop the item in your mouth.
Leave It: To leave/ignore the object of your interest.
Guard: Another version of “stay”, though specific to an object or person that must remain where it is, like a backpack.
Direction Specific: Verbal indications of direction like “Gee”, “Haw”, “Left”, or “Right”.
Shake: To shake off any water, mud, or dirt.
911: Specific to the trainer, the dog, and the situation. Either barking on command to alert nearby individuals like a whistle would or sending the dog off to retrieve help.
Quiet: To stop barking or whining.
Verbal Correction: Stop what you’re doing and/or don’t even think about it, basically. “No”, “Eh Eh”, and “Phooey” are commonly used.
The list above includes many Commanded Exercises. Yet there are also many behaviors that we train into our dogs that we want to become Automatic Exercises, meaning the dog will perform them without being told to do so. Examples include:
- When I sit at a table, desk, or tree stump he must do everything in his power to get under it if possible and remain close to my legs in a down position. This is to prevent him from being stepped on by others, tripped over, and so he isn’t off doing whatever he likes.
- When he is working, meaning not sleeping or playing, he must always be paying attention to me. Eye contact is constantly rewarded throughout his life to encourage this. Even now as I type this my dog is at my feet staring up at me.
- NEVER eating anything off the ground. Period. NEVER eating from a plate or bowl unless I specifically release him towards one, like his dog bowl. NEVER taking food from strangers, only myself. This is vitally important. My dog shall not beg, ever, and will avoid eating random things that I have no control over. Case in point… recently we’ve had dogs being poisoned at a nearby park by someone that left poisoned treats on the ground. Yes, some people hate dogs and life that much. Like I said before we can’t always control the environment but we CAN and should control our dogs.
I could continue with automatic exercises but I think you have the idea.
Let us not forget the importance of Socialization and Habituation too. You may have a high flying, superbly obedient, circus dog at home… but if you take your dog out (and I really hope you do) you must be able to have the same level of obedience when you’re out and about. This means socializing them to as many types of people as you can: Children, teens, adults, and the elderly. People of all sizes and colors. Beards, hoods, dreadlocks, afros, Halloween costumes, etc etc. Socializing them with animals, not just dogs. Equally important is getting your dog accustomed to being around certain stimuli that may be overwhelming and to remain calm regardless. Traffic, thunderstorms, fireworks, non-threatening wildlife, festivals, etc etc. It is important that my dog stay calm and focused regardless if a few squirrels are chucking things at him from a tree, a child runs up to him and grabs his tail, or if a helicopter is landing just yards away.
I hope this is helpful to some and I apologize in advance if there is already a thread like this one. Please feel free to add any commands and/or behaviors that I didn’t list that may be useful, especially for the daily lives of those in the hiking community.