Does your pooch know basic doggy obedience? If not, Fido may need to go back to school to complete his ‘petucation.’ Training isn’t just a matter of petiquette: it’s actually crucial to both your pet’s safety and the safety of others. Here, a Columbia, MD vet lists some commands that all dogs should know.

Sit

Sit is the simplest command to teach. For that reason, it’s often the first thing dogs learn. To teach Fido to sit, hold a treat up, just out of his reach. Move your hand so that the treat is traveling over Fido’s head. Your canine buddy will probably sit down, just so he can keep his eye on the snack. When he does, say ‘Sit,’ then immediately praise him and give him the treat. Eventually, he’ll get the hint!

Come

This command is crucial for safety reasons. If you drop Fido’s leash, or if he slips out an open gate, the command to Come can keep him from running away. It can also help you stop your pup from approaching dangerous areas or animals. Of course, the hard part about teaching this one isn’t necessarily getting your dog to come when you call him. If Fido thinks you have a cheeseburger for him, he’ll probably run up to you right away. The issue is having him obey every time you call, even when there are distractions.

Stay

As with the Come command, Stay is very important for safety reasons. Dogs love being close to their humans, but sometimes it isn’t safe or appropriate for them to be underfoot. For example, if you’re about to light the grill, it’s best to have Fido stay back.

Lay Down

Lay Down is often used indoors. This is also a good way to give Fido a ‘time out’ if he’s being rowdy. It also comes in handy if you just want to keep him out of the way. For instance, if your pet gets excited when people arrive, have him Lay Down while your aunt brings that casserole in.

Heel

This is one of the trickier commands to teach, but it’s also one of the most important. Dogs sometimes have a tendency to haul their humans along behind them. This can be very dangerous, especially with large pooches!

Please reach out to us, your Columbia, MD vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help!