This page lists every dog training command that I have explored. Most of them have been implemented to varying degrees. Some are unused or theoretical.

  • All done – Use when completing an activity
  • Almost there – Use near the end of an activity to indicate progress and keep their attention
  • Ascend (the stairs)
  • Bad – Alternative/supplement to “Naughty” or “No”
  • Bath – “Bath time”, “Time to take a bath”
  • Bathroom – Alternative/supplement to “Potty”
  • Bedtime – Alternative/supplement to “Nap Time” or “Sleep”
  • Bell – Ring the bell attached to the door
  • Brush (your fur) – “Brushy”
  • Brush (your teeth) – Supplement to “Teeth”
  • Bunny – Alternative/supplement to “Rabbit”
  • Carry (an object) – Like the mail or a toy
  • Cat – Alternative/supplement to “Kitty”
  • Catch (what I’m about to throw you)
  • Center (stand or sit between my legs) – Alternative/supplement to “Middle”
  • Chippy (as in chipmunk)
  • Clean Up Your Toys – Similar to fetch, but with the added complexity of seeking and bringing ALL toys to a specific location or container
  • Close (a door) – Often using a rope attached to the handle (at least as a starting point)
  • Collar (use every time it’s applied)
  • Come
  • Crate (entering the crate)
  • Cross (when crossing the street) – This one involves the consistent, repeated behavior of stopping, sitting, waiting with eye contact, then crossing the street on my command
  • Descend (the stairs)
  • Dog Park – Often used in conjunction with “Go for a ride”
  • Down (as in lie down)
  • Drop It (drop what you’re holding)
  • Dry – Used when the dog shakes off their coat
  • Easy – Used for encouraging careful and slow behavior
  • Fetch (retrieve)
  • Find It (seek)
  • Food (table scraps on the floor) – Similar to “Treat”
  • Good – Alternative/supplement to “Yes”
  • Groom (your fur) – Alternative/supplement to “Brush”
  • Harness (use every time it’s applied)
  • Heel (whenever he’s near my feet while walking)
  • Here (go to where I’m pointing/touching)
  • High Five
  • Howl (whenever they howl)
  • Hug – “Huggies”
  • Hungry (dog food) – “Who’s hungry?”
  • In (in the crate or an object)
  • Inside (entering inside the house)
  • Jog (run with me) – Alternative/supplement to “Run”
  • Kisses (licking)
  • Kitty – Alternative/supplement to “Cat”
  • Leave It (ignore what you’re interested in)
  • Lift Your Paw (so I can free the leash from under you)
  • Look (where I’m pointing)
  • Middle (stand or sit between my legs) – Alternative/supplement to “Center”
  • Name (of your dog) – Eye contact
  • Nap Time – Alternative/supplement to “Bed Time” or “Sleep”
  • Naughty – Alternative/supplement to “Bad” or “No”
  • No – Alternative/supplement to “Bad” or “Naughty”
  • Off (use when coming off the couch or another object)
  • On (use when coming on the couch or another object)
  • Open (a door) – Often using a rope attached to the handle (at least as a starting point)
  • Other Paw – Used when requesting interaction with the other paw instead of the one that’s offered, ex. I want a high-five from the left paw then the right paw
  • Other Side (of an object) – Alternative/supplement to “This Side”, used to stop them from getting entangled around objects when attached to the leash
  • Out (out of the crate or an object)
  • Outside (heading outside of the house)
  • Play Dead (whenever lying on their side)
  • Potty – Alternative/supplement to “Bathroom”
  • Quiet (whenever being quiet) – Alternative/supplement to “Shh”
  • Rabbit – Alternative/supplement to “Bunny”
  • Ride (in the car) – “Go for a ride”
  • Roll Over (when lying on his back)
  • Run – Alternative/supplement to “Jog”
  • Shake (your paw)
  • Shh – Alternative/supplement to “Quiet”
  • Sit
  • Sit Up (balance on hindquarters)
  • Skateboard (when using the skateboard)
  • Sleep – Alternative/supplement to “Bed Time” or “Nap Time”
  • Speak (whenever they bark)
  • Squirrel
  • Stand (from sitting to all fours)
  • Stand Up (on only his back legs) – Alternative/supplement to “Jump”
  • Stay
  • Swim (swimming)
  • Take It Nice (no biting or lunging for treats)
  • Talk (whenever they make noises, specifically non-barking noises)
  • Tap (tap his paw against my leg or foot)
  • Teeth – “Time to brush your teeth”
  • Thirsty – Alternative/supplement to “Water”
  • This Side (of an object) – Alternative/supplement to “Other Side”
  • Tongue (whenever his tongue is out) – Useful for reducing slobber
  • Touch (touch his nose against my hand)
  • Treat
  • Turn (around 180 degrees with me while leashed)
  • Up (from a lying position to the sit position)
  • Walk – Alternative/supplement to “Heel”
  • Water – Alternative/supplement to “Thirsty”
  • Yes – Alternative/supplement to “Good”