The basics

[Maxy24]

I thought it would be a good idea to get some other people's ideas on training the basic commands every dog should know since I'm sure we all do it differently even if it's just little different. So I'll write a list of the basics down and you can each write how you train each one (or which ever ones you want to write about) and if I missed any you consider basics then feel free to add those in. Also if you do it the same as someone else feel free to say so or add a small thing you do differently. OK so here's what I consider basics (fell free to add):

Sit
Come
Stay
Down
Heel
Drop it
Leave it

 

[corgipower]

This is how I begin the commands ~ over time I build on it. Some of it is a bit abbreviated because I'm short on time.

Sit ~ I lure with a treat. I show the dog the treat and then raise it up and forward so that he comes forward into his sit. With a squirmy restless puppy, I'll also put my hand on their rump and then slide it down the back of their legs and gently fold them into a sit.
Come ~ I teach this while I'm playing with them. I'm usually on the ground, being very inviting, maybe with a treat or toy, maybe not. I wait until the puppy looks in my direction, and I say "come" and I encourage them to get to me. If they are distracted, I get up and run away ffrom them.
Stay ~ I start with either a sit or a down (depending on which seems easier for the dog) at heel, and I pivot to right in front of them, and then pivot back to heel. The next time, I pivot in front and wait a moment or two before I pivot back to heel. Over time, I gradually increase the time or the distance and then both, as well as once they understand to stay, I begin walking around them to go back to heel.
Down ~ I usually start with the dog standing and I use a treat to lure him down, into a sphinx down. If I'm working with a squirmy puppy, I'll generally keep a hand on his back, but I don't really use it to push him down, but more to block him from going in other directions, like backwards or sideways.
Heel ~ I start with teaching the dog to follow me, by running away from him any time he heads in another direction. Then I teach loose leash walking, with a command of "With me", which is the same thing, but the distance the dog might be able to get is predefined by the length of the leash. I don't teach actual heeling until I have good attention while he is sitting as well as some attention while he is on a "with me". When I begin heeling, I start with him sitting at heel (if need be, I put myself into heel position). I carry a treat or a toy in my left hand, say heel, and step off. If he steps off with me, he gets the reward. If not, I back up and try again. I start with one step, then two steps then start gradually increasing the steps. I want to be sure to maintain focused attention on the "heel" command.
Drop it ~ I teach it as a game of trade. I have something better and when he releases he gets rewarded.
Leave it ~ I hold a treat in my right hand and show it to the dog. I also have a second treat in my left hand. When I show him the treat in my right hand, as he goes to try to take it, I say "leave it" and I close my hand around the treat and take my hand away. Usually it only takes a few reps and the dog begins to be reluctant to look at the treat I am showing him ~ I'm not falling for that again. At that point I reward with the treat that's in my left hand.

 

[Lissa]

Whenever I am introducing a new behaviour, I never put a command to it until the dog is offering it reliably.

I generally rely on luring for "sit" and "down" but would like to shape them in the future.

I capture and shape "heel" slowly making my criteria harder until it actually resembles heeling. I have tried luring the heel and the results have always been dismal. Either the dog is forever reliant on the lure or doesn't understand heel position.

I tend to teach "stay" from a sit with the dog in front of me. I reward duration before I move away but I do try to change my posture and position around the dog immediately. I add distractions very early on, distance and out of sight stays are quite quick to follow as well. I find that stays and leave its are the most important foundation skills. It takes a lot of self-control from the dog and the handler must learn a little something about motivation so I personally find training easier after teaching these commands.

I definately capture "come" making it very rewarding for the dog to be near me. I also throw a toy or treat away and then mark and reward as the dog is moving towards me and reward big time when he/she reaches me. I do restrained recalls as well (having someone hold the dog and then calling). I did a lot of evading and hiding with Dodger (Foxhound thing). I like to teach come with an automatic sit, sometimes by luring, sometimes sit is the default behaviour (from stay work) or sometimes the dog already has a sit on command.

I teach "leave-it" by taking a low value item and placing it on the floor (making sure the dog cannot self-reward - either by having him on leash or using an item that cannot be exciting like a brick). I mark and reward for anything that doesn't involve the item. Then I add movement, then I use a higher value item. I always make sure that I have the most rewarding item to offer. I've always taught leave it by letting the dog have the item on occasion (but I usually trade for it after so it doesn't become the one and only reward).

I don't use drop it - either "leave it" or "bring" works... I emphasize the retrieve a lot so its always more rewarding for the dog to show me their prize. I also make it impossible to self-reward so "drop it" isn't something I use.

I think "wait" is a basic command... I don't usually go out of my way to train this - its just part of our routine from day one - ie: before the dog goes outside, jumps out of the car, crosses the road or gets his dinner (I either body block or remove the reward until he's calm). I had to revamp Dodger's "wait" for agility but the foundations were set in the abovementioned way.
To a certain extent "watch me" is quite basic because for any training occur, you need the dog's attention. I capture this as well - mark and reward for eye contact in any context.

 

[agnesyoung]

I train wait and stay seperately. Wait means wait there until you receive the next command. use this for recall. The dog learns to be alert and ready for the next command. Stay means stay there until i return to you, no further commands are coming, teaches the dog to relax.

 

[Felix84]

great post. i think it will help a lot of people out, especially the people that are having a hard time starting their dog's training on the right foot.