Basic Obedience

Teach foundation commands (sit, stay, come, heel, down). Use positive reinforcement, marker training.

When Use

• New puppy (8+ weeks) ready for foundation training
• Adult dog lacks reliable basic commands
• Rescue or rehomed dog must learn household command vocabulary
• Before complex behaviors or off-leash work
• Existing commands degraded, need re-establishing

Inputs

• Required: Dog (any breed, any age 8+ weeks)
• Required: High-value treats (small, soft, quickly consumed)
• Optional: Clicker or verbal marker word (e.g., "yes")
• Optional: 6-foot leash, flat collar or harness
• Optional: Quiet training space, minimal distractions (initially)

Steps

Step 1: Establish the Marker

Marker bridges gap between desired behavior and reward.

Marker Training Protocol:
1. Choose your marker: clicker (precise) or verbal "yes" (always available)
2. Charge the marker (10-15 reps):
   - Mark (click or "yes") then immediately deliver a treat
   - No behavior required — just marker → treat, marker → treat
   - Dog should begin orienting toward you at the sound of the marker
3. Test: mark when the dog is looking away. Does the dog turn toward
   you expecting a treat? If yes, the marker is charged.

Timing Rule:
The marker must occur WITHIN 1 second of the desired behavior.
Late marking teaches the wrong behavior.
Mark → then reach for the treat (not the reverse).

Got: Dog reliably orients toward handler on hearing marker, expecting reward.

If fail: Dog doesn't respond to marker after 20 reps? Treat value too low. Switch to higher-value rewards (cheese, chicken, liver). Dog too distracted to eat? Environment too stimulating — move to quieter space.

Step 2: Teach the Five Foundation Commands

Work one command per session until reliable, then mix.

Command Protocols:

SIT:
1. Hold treat above dog's nose, slowly arc backward over the head
2. As the dog's head follows up, the rear naturally lowers
3. The instant the rear touches the ground → mark and treat
4. Add the verbal cue "sit" AFTER the dog is offering the behavior reliably
   (cue comes before behavior only once the dog understands the behavior)

DOWN:
1. From a sit, hold treat at the dog's nose then lower slowly to the ground
2. Draw the treat slightly forward along the ground
3. As elbows touch the ground → mark and treat
4. If the dog stands instead, reset and try with less forward movement

STAY:
1. Ask for a sit or down
2. Open palm toward the dog, say "stay"
3. Wait 1 second → mark and treat while the dog is still in position
4. Gradually increase duration: 2s, 5s, 10s, 30s, 1 min
5. Add distance: one step back, then two, then five
6. Add distraction: only after duration and distance are solid
   (the "three Ds": Duration, Distance, Distraction — increase one at a time)

COME (recall):
1. Start on a long line (15-30 ft) in a low-distraction environment
2. Let the dog wander, then call name + "come" in an upbeat tone
3. If the dog turns toward you → mark → reward generously when the dog arrives
4. NEVER call "come" for something unpleasant (bath, crate, leaving the park)
5. Recall is the most important safety command — make it the most rewarding

HEEL:
1. Dog on your left side, treat in left hand at your hip
2. Take one step, if the dog moves with you → mark and treat
3. Gradually increase to two steps, five steps, ten steps
4. Mark and treat for maintaining position (head roughly at your knee)
5. If the dog pulls ahead, stop walking. Resume when the leash is loose.

Got: Each command performed reliably in low-distraction environment with treats as motivation.

If fail: Command not progressing after 3 sessions? Break into smaller steps. Dog may need intermediate behavior (e.g., for "down," reward head-lowering motion before full elbows-on-ground).

Step 3: Structure Training Sessions

Session Guidelines:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Parameter          | Guideline                                |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Duration           | 5-10 minutes (puppies: 3-5 minutes)      |
| Frequency          | 2-3 sessions per day                     |
| End on success     | Always end after a successful rep, not   |
|                    | after a failure                          |
| Reward rate        | Initially: every correct rep             |
|                    | Later: intermittent (variable schedule)  |
| Energy management  | High-energy dog? Exercise BEFORE training|
|                    | Low-energy dog? Train when most alert    |
| Session structure  | Warm-up (easy known command) → new       |
|                    | material → cool-down (easy command)      |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

The 80/20 Rule:
- 80% of reps should succeed (dog is getting it right)
- If success rate drops below 80%, the criteria is too high — go easier
- 20% challenge keeps the dog engaged without frustrating

Got: Short, successful sessions. Dog wants more.

If fail: Dog disengages (sniffing, looking away, lying down)? Session too long, too hard, or rewards not motivating. End session, reassess.

Step 4: Distraction-Proof the Commands

Reliable in quiet environment? Add distractions systematically.

Distraction Ladder (work through sequentially):
1. Quiet room, no distractions (starting point)
2. Room with a family member present
3. Backyard or garden
4. Front yard with street noise
5. Quiet park or trail
6. Busy park with other dogs at a distance
7. Busy park with other dogs nearby
8. Novel environments (pet store, cafe patio)

At each new level:
- Expect performance to decrease — this is normal
- Increase reward rate back to every correct rep
- Do not add more distraction until the current level is reliable
- If the dog fails 3 reps in a row, you moved up too fast — go back one level

Got: Commands work reliably in progressively more distracting environments.

If fail: Specific distraction (other dogs, squirrels) consistently breaks training? Needs separate counter-conditioning (see behavioral-modification).

Checks

• Marker charged, dog responds reliably
• All five commands performed in low-distraction environment
• Sessions 5-10 minutes, ending on success
• Success rate ≥ 80% for each command
• Commands being generalized via distraction ladder
• Handler timing (marker within 1 second) consistent

Pitfalls

• Repeating the cue: Saying "sit, sit, SIT" teaches dog first "sit" optional. Say once, wait
• Treating too late: Treat must follow marker within 2-3 seconds. Late treating breaks association
• Luring forever: Hand motion with treat (lure) must fade within 10-20 reps. Else dog only responds when food visible
• Punishing failed recalls: Calling "come" then scolding (for slow, for holding item) poisons recall cue permanently
• Training too long: Fatigued dog learns nothing. Quit while ahead
• Inconsistent cues: All household members must use same words and gestures for each command

See Also

• behavioral-modification — addresses unwanted behaviors interfering with basic obedience