You’ve made an excellent decision to adopt a homeless dog from your local animal shelter. However, when adopting a dog with an unknown history, it can be very difficult to know how much dog training the pet has received in the past.
So it’s important to set the necessary “ground rules” from the start of your relationship with your new companion.
A happy, well-adjusted dog knows its role in your family: loyal protector, companion, and friend.
In this article, I've selected a range of excellent and most vital dog training commands you should teach your newly adopted dog, from basic to advanced, that will help your pet become a well-behaved member of the family.
Remember, the key to successful training is consistency, praise, and patience.
Another essential tip from dog trainers: keep all your pet training sessions short (10-15 mins) and always end on a positive note. This helps your new dog stay happy and confident for the next session. And don't forget to have fun!
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16 Commands You Must Teach Your Dog After You've Just Adopted Them
Basic Dog Training 101
The following 5 commands create a solid foundation for success. When your dog understands and listens to these commands consistently, you’ll know it’s time to challenge him and move on to the Intermediate level.
1. Sit
This is one of the most fundamental commands your dog should learn. Teaching him to sit properly, and on cue, will help you control his behavior in countless situations. For instance, when you’re trying to put his leash on for a walk but he’s running around excitedly, a simple “sit” command lets you calmly and safely attach the leash.
2. Stay
This command is useful when you cannot be beside your dog but need him to stay out of the way. For example, it's very useful when the doorbell rings, and you are greeting guests.
The standard method is to first use “sit,” then “stay,” to tell your dog not to move from that spot until you “release him” from the command. You do this vocally by saying “Ok” or with a combination of words and hand signals, like many other dog commands.
3. Down
This command is usually part of a combination with “sit” and “stay” and is used to keep your dog in a calm, relaxed position for a longer time. It’s very useful when you have company or maintenance workers at your house, or if you’re out somewhere with your dog and need him to settle down.
4. Come
Teaching your new rescue dog to come back when called, otherwise known as “recall,” is an integral part of his good behavior education. This command is useful when he’s playing in safe off-leash areas, and it can also help you avoid dangerous situations or encounters when he’s off-leash and might go after something he shouldn’t.
5. Heel
Teaching your dog to “heel” means showing him how to walk beside you properly on the leash without pulling you everywhere. Walk time is always an exciting part of your dog’s day, but he needs to learn his manners so that you both can enjoy the experience and adventure.
GUIDE: How To Train Your Dog Basic Commands
Intermediate Level Dog Training
Once your dog has mastered the basics, these next commands are important to maintain good behavior in a variety of situations, as well as learning some fun ways to play together.
6. Off
This command is mostly for exuberant dogs that tend to jump up on their owners or other people, especially when greeting them.
It’s heartwarming when our pets are excited to see us, but a dog (especially a large dog) who jumps up on people is not acceptable and can even lead to injuries. Once he learns this command, he should immediately fall back on cue whenever he tries to jump up on a person.
7. Leave It (or Drop It)
Sometimes people use the word “off” for this same command, but we wanted to specify this verbal cue for your pet’s toys or when he’s grabbed something with his mouth that he shouldn't have (like garbage on the street, etc.).
A dog that responds properly to this command should loosen his grip on the object and let you take it from his mouth.
8. Fetch
Teaching your dog this command uses both “Come” and “Leave it” as additional cues. Fetch is a perfect game which gives your dog the exercise he needs and can be fun for everyone involved.
When you throw the item for your pet (ball, stick, etc..) he should grab it, return to you and allow you to take it back so you can throw it again. Start in a smaller indoor space and work your way toward playing in the park or on the beach.
9. Place (or “to Bed”)
The long-form of this command is “Go to your Place” or ” Go to Bed, whichever word you prefer. Use the same word consistently for the most effective training. At its most effective, you can use this command anywhere you're visiting with your pet.
You can create a space that he knows is his “bed”, like a towel or blanket on the ground, in your office, or on the floor in a friend’s house. It’s a place your dog knows he can relax and rest while you work or enjoy time with friends.
10. Settle
Teaching your dog to settle can be a precursor to “sit/down” or “go to your place.” This command uses a combination of vocal and hand cues to “hush” your dog into a more relaxed state when he is over-excited, so he’s more likely to listen to further commands.
Essentially, you’re teaching your dog to stay calm in situations where he might become anxious (like during a thunderstorm) or overstimulated (in a large crowd).
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Advanced Commands and Tricks
By now, your dog should be ready to learn some fun tricks and commands that will take him to a higher level of obedience!
11. Sit/Stay at a Distance
This fancy move requires your dog to understand both the vocal and hand signals for the “sit” and “stay” commands. It’s very useful when you need to control your dog’s actions while he’s far away from you, like at the park or in the yard.
The idea is to call out to your dog, and once you have his attention, you’ll both speak and gesture the actions for him to follow. Ideally, he should stay until you approach, so you can put the leash on him and better control the situation.
12. Speak/Quiet
Nobody wants a dog who barks all the time, yet it’s equally as important to have a loyal protector who can warn us of potential danger. By teaching your dog when it’s okay to “speak”, you also enable him to learn when he should stop and be “quiet”.
He won’t learn this overnight, but with consistency and praise, you’ll soon have a dog who gives warning barks and listens when you say “quiet”. This can be a complicated set of commands to teach, especially for a dog who already barks constantly. Here’s a great reference on teaching your dog these commands.
13. Balancing Treats on His Nose
Once you’ve established a good relationship with your new dog, you can try some fancier moves like balancing treats (and other items) on his nose.
This is also a great exercise in impulse control for your dog, and can lead to many other opportunities for him to learn more intricate moves.
14. Shake Paw
Teaching your dog to shake a paw is not only fun, but also helps build trust between you both because he will understand it’s okay for his legs and feet to be handled.
Some dogs even naturally raise their paws when offered treats, which makes teaching this trick much easier.
15. Show Belly
Here’s another trick that's fun and builds trust with your new dog. Dogs will typically roll on their backs to show submission to other dogs they meet, but they can also be protective of that area since it is one of the most vulnerable parts of their bodies.
By showing your dog that it’s okay to expose its belly to you (and receive belly rubs!), you’re showing it you're trustworthy. This trick starts with your dog in a down/stay position, and once mastered, it’s a small step toward teaching them to “roll over.”
16. Roll Over
This trick is a classic and fun for you and your dog to learn together. Here’s a quick step-by-step video and written guide on how to teach your dog to roll over, and if your dog has already mastered the basics, he should learn this trick pretty quickly.
You can also elevate this trick by teaching your dog specific hand signals for the command, so you can ask him to roll over from a distance.
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