ASK-9 Obedience Terminology

Learn dog training techniques that work in real life! Remember to give lots of verbal and physical praise when your dog responds to your commands!

NO

The command no must be taught as a basis for all training. Whenever this command is given, it means for the dog to stop doing whatever he is doing. A leash and training collar should be on the dog when the command is given and a sharp, quick jerk should be given at the same time as the NO. Do not reach for the dog. Always reach for the leash.

HEEL POSITION

The dog’s shoulder should remain no more than 6” away and no closer than 4” parallel to the side of your hip.

HEEL COMMAND

Begin walking starting with the left foot first – at the same time giving a gentle jerk & release on the training collar while giving the command to HEEL.

SIT

The dog should be sitting with rear legs placed directly under him and facing the same way as the owner. (Do not let the dog move.) Lift up the lead and push down on the dog’s rear end. Say “sit’. To perform a sit from a down position, (1) start off with your right palm facing the dog at ground level. Then bring your hand in front of the dog’s face to the leash above his head and lift the dog quickly into a sit position, with a command to SIT; OR (2) Simply step forward as in HEEL command above.

STAY

To remain stationary. The hand command for stay is to bring your left hand around behind the dog’s head, and then in front of the dog’s nose. At the same time, give the command to STAY. The dog should remain in the position he was in at all times. If the dog should move, he should be placed back EXACTLY in the same position he was in.

DOWN

Down is the heel position – to lay down with all four legs facing forward under the dog’s body and head. The hand command is to take your right hand from your left cheek down in front of the dog’s nose grabbing the lead and jerking down and forward toward the ground. Say “Down, stay”, and give verbal and physical praise when the dog minds.

COME

Come with dog in sit-stay or down-stay position: Place the lead in your left hand and with the right hand extended; palm facing the dog horizontal to the ground, bend at the elbow, bringing your hand to your chest. At the same time tell the dog to COME, giving a jerk towards you on the lead and pulling the dog toward you. This should end with the dog sitting in front of you, facing you.

RECALL

With the dog sitting in front of you and facing you, give your dog the HEEL command. (1) At the same time, rock back on your right foot, swing him around to your right side, behind you, and then to your left side. The dog should be sitting next to you, facing forward in the HEEL position OR (2) At the same time, rock back with your left foot, pull him back and away from you, swinging him into the HEEL position.