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Commands used in training?

4.7K views 35 replies 18 participants last post by  von Cosack Dobermann  
#1 ·
What words do you use when you give commands to your dog? Do you give commands in another language? What are the pros/cons in using another language? I've found that my husband frequently messes up my training because he's not consistent with his use of commands. Risa knows the word "wait," but then my husband uses the same word ALL the time with her, and it doesn't mean the same thing. When I say "wait," it means freeze where you are... don't move. When my husband uses it, well, it just changes meaning depending on the situation. Other differences are the release command. I say, "done," and my husband says, "ok." However, sometimes he does say "done." Needless to say, it's far easier to get Risa used to a new command than to try and get my husband to change his ways. Now I'm revisiting all of the terminology that I use and am trying to figure out what I want to keep and change when I get my next dog.

So, for those of you who train using a different language, I'd be interested in the pros/cons. For those who use English, what words do you use? I'm thinking about possibly training some things in a different language so that I am the only one using/training with these commands, but I also want my husband and others to have some control over my dogs. So, this puts me in a dilemma.

In addition to this, I'm wondering if you have words you use for casual stuff around the house, and then very specific (and different) words that you use for the training field? Here are some of the words I currently use....

Sit
Stay
Wait
Down
Step
Heel
Drop
Come
Here
Stand
Search
No
Good
Done
Finished
Give
Get It
Find It
Easy
 
#2 · (Edited)
Sit
Down
Front (front position)
Switch (finish left)
Finish (finish right)
Heel
Turn (left turn)
Right (right turn)
Wait (wait where you are and don't move until told)
Stay (stay in place until I come back and release)
Come
Stand
Out (release the object in your mouth)
OK (release word)

I do ALL the training and my husband does none. The only commands he ever gives Red is to sit or down. Other than that, Red doesn't respond to any word he knows as a formal command from me in the same way when said by my husband. For example, when hubby goes out into the garage, and tells Red to "stay" (as in to stay in the house and don't follow), Red doesn't just sit there motionless and wait for him to come back. But if I put him in a stay and leave, he will be in the same place I left him. Red knows the difference between what I say and mean, and what hubby says and means.

It can be challenging when the dog is still learning, though, and I was constantly telling hubby NOT to use certain words with him if he didn't expect the formal reaction to the word. But now that Red is older and knows the difference, its not that big a deal anymore, thankfully!
 
#3 ·
Commands

Sit
Down
Front (front position)
Switch (finish left)
Finish (finish right)
...
...
... I do ALL the training and my husband does none. The only commands he ever gives Red is to sit or down. ..!
I like the word "switch"!!! Hmm... Good idea! My husband doesn't do any "formal" training, but he does like to use sit, down, OK/Done, etc. when playing with her. I just have to make sure that some of my formal training words are not words that he uses in his day-to-day language... such as the word "wait."
 
#8 ·
The whole idea of everyone on the same page doesn't work around here. Training humans is much harder then dogs! But Strike doesn't really listen that well to anyone else anyhow since no one else does any formal training with him except me. The commands he knows:


sit
down
come
stay
leave it
watch
find it
stand
wait
paw
bang, bang
up
get it
okay

I think thats it. 'Okay' is just a general release. 'Wait' is the informal shortened version of stay. 'Leave it' is for anything he is going for or focusing on. I don't think I have hardly ever had to use 'drop it' with him so he doesn't know that one. I have considered using a different language for commands but I just figure he already knows these and doesn't listen when my brother says come 50 times, the way he does for me when I give him a command once. I also considered changing the release to 'free' since okay is so general but I like it and its such a habbit already.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I use german for formal commands and english for house commands.

For instance, if I want a fast recall with a front, I say "hier" if I want them running my direction, dont expect a front...just come to me...it is "come"

I say platz for down, but I also say..."go lay down" in the house.

I use "fuss" for formal heeling, "loose" if I just expect them to walk on a loose lead.

I kind of cheat on the sit, because I dont use "sitz" I use "sit" (and really exagerate the "T") because I feel like it can be to easily confused with platz.

I use wait...back...(friday is the MASTER back-stepper) stay...

gib laut is bark...

uhm... packen, bite

Pass Auf, is watch or on guard (I also say "watch em" they know both...lol

Aus, is out or release

I use Lass Es, which means leave it

Hopp or Hupp which means jump (over the jump, or up into the car, or up on the couch...or wherever...)

Bring for formal "bring" or "bring it to me" for bring me the toy

Get it, for "take it" at home

Okay is my release command

I think thats about it.
 
#24 ·
Commands

I use german for formal commands and english for house commands.
I've thought about doing this... but then it seems I'll have to teach twice as many words.

:(

Down formal / training (German)
Down informal (home)
Stay formal (German)
Stay informal (home)

So, I'm not sure how to deal with this. I know my dogs can learn both terms, but it seems that I could use the time that I spend teaching two differt words in a better way... I am thinking of picking a select few that I will teach in another language... I'm still trying to figure this out... That's why I'm interesting in hearing from people like you who teach in both languages. Thanks!
 
#13 ·
In addition to what has been mentioned, we use "over" and "with me" on our walks. Our walks are in the country on unlit roads with little shoulders. Taz and I both wear reflective vests when it is dark. When a vehicle approaches from either direction, I always say, "car coming" then "with me" then "over". The "car coming" is really a focus-on-me command used only in a specific instance. "Over" means just that, move off the road, which we both do with me always standing between the road and Taz. Then, I give the "stay" command and do not release him until the vehicle has passed by a bit.

The "with me" command is really a relaxed "heel" command. I use it anytime we are approaching an area where I suspect there might be a hard to resist diversion, such as a house where I know a loose dog lives, or if I see a deer or other wild animal near by, or in the city if someone is walking a dog near us.

On the topic of taking walks, I constantly vary the length of leash that I let out. It's a 6-foot leash, but sometimes I hold it close like it was only 2-feet long, other times all the way out, other times in between, often with just my whim. I expect Taz to walk on any length leash without pulling. Does anyone else walk like that?
 
#16 ·
On the topic of taking walks, I constantly vary the length of leash that I let out. It's a 6-foot leash, but sometimes I hold it close like it was only 2-feet long, other times all the way out, other times in between, often with just my whim. I expect Taz to walk on any length leash without pulling. Does anyone else walk like that?
Yeppers! We do our walks very similarly. When i started going into serious competition with Dante, i relaxed our walk "requirements". He can go ahead and wander at any length of leash in front or behind me as long as he doesn't pull and he follows my lead in terms of where we are going. Except for times when i need him to be right by me (eg. on a sidewalk by a busy main road), then it's the "with me" command and he sticks with me until he gets released to "wander" again.
 
#14 ·
OK seems to be a common release word. I was talking to another DT'r a while back and we were discussing this word. If you're out & about and run across a neighbor and have you dog sit/heel/wait whatever and during the convo say OK...you just released the dog! I now use "Dismiss" not something easily brought up in everyday conversations :)
 
#17 ·
I havent really ever had a problem with it. I do understand what your saying though and I did sort of wonder about it in the beginning. I use different tones of my voice for different commands. When I say "okay" as a release, it is usually a kind of happy high pitched "okay" it is not something that I would ever really use when just talking to someone. When I say platz, it is kind of a lower pitched demand :D haha. Sit is usually more high pitched and fast. I think dogs understand tone even moreso than actual words. JMO.
 
#15 ·
My Husband no longer does any formal training with Dante ... it's just easier on us and Dante that way. He is HORRIBLE at being consistent. Like someone else here mentioned, the only command that he gives Dante is "Sit" and "Down" ... those are the only two Dante ever chooses to listen when he gives them anyway LOL

Informal/house commands i use:
Sit
Lie down
Come
Wait
Stay
Find it
Speak
Touch
Let's Go
With Me
Drop It
Leave it
Ok

Formal/competition commands:
Sit
Down/Platz
Stand
Watch
Heel
Here
Wait
Stay
Around
Side
Switch
Take It
Go Around
Go Jump
Give/Out
Ok

Then there's a bunch of agility commands that i'm still figuring out what i'm comfortable with in using so that it doesn't clash with our current set of obedience commands.

My next competition dog is going to be trained in Mandarin for competition :D At least that's the plan for now lol
 
#23 ·
I know myself personally and alot of the trainers I know use two sets of commands, one for working and one for home, I use german commands when we are working, these mean rigid conformity as in do exactly what I am saying, and english commands at home, these mean we arent working but dow what I need you to do, for example, Heer, is a recall to the front in training, where as come is at home and means come to me in my general vicinity because I want you close to me. Platz, means down in working, and lay down means go lay down somewhere and relax at home. ETC ETC, I hope this helps.
 
#25 ·
Commands



Yes, this is helpful. I guess it's not the same as teaching two words for the same thing. For some words, I already have the two different terms. For example, "come" is the formal command with the front. "Here" is the informal command. The problem, however, is that my husband will use both terms and not use them the same as me. So I see how using German for my formal commands might be good to do....Hmm... I'll think some more about this. Thanks!
 
#29 ·
they have a variety of commands, and many double up for multiple things - they seem to figure out the difference contextually, so that works.

fuss (for heeling)
with me (for LLW)
get close (set up, it's also my left finish command)
around (right finish)
front (formal recall)
come (informal recall)
platz (drop in place in a sphinx down)
rest (go down typically from a sit, over onto one hip for berlin, rah just stays in a sphinx)
stand
stay
wait
find it (scent work)
over (directed jumping - typically done with signal only but can use verbal if not paying attention, retrieving over the jump, any jump in front of them)
mark
look
go out
take it (retrieve)
get it (informal retrieve)
get back- move backwards
scooch - move just your back end to the left
push - push your head forward and chin touch my body
tuck - move just your back end to the right
come up - take one scoot sit forward
hold it - calmly hold of whatever is in mouth
leave it
target/touch - target item/area with a body part - foot or nose

i cant think of any others right now...
 
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#30 ·
In my k9 school days as a very slick salesman, I would have clients sit in my office ask them to fill out a card that had heel,sit,stay,down,come printed out and asked them to substitute any word they wanted to take the place of each word on the card. I would introduce my demo dog to them and ask them to pick a word they had written next to the basic commands. The dog was trained by the influx of my voice so it made no difference what word was spoken, it didn't even have to be a word, he new by my influx, eyes, tone, and body language. It never failed to impress, Hey I had to put three kids through college. Von
 
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#31 ·
Commands



Good point! I've never taught the word "heel." Never needed to teach it. Risa just knows by my body posture when it's time to heel. :)
 
#32 ·
Along with all the ordinary obedience ones, we used 'off' to not jump or mainly to get off the furniture because my dog never really did jump on people, although he lived on the furniture when he could get away with it.

I taught my dog to do his own figure 8 when I was standing as one of the posts, so he learned 'forward' and while he was doing that, he also learned to sit when the trainer said 'halt' (and why that ^&%$ dog couldn't apply that when he was supposed to be heeling in the ring with me, I'll never know).

We used 'don't touch', 'pill time' (for heartworm tabs) and then I'd hide a biscuit in the room and teach him 'look up' 'look down' 'left' 'right' - trust me, he knew his directions better than I did.

One thing I did was teach him was to look along my finger to were I was pointing when I said 'look' - that came in pretty handy a few times. And then he had two separate words for jumping. 'Hup' meant he could climb the jump, 'over' meant he needed to clear it completely. He liked to spin, so naturally, I taught him to spin on command and then when he went one way, I taught him 'other way'. Breeder wasn't too happy with me for that one. I made the mistake of teaching him to 'speak' for his food - won't do that one again anytime soon.

And of course, we had other words too: 'drop it' 'bring me..' 'come back here, damn it!' and other gentle phrases with which we used to converse.
 
#33 · (Edited)
I just remembered one more. "Foot" is used with each individual foot to ask Taz to lift each foot so I can clean them before he enters the rest of the house. This is right after we come in from a walk or a play session outside. We are standing in the back hallway. Taz is getting pretty good at picking up his feet for me. Not quite as good as my horse, but he's getting better!

I have used this same command outdoors if he has rolled or zoomed around quickly and gotten one foot tangled in his leash. Right now it's about 50/50 that he will pick up the foot that tangled when I give the command, but it is getting more reliable.

Hey, on the subject of rolling... Almost on every walk, Taz will pick a spot in medium-height grass to suddenly do a barrel roll. He seems to find this to be great fun! It's pretty funny, but he does it often. Does your dog do this? Ever wonder what they might be thinking or is it done like a horse would, to scratch their backs or something?
 
#35 ·
Back (walk backwards)
Over (jump over)
Side (come to me and take up heel position on whichever side you are coming from - do not cross in front though! - hold my shoulder back & open))
Out (go away from me - push out handsignal)
Here (come closer to me )
Outside (get out the dog door, or the room, or the car - I also point as a hand signal)
Bear (sit up on haunches)
Give (release what is in your mouth)
Fus (lift left foot) sounds like Puss with an 'F'
Roo (lift right foot)
Left
Right

Agility obstacles:
over
spot
climb (A-Frame)
walk it (dogwalk)
box (table with down)
ring (tire)
shute
tunnel
teeter
weave
go on (run straight)
go out (run away)

Common ones:
Sit
Down
Stay
Heel
Stand
Get It
Switch
Front
Come
Finish
Watch Me
Stop it