How to Teach Your Dog Basic Commands: Sit, Stay, Come, Drop
The 6 commands every Australian dog should know — and the exact step-by-step method to teach them fast
Sit, Stay, Come, Drop, Leave It, and Heel are essential safety commands that take 1–2 weeks each with 5-minute daily sessions — use high-value treats and positive reinforcement only
Luring (guiding with a treat) is fastest for beginners; capture and shaping take longer but build better obedience. Never repeat commands or punish mistakes — you'll teach your dog to ignore you
Proof commands in distracting environments (parks, streets) after perfecting them at home. A reliable "Come" on a long-line could save your dog's life
- 📋6 commands form the foundation for everything else in dog training
- ⏱️5–10 minute sessions, 2–3x daily — short focused training beats long scattered sessions
- 🎯Say the command once — repeating teaches dogs to ignore the first cue
- 🍗High-value treats (real chicken, cheese) outperform kibble for learning speed
- 📍Many AU councils require reliable recall for off-lead park access
In Australia, you're legally responsible for controlling your dog in public. But beyond law, basic commands are about safety and relationship. A dog who sits at the vet's, stays put at the park gate, and comes when called is a dog who gets more freedom, more adventures, and a better life. Master these six — Sit, Stay, Come, Drop, Leave It, Heel — and you can teach anything else.
Minimum age to start command training in puppies
Optimal session length — longer decreases retention
To reliably learn each command with daily practice
The Golden Rule of Dog Training
Positive reinforcement always works better than punishment. Your dog learns what gets rewarded, not what's punished. A dog trained with treats and praise will do anything for you; a dog trained with punishment will only behave when you're watching.
Three Teaching Methods
| Method | How It Works | Best For | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luring | Hold treat near nose, guide into position, reward immediately | Beginners, most commands | Fastest — most dogs get it in 1–2 days |
| Capture | Reward dog when they naturally do the behaviour, then name it | Sit, Down, Stay | Slower but builds very solid obedience |
| Shaping | Reward small steps toward the final behaviour | Complex tricks, Heel | Slowest but excellent for precision |
The Six Essential Commands
1. Sit — Foundation Command
Hold treat at nose height
Use luring. Hold a small high-value treat (chicken, cheese) close to your dog's nose.
Move treat up and backward
Slowly raise the treat over their head. As their nose follows up, their rear naturally goes down.
Mark the exact moment
The instant their bottom touches the ground, say "Sit!" clearly and give the treat immediately.
Repeat 10–15 times per session
Within 3 days, most dogs sit before you even lure. Training time: 2–3 days.
Timing Is Everything
Say the command word while they're performing the behaviour, not before. This teaches them what "Sit" means. Mark the exact moment they succeed with an excited "Yes!" before giving the treat.
2. Stay — Impulse Control
Ask for Sit
Always start Stay from a Sit or Down position.
Reward for 1 second of staying
The moment they hold position even briefly, reward them. Build duration slowly.
Use a release word
"Free!" or "OK!" — your dog must wait until you release them. This is the key to a reliable Stay.
Increase duration gradually
1 second → 5 seconds → 10 → 30 seconds. Never jump ahead. Add distance only after 30s is solid.
3. Come — The Safety Command
Start indoors on lead
Put a lead on your dog. Back away slowly, say "Come!" with excitement, gently reel them toward you.
Celebrate wildly when they arrive
The moment they reach you, celebrate. Big treats, big praise. Make coming to you the best thing ever.
Graduate to fenced outdoor area
Once reliable indoors, practice in a secure garden or fenced park. Never off-lead in open areas yet.
Proof on a long line
Use a 10m long line in open areas — gives freedom while maintaining safety during the proofing phase.
Long Line / Recall Lead (10m)
Essential safety tool for proofing recall in open Australian parks. Allows your dog freedom to explore while you maintain control if they don't respond. Biothane is waterproof and easy to clean.
Never Punish Failed Recalls
If your dog doesn't come and you get frustrated, you've taught them that coming to you = trouble. Always make coming to you the best thing that happens to them. Never call them to you for something unpleasant (vet, bath, nail trim) — go to them instead.
4. Drop — Critical in Australia
Let them grab a low-value object
Give them something they like but not love — a stick or low-value toy.
Show a high-value treat
Bring a high-value treat close to their nose and say "Drop!" clearly.
Reward the release
The moment they release, reward immediately. You're rewarding the release, not just the obedience.
Progress to tempting objects
Practice with increasingly valuable items. Always reward with something better than what they dropped.
5. Leave It — Prevention First
Place a low-value item on the ground
Step in front of it and block access with your body.
Say "Leave it!" once
Don't repeat. Wait for your dog to look away from the item or look up at you.
Reward looking away
The moment they disengage from the item, reward immediately. You're rewarding the choice to ignore it.
Increase item value over weeks
Low-value item → food → toy → food on ground → other dog's food bowl.
Dog Training Clicker with Wrist Strap
Helps you mark the exact moment your dog succeeds. Click when they drop or leave an item, then reward. Clickers are especially effective for Drop and Leave It where split-second timing matters.
6. Heel — Walk Beside Me
Hold treat at your side
Not in front of you — at hip height on your left side. Your dog will naturally move beside you to follow it.
Walk forward slowly
Reward frequently while they're in position beside you. High rate of reinforcement at first.
Reduce lure frequency gradually
Use fewer treats over sessions. Occasionally reward to maintain motivation.
Proof in distracting environments
Perfect at home → quiet street → busy path. Each level builds on the last.
Front-Clip No-Pull Harness
Makes Heel training faster by redirecting pulling toward you instead of forward. Not a punishment tool — just a training aid that makes the desired behaviour easier to achieve while you're building the skill.
Common Training Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It Backfires | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Repeating the command | Dog learns to ignore the first cue — waits for the 3rd or 4th | Say it once. If no response, help them into position and try again |
| Too-low-value rewards | Dog doesn't find the reward worth the effort | Use real meat, cheese, or chicken — not old kibble |
| Distracting environment too soon | Dog fails consistently and the command loses meaning | Perfect indoors and in low-distraction areas first |
| Punishing mistakes or slow responses | Dog becomes afraid to try new behaviours | Never punish. Just try again with easier steps |
| Sessions too long | Dog mentally fatigues and disengages | Max 10 minutes. Stop before they lose interest — always end on a success |
| Training after a meal | Full dog has low food motivation | Train before meals when hungry but not frantic |
Training Session Essentials
Dog Training Treat Pouch Belt
Hands-free treat delivery during training sessions. Keeps both hands free for luring, marking, and rewarding. Quick-access opening for split-second timing. Washable.
Zuke's Mini Naturals Training Treats
Small, soft, high-value treats for training. Bite-sized so you can reward 20+ times without filling your dog up. Natural ingredients, low calorie per treat, available in Australia.
Proofing: Taking Commands to the Park
Australian Park Etiquette
Before letting your dog off-lead in an Australian park, ensure they have a reliable recall. Many councils require it for off-leash areas. If you're not 100% confident, keep on-lead or use a long line. A bolting dog near heavy traffic is an emergency.