How to use dog training commands for common dog owner problems

Many dog owners, who have trained their dogs, do not realize the tools for working on many dog behaviors that are problems to us are the training commands themselves. The ability to use these commands repetitively in different situations can help build the types of reactions that dog owners prefer from their dogs in many situations.

Here are some common dog training issues and the commands (trained well) that can help your dog know what you want in certain situations:

NOTE: ALL OF THESE ARE ASSUMING YOU ARE IN SIGHT AND SUPERVISING THE DOG

ISSUE: MY DOG COUNTER SURFS OR BEGS AT THE DINNER TABLE 

• Let's go (which is an informal type of recall) or recall (come command) away from the counter to you.
• Also a back or go command can be used if you are in the counter area.
• A place and or down stay command can be used to station the dog away from the area.
• There are also other options that are not in the basic commands such as negative space training, or training to always go to a spot away from the counter where they are likely to be rewarded.

ISSUE: MY DOG JUMPS ON ME

• A fast sit or down before the dog even gets on you, places them in a position that (trained well) they can not be on you at the same time (counter conditioning).
• Training them a proper greeting with approach in a sit stay, and then released into a heel.

ISSUE: MY DOG JUMPS ON GUESTS

• Sit stay with owner with guest approaching.
• Wait until dog is calm or put dog on place until calm enough to greet guests.

ISSUE: MY DOG LUNGES AT DOGS OR PEOPLE (AS IN OUT ON A DOG WALK)

• Leash skills first and foremost are important with this.   Heel and long line before heel start to stop the lack of impulse control that causes lunging (done correctly and proofed of course).
• Stationary skills like staying in distraction begin to create impulse control for this problem as well.

ISSUE: MY DOG WON'T COME WHEN CALLED

• A well done formal come command is one thing that can be worked on here on various equipment until the dog comes off leash.  This is an important command, and one that takes much time to do.
• The lesser talked about "let's go" that means simply move towards me.
• Also things that are not in the basics like training for engagement with the owner can be very helpful.

ISSUE: MY DOG GETS IN MY WAY WHILE CLEANING OR MAKING DINNER

• The down stay can be a great help to station your dog out of the way for a number of minutes.  Of course, the down stay is more advanced and requires more work if you are planning to go outside of the dog's sightline.  
• The place, which is not part of the typical basic commands, is also great so you can station your dog on something, where typically they will be comfortable for a long period of time while you clean.

ISSUE: MY DOG BOLTS OUT THE DOOR

• A solid sit stay where you can walk through an opening and the dog will stay there until released.   
• A solid recall or let's go is very necessary in this situation as well, meaning around many different tempting distractions and trained on leash first (using long lines and light lines).
  
• A place command before the door is opened to visitors or yourself is also very helpful.   Of course the place is not necessarily a basic training command.
  
• Also negative space training at a commonly used door would be very helpful.  This is also something not usually gone over in basic dog command training.
  

If you have gone through the 4 step process of training the basic commands and are continuing good training practices, then you have the means to work on these areas that may be problematic for humans through repetition and consistency. As always, if you are having aggression or resource guarding problems with your dog seek a dog training professional that can help you with this.