How to teach your dog Military Commands

Most generally dogs are taught the typical commands: sit, stay, come, lay down. It is up to you what word you teach your dog for the command you want them to follow. It is also up to you, how well your dog will learn them. A little bit of patience and an even temper will get you a very well trained and disciplined dog.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A dog (preferably yours)
• Time daily (10 mins 1-3 times a day)
• PATIENCE
• Treats
• Leash

1. Decide what type of commands you wish to teach your pet. I chose military commands for my pet because we were a military family at the time we got her. Pick something that suits your life style.

2. The military commands that I use are: At Ease (sit), Post (come), Stand your ground (stay), Dismissed (release from stay), Rest (lay down), Sound off (speak), Road march (go for a walk) and my absolute favorite Sick Call (sneeze). Yes, my min pin does this on command.

3. At Ease: Stand facing your dog. Show your dog a treat and begin to move it up towards the top of their head and say the command “At Ease”. They should begin to go into the sitting position naturally, if not, gently push down on their rump and assist them into the position. Once in the position, praise them and give them the treat. Continue to train your dog on this command until they go into the position as soon as you tell them to.

4. Stand your ground: Command your dog into the At Ease position. Face your dog and hold your hand in front of your dogs face (palm facing them) and tell them to “Stand your ground”. Begin to move back and repeat the command. Move back away from them only a few steps at first and only make them stay for a short time. If your dog begins to move, tell them no, and begin from the beginning by putting them back in the At Ease position and continue with the Stand your ground training.

5. To release your dog from the “Stand your ground” position you can tell them either dismissed or post. Dismissed means they can go do what ever they want and Post means to come to you.

6. Post: Take your dog outside in your back yard and have a long lead attached to their collar. Allow you dog to wander around the yard. When you see that they are interested in something say their name and the command Post. You can show them a treat if you want to but this command is best taught using only affection and praise. If your dog ignores you and goes back to doing what they were doing, tug on the lead and again say their name and Post. Once they come to you lavish them with praise. Once you have perfected the training in your back yard practice other places with more distractions. A dog park, a people park, or even just walking down your neighborhood street.

7. Rest: You can teach your dog to Rest from either a sitting position or a standing position. Stand in front of your dog with a treat. Show the dog the treat and begin to lower the treat in front of them to the ground. Your dog should follow. You will give them the command Rest and don’t give them the treat until their whole body is on the ground. Then give them the treat and praise them.

8. Sound Off: Using a treat, tell your dog to sound off. You want to get them excited so that they bark. You will keep telling them to sound off until they bark. Once they bark, give them the treat and praise.

9. Road march: Grab a leash and say they command then take them for a walk. They learn this one really fast.

10. Sick Call: Yes I am serious. I was fortunate that my minpin sneezed a lot when she was little and we took advantage of that and taught her sick call. When she would sneeze we would tell her sick call. Also, I would sit there and tell her sick call and sneeze and she would copy. This is a favorite of mine.

Tips & Warnings

• Be consistent and be committed. Train your dog every day even if only for 10 mins.
• Never tell your dog to Post and scold them. Post should always be associated with something positive so that they will ALWAYS listen to the command.