Talk:Obedience training

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[edit] Clicker training

Lachatdelarue 18:54, 28 Jul 2004 (UTC)

I'm thinking that clicker training should be its own article, because one could say a lot about it. I'm not sure I'd say that it's the most commonly used technique--most knowledgeable trainers know something about it but not all of them use it (or train their students in it) by far. Actually I'd say that "positive reinforcement" is probably a more common training technique. :-)

In my experience, clicker training is not a very common technique. "Positive reinforcement" or pack-leader type of training is much more common in rural America.

Some places to look for info on clicker training (don't know whether they answer your specific questions) include:

Elf | Talk 23:46, 28 Jul 2004 (UTC)

OK, I created the article! Elf | Talk 17:19, 17 Sep 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Examples

I saw a note in the article that specific examples of typical commands would be desireable. I am working on this, but I have not gotten all my materials together yet. My plan is to include an explanation of the command as well as short videos of dogs in action. If they are included on the same page, it will make for a very long and possibly unwieldy(?) article. Shall I make separate pages for each command to link to (Obedience_training_come, Obedience_training_heel, etc.), or just one long (Obedience_training_commands?) article?The Dogfather 20:22, 26 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I can't imagine that there's enough encyclopedic to say about each command. If we were also doing how-tos, maybe, but otherwise probably not. I think that one article should be fine. On the other hand, I feel that I've barely scratched the surface of dog agility and keep thinking about how or whether I really want to break any of that out (haven't even started talking about command variations there). Elf | Talk 04:16, 27 Oct 2004 (UTC)
Do you think the project might be overkill then? I haven't done much work on it yet, so now would be a good time to stop. It's hard to know when a project stops being encyclopedic, and starts to become a Wikibooks project. I value your opinion, Elf (and anyone else who wants to chime in please do so).The Dogfather 15:05, 27 Oct 2004 (UTC)
Explanations of the commands is perfectly fine. I don't see why we couldn't also have videos of each that people could click on to access. I just don't see that separate articles are needed for each, of course unless someone convinces me otherwise. Elf | Talk 19:16, 27 Oct 2004 (UTC)
I'm working on descriptions of the commands, and agree that links to videos would be a good idea. Anyone willing to take on that part of the project? User:PaulP
I'm the one who completed the descriptions of the obedience exercises. I'm new, and I forgot to login before editing. Sorry User:PaulP

[edit] Save for later

Following text involves a lot of how-tos that don't really belong here. Need an "examples" section, perhaps, that lists several methods for teaching one command to show the variation. Other stuff shd go to perhaps wikibooks.

[edit] Basic Commands

Here are a few commands that almost every dog should respond to:

  • Come: This command, also referred to as the recall, is crucial. If the dog won't come when called, it is not an obedient dog. One method for training begins by allowing the dog to wander out on a long leash or line, then calling it by name and the command Come. This method might require a quick, light tug on the leash to get the dog moving when first teaching this command. Like all commands, it is successful only if the dog is rewarded when it completes the command and only if the practice is repeated—under different circumstances and distances and gradually removing the controls—until the dog performs flawlessly.
  • Sit: This command is also crucial. Sitting dogs are under the handler's direct control. It is common to precede other commands, such as the Stay command, with a sit command. One method for training uses a treat held in front of the dog's nose and passed back over its head, forcing the dog to sit. Sit and Stay are used in conjunction with many other commands.
  • Stay: This command gives peace of mind. An owner can park her dog while doing something else. One method of training involves placing the dog in a sit or a down position, then telling it to stay while stepping away from the dog. If the dog stays, the handler rewards it while it is still in the position. Indoors, use this command to park your dog under a favorite table or bench.
  • Lie down or down: this command allows even greater control than sitting. One training method uses a treat drawn forward and down across the dog's face, forcing it to lie down to get at it. Since even people without dogs are familiar with this command and use it when dogs are bothering them, the better the dog is at it, the better it can get along with strangers and visitors.
  • Go to bed or get in: Directs the dog to go to its bed or its crate and to remain there until released. The dog has freedom of movement in that location to stand up, turn around, or lie down, unlike when placed in a Stay. Useful to keep a dog out from underfoot and safe in a busy or complicated situation.
  • Drop or drop it: Dogs pick up all sorts of things, some of which they shouldn't have. A dog that drops anything on command, no matter how attractive (which to a dog can be rotten and smelly), is a dog under control that the owner can prevent from eating dangerous items or from destroying valued personal property.
  • Leave it: An adjunct to Drop, directing the dog to not touch an item. Also useful before the dog has picked anything up. One method of training involves leaving a treat on the ground and walking the dog past it without allowing the dog to pick it up. Leave it is also used in conjunction with Take it.
  • Take it: The dog leaves a desired object, such as a toy or treat, untouched until given this command. This can protect an owner's, visitor's, or child's fingers.
  • Heel, Close, By me: The dog walks with its head directly next to the handler's leg and does not deviate until released. One method of training accompanies the command with a slap to the thigh indicating where the handler wants the dog's head.
  • Okay, Free, Break, or Release: Releases the dog from Stay, Heel, Sit, and so forth. Also a general release to play.

Elf | Talk 20:58, 11 January 2006 (UTC)


     Hello I've joined in contributing to this article. As a person who has had dogs for over 40 years and done obedience training as well as other training and having a lifelong interest in 'all things dog", I have brought the text more in line with the title. Obedience training is a specific aspect of dog training and should not be confused with "training" or "train your dog". In other words Obedience Training is "Obedience" Training-that's why it is called what it is:>) As this is an encylopaedic article I think it important to write the article in its historically correct context and not diverge in to the more common derivative of "training" your dog.


It is not the methodology in Obedience training which is in itself important-but the result. Is the dog trained reliably. Will it comply with the command each and every time it is given, without fail. That is the measure of successful obedience training and an Obedience trained dog.

The article is a great start and easy to work with. It seems that it has a slanted POV claiming mainstream thought. this is not the case, if it were you wouldn't have to claim it and I would not notice it were such:>) The article should be written to convey historical correctness and not to persuade readers into a particular line of thinking.

Thank you Tintina 00:24, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

Is it true dogs can be obedient to "hot dogs" ??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.65.51.245 (talk) 21:01, 21 March 2008 (UTC)