Commands for different lifestyles

Not all the formal or informal commands are needed in different lifestyles.

Each setting; country, city or suburbs require different commands. This is also true if you and your dog live in a house or apartment.

It is great if your dog knows all the commands, but it is not necessary.

Please note that a working dog is different. We are discussing companion pet dogs, not Service dogs, Police K9s, Hunting dogs etc.

Your country farm dog probably does not go for walks on leash. They do not need to know Heel. However, it is good to teach them to follow you on a leash and ride in the car/truck when it is time to visit the vet. However, our livestock vet also took care of our dogs on the farm. But you may have an emergency and need to see the vet at his/her office. This trip is easier if the dog is not afraid of the collar, leash and truck ride. My country dogs, were familiar with the collar and leash and truck rides. They also knew sit, stay, wait, come, here, NO, leave it, off, up, Okay, and their name.

The livestock guard dogs knew wait, come (without the sit), here, NO, leave it, off, Okay and their names. They knew their jobs because they were bred and raised to be livestock guard dogs.

The dogs who lived in the suburbs knew all of the formal commands. They also knew wait, here, leave it, off, Okay and their names. Wait and Come are the important lifesaving commands.

A city dog needs to know all the formal and informal commands. For you and your dog's safety, knowing all the commands is necessary. City life can be difficult on a dog, but not if they are socialized, and understand what behavior is necessary based on you (the alpha dog) commands.

So read my post on commands and decide what commands are needed based on where you live.

Enjoy!