Basic Obedience Training for Service Dogs

Building a reliable service dog starts with strong foundations. The four core obedience skills — Sit, Down, Place, and Heel — create structure, confidence, and consistency for both the handler and the dog.

Each command below includes what it means, how to teach it, and why it matters for real-world service work.

🟦 1. SIT

A starting point for nearly all obedience behavior.

Purpose

  • Establishes calm control
  • Helps during public access (parking lots, waiting in lines, approaching doors)
  • Teaches the dog to look to the handler for direction

How to Teach

  1. Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose.
  2. Slowly raise it upward — the dog’s rear naturally lowers.
  3. As soon as the dog sits: “Yes!” + reward.
  4. Add the verbal cue “Sit” once the dog understands the motion.

Handler Tips

  • Keep sessions short (1–2 minutes at a time).
  • Reward calm sits, not bouncy or crooked ones.
  • Practice at home first, then slowly add distractions.

🟦 2. DOWN

A relaxation command used for restaurants, doctor visits, transportation, and long-duration tasks.

Purpose

  • Encourages stillness and reduces anxiety
  • Helps dogs settle in busy environments
  • Forms the base for long down-stays needed in public work

How to Teach

  1. Ask for Sit.
  2. Move a treat from the dog’s nose straight down to the floor.
  3. Slowly pull the treat outward; the dog should follow and lie down.
  4. Mark the moment: “Yes!” + reward.

Handler Tips

  • Avoid pushing the dog into position — guide with food or praise.
  • Reward only when elbows are fully on the ground.
  • Practice duration: start with 3 seconds, then 10, then 30, etc.

🟦 3. PLACE

A boundary command where the dog remains on a defined spot (mat, bed, cot).
This is one of the most useful home-to-public transition behaviors.

Purpose

  • Creates impulse control
  • Helps with door greetings, guests, meal prep, or high-energy situations
  • Provides a portable “safe zone” for the dog

How to Teach

  1. Choose a raised bed or mat.
  2. Lure the dog onto it with a treat.
  3. When all four paws touch the bed: “Yes!” + reward.
  4. Add the cue “Place”.
  5. Build duration before adding distractions (door knocks, movement, noises).

Handler Tips

  • Start with short durations and end every session with success.
  • Use a release word like “Free” or “Break”.
  • Bring the mat to new locations to reinforce generalization.

🟦 4. HEEL

A structured walking position where your dog walks beside your left leg, matching your pace and ignoring distractions.

Purpose

  • Essential for public access reliability
  • Reduces pulling, wandering, and leash anxiety
  • Supports task work and handler mobility

How to Teach

  1. Begin walking with your dog on your left side.
  2. Reward when the dog is next to your thigh.
  3. Use the cue “Heel” once the dog understands the position.
  4. Stop, turn, and change speed — reward the dog for staying aligned.

Handler Tips

  • Keep your arm relaxed; no constant leash tension.
  • Reward position, not effort — only pay when the dog is exactly where you want them.
  • Practice in low-distraction areas before moving outdoors.

⭐ Training Philosophy

  • Clear leadership, not force — reward what you want, redirect what you don’t.
  • Short, frequent sessions — 2–3 minutes at a time, several times a day.
  • Consistency — same words, same gestures, same expectations.
  • Confidence-building — always end on a win for the dog.

These four obedience commands form the backbone of a dependable service dog. Once mastered, they support advanced tasks, public access work, and the calm, polished behavior expected of a working team.