Should you teach your dog these seven skills?

We all want our dogs to be the smartest pups on the block. But what do they really need to know?

The answer is different for every individual dog and pet parent. You get to make your own training choices based on your environment, lifestyle, and long-term goals!

Let’s look at seven common skills dog parents teach their pets. See how these cues might make your life easier — or why you might actually choose not to prioritize them in your own situation.

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1. Recall

The ability to come when called requires:

• Impulse control (your dog can resist distractions)
• Reinforcement history (your dog knows they get treats, a favorite toy, or something else of value for listening)
• Relationship with you (your dog cares what you’re doing)

We recommend that every dog owner spend at least some time working on their dog’s recall. Even an informal attention cue can go a long way in a potential mishap, like if someone accidentally leaves the door open or your pup gets spooked in a new environment.

Reasons you should teach your dog a recall:

• Coming when called can keep your dog safe in both emergency and everyday situations
• Dogs with a solid recall are able to responsibly enjoy off-leash time
• You can use recall in place of other commands if necessary — for example, if you’re still working on your pup’s “leave it” but they’re great at coming on cue, you can simply call them over to you when you notice them sniffing around belongings that aren’t theirs

Reasons you might not prioritize your dog’s recall:

While recall is one of the most universally helpful skills for a pet dog to know, it’s still more important for some lifestyles than others. Here are a few reasons it might not be at the very top of your training list: 

• Your dog is rarely off leash, or you stick to designated fenced-in areas when they are
• Your dog naturally sticks very close to you
• There’s a slim chance that your dog ever gets out of the house or apartment on accident

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2. Sit to “say please”

Our dogs naturally communicate in different ways than we do. Many of us find their requests overstimulating — being incessantly barked, whined, or pawed at can drive even the most patient pet parent a little crazy! That’s why many dog trainers recommend teaching your dog to “say please” by performing a less-intense behavior, like sitting and offering eye contact, to minimize frustration on both ends of the leash.

For example: If your pup has a habit of barking at you for attention, you can instead teach them that sitting quietly near you is the actual way to score some pets. While this can take some time — especially if your dog already has a long history of making noise to get what they want — it’s valuable in many households.

There are many variations of the “sit to say please” concept. Some dog parents prefer their pet to lie down, rest their head on your knee, ring a bell, or even gently paw at them. You can choose what behaviors work best for you!

Reasons you might teach your dog to sit to say please:

• You’ve been getting frustrated with your dog’s barking and whining
• You live near neighbors who’d rather not hear your pup sing the “song of their people”
• Your dog struggles to stay calm when requesting affection

Reasons you might not teach your dog to sit to say please:

• Your dog already asks for attention in ways you find acceptable
• Your dog is timid and struggles to express their preferences, so you don’t want to discourage them from any requests they do make

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3. Loose-leash walking

“Walking the dog” is one of the most quintessential dog ownership activities. But here’s the thing: Our pets aren’t born knowing how to walk politely on a leash!

In fact, walking at a human’s pace while attached to a short tether can actually feel really unnatural for many dogs. This is because canines:

• Tend to move at a faster pace than we do
• Instinctively zig zag, back track, and stop to take in the world through scent
• Have a larger bubble of social connection (meaning they can still feel like they’re hanging out with you even if they’re several yards away)

Many pet parents prioritize training their dogs to walk on a loose leash so neighborhood excursions are more enjoyable for everyone — no yanking your shoulder out of its socket, no choking your dog’s neck.

Reasons you might teach your dog to walk on a loose leash:

• You’re worried your dog will hurt him or herself if they keep pulling
• You struggle to physically control your dog when passing distractions
• Walks are more frustrating than enjoyable because of your dog’s pulling

Reasons you might not teach your dog to walk on a loose leash:

• You like to walk your dog in a comfortable harness where pulling doesn’t hurt their neck, shoulders, or back
• You personally aren’t bothered by your dog’s pulling
• Your dog doesn’t pull very hard or often, so it’s safe to walk them even with a little tension in the leash
• You don’t run into many distractions on your typical walking route
• You rarely take your dog on designated walks since you live in an environment where they can get lots of exercise on your own property

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4. “Heel”

Some people group loose-leash walking together, but they’re really two separate things.

• Loose-leash walking, like we talked about above, is when your dog simply walks on a leash without pulling. They aren’t necessarily in one position the whole time so long as there isn’t any tension on their collar or harness.
• Heel, on the other hand, is a specific command where your pup walks at your side. Every owner gets to decide how strict they want their “heel” criteria to be — usually a dog stays within a foot of your own position, not forging far ahead, falling back, or stopping to sniff.

Reasons you might teach your dog to heel:

• You live in a busy area with lots of distractions — so it’s helpful to be able to keep your dog directly at your side while passing other people, dogs, or potentially harmful scraps left on the sidewalk
• You’re trying to build your pup’s impulse control (heel can be a great way to practice staying focused on one task while ignoring the surrounding environment)

Reasons you might not teach your dog to heel:

• Your dog walks nicely on a leash and you don’t have any need for a more refined, specific position
• You’d actually like your dog to sniff more on walks — this is often the case with timid pets who already spend most of their time looking to their owners for direction
• You rarely take your dog on designated walks since you live in an environment where they can get lots of exercise on your own property

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5. Crate training

Most American dogs will find themselves in a crate or kennel at some point in their life. While some pups naturally gravitate towards small spaces more than others, the majority of pet dogs can definitely learn to love their crate over time. Kennels are versatile tools with a long list of potential benefits — as long as they're used correctly.

What about outside of the United States? Many dogs are crated for travel in other countries, but at-home kennels might be more uncommon. This is a great example of different pet parents making their own decisions based on their individual environments and expectations!

Reasons you might teach your dog to be comfortable in a crate:

• Your dog struggles to settle when left on their own
• They love to scavenge for things to eat or destroy, so you need to be able to keep them out of trouble when you can’t supervise
• You’re working on potty training — canines naturally avoid using the bathroom where they eat and sleep, so incorporating a crate can be a huge help
• Your dog has a hard time sleeping around distractions in your home, so giving them their own designated, quiet den can help ensure they get enough rest
• You want your dog to have a “human-free zone” they can retreat to when your kids or guests get a little overwhelming
• You’re preparing for an upcoming veterinary visit where they might have to spend some time in a kennel
• You love to go on road trips and want to use a crash-tested crate to keep your pup safe while driving
• A boarding or training facility requires your dog to be crate trained before you can use their services

Reasons you might not prioritize crate training:

• Your dog is rarely left alone
• When you do go somewhere without your dog, they don’t destroy or get into things in your home
• Your dog has severe confinement anxiety (this isn’t common, but can happen due to traumatic past experiences or genetic factors)
• You’d rather use an x-pen or other gate system when your dog needs to be kept in one spot
• You prefer to use a car harness or seat belt instead of a kennel to keep your dog safe while driving

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6. Sit or down stay

“Sit” and “down” are two of the most popular dog training commands out there. Many basic obedience classes focus on simple positions like this because they’re usually quick to teach and they come in handy in several day-to-day situations with our pets. Plus sit and down are a great way to build your pup’s impulse control when you add in a short “stay”!

Reasons you might teach your dog a sit or down stay:

• You want your dog to be able to stay in one position while you do things like check the mail, pick up their poop, or chat with neighbors on walks
• Your pup struggles to sit still — simple stays can be an easy way to gradually work up to more challenging impulse control situations

Reasons you might not teach your dog a sit or down stay:

• Your dog already stays in your general vicinity when you’re bagging their waste or doing other tasks on walks
• Your dog has mobility issues or joint pain that make these positions uncomfortable for them
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7. “Place”

The place command has grown in popularity over recent years, especially in the online dog training community. You can think of “place” sort of like a  “kennel without walls” or “extended down stay” — at its simplest, the place command means your dog goes to a designated dog bed, mat, or towel when asked and stays there until released by you.

Reasons you might teach your dog a place command:

• Your dog struggles to settle while you’re working from home, have guests over, or so on — but you don’t want to keep them all the way in their crate
• You want your dog to be able to sit still while visiting restaurant patios, coffee shops, and other pet-friendly locations
• You’re working on your pup’s impulse control and think “place” could be a good way to start
• You want to help your dog learn that they don’t always have to be physically moving — it’s healthy to “do nothing” for a while!
• You have young kids, multiple pets, or other reasons it would be helpful for your dog to be able to stay in one spot for a while

Reasons you might not teach your dog a place command:

• They settle well on their own most of the time
• You don’t have young kids, multiple pets, or other reasons your pup could need to stay in one place for a while

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Need help figuring out what to teach?

That's exactly what Juniper is here for. Our community brings pup parents together to help you make the most of life with your dog. We're always ready to offer suggestions for your unique situation!