Name- The dog’s name equals eye contact and sustained attention within 1-2 seconds of cue. Not a recall, but okay if dog moves towards handler.
Come- The dog recalls quickly to front zone, within touch distance of handler. The dog is able to recall from a distance and away from distractions.
Get Busy- The dog’s cue to eliminate.
Get Dressed- The dog will move their nose into their collar, cape and other equipment without a lure and stay still while they are fastened. Handler does not need to reach forward or bend over; handler can remain seated.
Sit- From a stand, the dog tucks their back feet in to meet their front feet; front feet do not move. From a down, the dog’s shoulders rise up and their back feet move to meet their front feet; the front feet do not move. Can be completed at a distance, in motion and at handlers sides. Stay implied; requires release or next cue.
Down- From stand, the dog folds back into a down; the front feet do not move and the dog does not sit first. From a sit, the dogs collapses downwards; the dogs front feet do not move. Can be completed at a distance, in motion and at handlers sides. Stay implied; requires release or next cue.
Stand- From a down, the dog rises up and forward and kicks back feet out. From a sit, the dog kicks their rear feet backwards. Front feet do not move in either case. A pop up stand is acceptable where the dog’s front feet leave the ground, though they retain original placement upon landing. Can be completed at a distance, in motion and at handlers sides. Stay implied; requires release or next cue.
Stay- Built into many cues, may also be used as a standalone verbal. Dog does not move from position due to distractions, hearing other dogs’ cues or handler walking behind, touching, stepping over, being out of sight, praising, treating, picking up or dropping the leash, etc. Requires release or next cue.
Wait- Verbal cue for dog to pause their motion until they receive release or next cue.
Okay- Release cue from a duration position. The dog should move out of the position with focus on handler.
Up- The dog jumps onto a surface (such as a grooming table or into a car) with all four feet.
Off- The dog puts all four feet onto the ground (cue to remind dog not to jump up or to release from a table).
Kennel- The dog should enter their crate, willingly, and wait with door open until they are released. Once the door is shut, the dog should remain quiet despite activity around the kennel.
Yes- Reward marker. This word captures a behavior and indicates the reward comes from the hand.
Find It- Reward marker. This word captures and ends a behavior and indicates the reward will be tossed on the floor.
Let’s Go- This signals the dog to begin moving with handler.
Heel and Side- Perch training is used to shape the dog to pivot to left (heel) and right (side) on verbal only; dog learns to never cross behind handler and to remain in the parallel position. Not a cue to begin or maintain walking.
Back- The dog moves backwards in a straight line. Can move backwards next to handler (in the same direction) and also away from handler independently in any direction.