basic-obedience

name	basic-obedience
locale	caveman-lite
source_locale	en
source_commit	82c77053
translator	Julius Brussee homage — caveman
translation_date	2026-04-19
description	Foundation obedience training for dogs — sit, stay, come, heel, and down using positive reinforcement and marker training. Covers timing, reward hierarchy, session structure, distraction proofing, and common handler errors. Use when a new puppy (8+ weeks) is ready for foundation training, an adult dog lacks reliable basic commands, a rescue dog needs to learn the household's command vocabulary, before advancing to complex behaviors or off-leash work, or when existing commands have degraded and need re-establishing.
license	MIT
allowed-tools	Read
metadata	{"author":"Philipp Thoss","version":"1.0","domain":"animal-training","complexity":"intermediate","language":"natural","tags":"animal-training, dog, obedience, positive-reinforcement, marker-training, commands"}

Basic Obedience

Teach foundation commands (sit, stay, come, heel, down) using positive reinforcement and marker training.

When to Use

• A new puppy (8+ weeks) is ready for foundation training
• An adult dog lacks reliable basic commands
• A rescue or rehomed dog needs to learn the household's command vocabulary
• Before advancing to more complex behaviors or off-leash work
• When existing commands have degraded and need re-establishing

Inputs

• Required: A dog (any breed, any age 8+ weeks)
• Required: High-value treats (small, soft, quickly consumed)
• Optional: Clicker or verbal marker word (e.g., "yes")
• Optional: 6-foot leash and flat collar or harness
• Optional: Quiet training space with minimal distractions (initially)

Procedure

Step 1: Establish the Marker

The marker bridges the gap between the desired behavior and the reward.

Marker Training Protocol:
1. Choose your marker: clicker (precise) or verbal "yes" (always available)
2. Charge the marker (10-15 reps):
   - Mark (click or "yes") then immediately deliver a treat
   - No behavior required — just marker → treat, marker → treat
   - Dog should begin orienting toward you at the sound of the marker
3. Test: mark when the dog is looking away. Does the dog turn toward
   you expecting a treat? If yes, the marker is charged.

Timing Rule:
The marker must occur WITHIN 1 second of the desired behavior.
Late marking teaches the wrong behavior.
Mark → then reach for the treat (not the reverse).

Got: The dog reliably orients toward the handler upon hearing the marker, expecting a reward.

If fail: If the dog does not respond to the marker after 20 reps, the treat value is too low. Switch to higher-value rewards (cheese, chicken, liver). If the dog is too distracted to eat, the environment is too stimulating — move to a quieter space.

Step 2: Teach the Five Foundation Commands

Work on one command per session until reliable, then begin mixing.

Command Protocols:

SIT:
1. Hold treat above dog's nose, slowly arc backward over the head
2. As the dog's head follows up, the rear naturally lowers
3. The instant the rear touches the ground → mark and treat
4. Add the verbal cue "sit" AFTER the dog is offering the behavior reliably
   (cue comes before behavior only once the dog understands the behavior)

DOWN:
1. From a sit, hold treat at the dog's nose then lower slowly to the ground
2. Draw the treat slightly forward along the ground
3. As elbows touch the ground → mark and treat
4. If the dog stands instead, reset and try with less forward movement

STAY:
1. Ask for a sit or down
2. Open palm toward the dog, say "stay"
3. Wait 1 second → mark and treat while the dog is still in position
4. Gradually increase duration: 2s, 5s, 10s, 30s, 1 min
5. Add distance: one step back, then two, then five
6. Add distraction: only after duration and distance are solid
   (the "three Ds": Duration, Distance, Distraction — increase one at a time)

COME (recall):
1. Start on a long line (15-30 ft) in a low-distraction environment
2. Let the dog wander, then call name + "come" in an upbeat tone
3. If the dog turns toward you → mark → reward generously when the dog arrives
4. NEVER call "come" for something unpleasant (bath, crate, leaving the park)
5. Recall is the most important safety command — make it the most rewarding

HEEL:
1. Dog on your left side, treat in left hand at your hip
2. Take one step, if the dog moves with you → mark and treat
3. Gradually increase to two steps, five steps, ten steps
4. Mark and treat for maintaining position (head roughly at your knee)
5. If the dog pulls ahead, stop walking. Resume when the leash is loose.