Dog blog
The holy trinity of commands that can save your dog's life
Dog owners often invest in training their dogs to correct problem behaviors. With the right training you can not only raise your dog to be a “perfect gentleman”, but a few key commands can save his life one day.
You can teach your dog all sorts of tricks. Many of them are just for fun and your dog will have a happy life even without knowing how to “roll over”, “beg” or “play a dead dog”. But there are three commands that every furry buddy should be able to do in every situation, whether it's a Chihuahua or a Great Dane. If you teach your dog these commands, you will ensure the safety not only of the surroundings, but especially of the dog himself. It will also make your life easier in many ways, you won't be afraid to let him run free, for example. So what are the key commands and why is it important for your dog to know them?
Lie Down
A dog that is able to go immediately into a lying position and stay there, regardless of the distance of his master, will be better able to avoid imminent danger. Rescue dogs learn to respond to this command even at the greatest speed, when they are running towards a victim or on a pile of rubble, for example. But pets should know it too, and that includes all couch potatoes. Why? A dog may find himself in a dangerous situation, but summoning him to you could put him in even more danger (e.g. having to run across a road where a car is driving). The moment you remotely give him the command to lie down, he should remain lying down in safety and wait for you to get to him.
Release
The things we use in everyday life can be life-threatening to dogs. You have certainly seen your dog take an object into his mouth that you never thought he would even notice, let alone want to eat. Tempting items such as socks or women's underwear have caused several cases of suffocation. Chicken bones or fruit pits that can fall off the kitchen counter are also dangerous. Even a single pill of human prescription medication or poisoned bait sniffed out in a park can endanger a dog's life. Because of these lures, which are so irresistible to many dogs, we should reliably teach them the command to “let go“/“spit“/“leave it“. Our furry buddy should immediately let go of whatever he is holding in his mouth at that moment, thus preventing impending disaster. At the same time, he should know that after this command, he must not pay attention to the object any further, giving you time to put it away.
Come
Dogs are often unaware of the potential threats around them. Many of them, in the heat of the game, would easily run into a busy road or after a rolling ball straight off a cliff. Even the best-behaved dog can find himself in a similar situation, and by teaching him to come to every call, you can prevent a lot of trouble.
How about your furry buddies, do they know all these commands?
