Glossary

Basic obedience

The core manners most pet dogs are taught, usually sit, down, stay, come, walking nicely on a leash and leave it.

Also called: obedience training, beginner training, basic manners, obedience class

Basic obedience covers the everyday skills that make life with a dog easier and safer. A typical list is sit, down, stay, come when called, loose-leash walking and leave it. These are usually taught in group classes or private lessons and practiced at home.

The goal is communication and safe habits, not control for its own sake. Modern instructors favor reward-based methods and short, frequent sessions, and they teach dogs to perform in new places with distractions, since a dog that sits in the kitchen may not sit at the park.

It is different from advanced obedience competition, where precision matters, and it is not a fix for fear or aggression. Those problems usually need a behavior professional. A dog may attend several levels, starting with puppy classes.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Puppy kindergarten An early group class where young puppies learn basic manners and meet other puppies and people in a supervised setting. Canine Good Citizen An American Kennel Club program and ten-item test that rewards well-mannered dogs with a certificate. Recall A dog's trained response to turn and come straight to its owner when called, one of the most important safety behaviors. Stay A cue that asks a dog to keep its position, such as sitting or lying down, until the owner releases it.