Basic Obedience Unveiled: 3 Positions, 3 Locations

Today I want to explain my framework for basic obedience. This is how I like to simplify your first commands with your dog, and while there are other useful commands, if you master this framework there is a good chance that anything else will be a bonus.

3 Positions:

This is simple to understand. Really there are only 3 practical positions your dog can be in, sit, down, and stand. I’ll explain them just to limit confusion but also I’ll add a tidbit about where and how they are useful.

Sit: “Put your butt on the ground”, the most basic position. The reason this is such a staple is because it is quick and easy for your dog to perform but it causes them to be stationary.

Down: “Put your chest and butt on the ground”, takes more work but still it's a basic command. A solid down is so important to create a dog that is more locked in place. The decision to break this command is a big one in most dog’s minds, it’s less likely that your dog “accidentally” gets up from Down.

Stand: “Stand up on all fours”, the hardest of the 3 to teach. Stand is certainly the most difficult to convey to your dog and has the least practical uses but showing your dog that this too is a position I can ask for really rounds out the concept of all 3 positions. It is also helpful for grooming/medical exams and regular practice ends up being more useful than most people think

3 Locations:

I like to boil this down to there being only 3 places we would ask our dog to be, Front, Heel, and Away.

Front: “I want you in front and facing me”. This is where most dogs default when focused. In this position, we have eye contact and it is the easiest spot to hold our dog's attention, it is also where it is easiest for us to Lure and position our dogs. I think of Front as our “Attention and Learning” location.

Heel: “Beside me, head and front feet lined up with my leg”. This is our “Real World” location. Heel is where we want our dog the majority of the time when out and about in the world. It is for traveling and moving with our dogs and allows us the most control with our leash. In reality, this is where I encourage my own dogs to default, when in doubt/fear/stress/uncertainty they’re never wrong to be by my side.

Away: “Out of arms reach”. Away is more complicated. This can be a command such as Place, they could be in a stationary command while I’m doing something else, or this could be free time. It doesn’t matter why or how they are Away we still need them to be able to listen.

The Power of Mastering 3x3:

It is important to understand that a dog that can perform all 3 positions in Front, may not understand all 3 in Heel or Away. Practicing your 3x3 and treating them as independent commands will allow you to truly see where your dog’s shortcomings are. The number of times I’ve seen an owner caught by surprise because their dog “won’t listen” in Heel/Away/Front is huge and it just boils down to practicing each one.

Not only should your dog be able to utilize all 3 Positions and switch between them fluidly, but they should be able to switch between the 3 Locations fluidly as well. Having a dog that can switch from Front to Heel and back allows incredible control of both their attention and their movement when out and about. What about Away? Well, isn’t a Recall/Come-When-Called really just changing from Away to Heel or Away to Front? It certainly is! Off-leash starts when I can transition my dog to and from the Away location.

One of the first exercises I have a new dog owner do (especially if it's a puppy) is Luring between Positions and Locations until your dog knows them like the back of their hand.

The Journey to Mastery:

Remember, consistency and patience are your allies. Start with one position and location, and gradually expand. Repetition is key, but keep the training sessions short and positive. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Practicing this will be a staple throughout your dog’s life.

In the realm of dog training, the beauty of Basic Obedience lies in its simplicity yet profound impact. By mastering these three positions in three different locations, you're equipping your companion with skills that compound through every aspect of life.

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