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Home / Get Involved / Puppy Program Portal / Training / Common Cues

Common Cues

Yellow and black Labrador dogs in green grass

Common Cues

For a visual showing the ideal performance of each cue, click the cue name below to launch a video.
For guidance on teaching these cues, register for Can Do Canines group or one-on-one training opportunities.

Jump to sections on this page
 The Basics | Positioning and Walking | Other Cues | Tricks

Printable List of Common Cues

The Basics

Click the plus sign to expand the description and access a training video.

Name Come Busy Dress Sit Down Stand Stay Wait Break Up and Off Kennel Yes Floor Scatter
Name

Name

The dog’s name equals eye contact and sustained attention within 1-2 seconds of the cue. This is not a recall, but it is OK if the dog moves towards the handler.

Come

Come

The dog recalls quickly to the front zone, within touch distance of the handler. The dog is able to recall from a distance and away from distractions.

Busy

Busy

The dog's cue to eliminate.

Dress

Dress

The dog will move their nose into their collar, cape, or other equipment without a lure, and stay still while they are fastened. The handler does not need to reach forward or bend over; the handler can remain seated.

Sit

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. This can be completed at a distance, in motion, and at the handler's sides. "Stay" is implied, and release or the next cue is required.

Down

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 dog collapses downwards; the dog's front feet do not move. This can be completed at a distance, in motion, and at the handler's sides. "Stay" is implied, and release or the next cue is required.

Stand

Stand

From a down, the dog rises up and forward and kicks their back feet out. From a sit, the dog kicks their rear feet backwards. The front feet do not move in either case. A pop-up stand is acceptable when the dog’s front feet leave the ground, though they retain their original placement upon landing. This can be completed at a distance, in motion, and at handler's sides. "Stay" is implied, and release or the next cue is required.

Stay

Stay

This is built into many cues. The dog does not move from position due to distractions, hearing other dogs' cues, or the handler walking behind, touching, stepping over, being out of sight, praising, treating, or picking up or dropping the leash, etc. Release or the next cue is required.

Wait

Wait

This is a verbal cue for the dog to pause their motion until they are released or receive the next cue.

Break

Break

This is a release cue from a duration position. The dog should move up and out of the position with their focus on the handler.

Up and Off

Up and Off

Up: The dog learns to jump 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 the dog not to jump up or to release from a table).

Kennel

Kennel

The dog should enter their crate willingly and wait with the door open until they are released. Once the door is shut, the dog should remain quiet despite activity around the kennel.

Yes

Yes

This is a marker word. This word ends a behavior, and the dog is fed a reward from the hand.

Floor

Floor

This is a marker word. This word ends a behavior, and the dog's reward is tossed onto the floor.

Scatter

Scatter

The dog is cued to eat food from the ground.

Positioning & Walking

Let's Go Heel & Side Back Fix Under Park Step Out
Let's Go

Let's Go

This signals the dog to begin moving with the handler.

Heel & Side

Heel & Side

Perch training is used to shape the dog to pivot to the left (heel) and the right (side) with a verbal cue only. The dog learns to never cross behind the handler and to remain in the parallel position. This is not a cue to begin or maintain walking.

Back

Back 

The dog moves backwards in a straight line. Can move backwards next to the handler (in the same direction) and also away from the handler independently in any direction.

Fix

Fix

If the leash becomes tangled between the dog’s feet, the dog will lift the trapped leg and step over the leash in order to remove the tangle. The dog does not need the handler to move the leash.

Under

Under

The dog is sent beneath an object such as a table or chair and lies down. The handler does not need to lure or assist the dog in orienting under the object, and the dog is able to navigate short, tight spaces. The handler may be sitting or standing when cuing the dog. "Stay" is implied, and this requires release or the next cue.

Park

Park

While the handler is seated, the dog will come to the front zone, circle to face the same direction as the handler, lie down, and back underneath the handler’s seat. "Stay" is implied, and release or the next cue is required.

Step

Step

The dog places its front feet onto an elevated surface such as a curb, perch, or stair.

Out

Out

The dog will move out of a predefined space, such as a bathroom or kitchen, and wait to re-enter until released.

Other Cues

Chin Nudge Settle Mat Shake Visit
Chin

Chin

The dog rests their chin in the handler’s palm. This cue implies duration; the handler should be able to examine the dog’s teeth, ears, and eyes.

Nudge

Nudge

The dog pushes their nose firmly into the palm of a hand. Nudge as a verbal cue is only used on the body (hand or leg for "Get help").

Settle

Settle 

The dog will lie down, flip onto a hip, and rest on their side (lateral recumbent), with their head and shoulder lying on the ground. The dog should allow an exam, grooming, and petting while in this position. "Stay" is implied, and release or the next cue is required.

Mat

Mat

The handler sends the dog at least 6 feet to a stationary target on a verbal cue only, and lies down on the target. The dog should look for the mat and target and remain on it with their front feet. "Stay" is implied, and release or the next cue is required.

Shake

Shake

The dog will place a front paw into the palm of their handler. The dog should know how to give both front feet to a handler and be comfortable having each foot gripped or moved. This behavior may be used for greetings in public, as well as general care.

Visit

Visit

The dog rests their chin on a surface such as a chair or the handler’s leg. When visiting the handler, the dog only approaches from the sides, never the front. This cue implies duration; the handler should be able to pet the dog, attach the leash, or clip the collar, etc., while the dog rests their chin.

Tricks

Some Can Do Canines have learned tricks in addition to our common cues. Tricks help teach problem solving, body awareness and boost confidence, not to mention are cute and entertaining. Puppy Program has a curated list of tricks and their cues. Some tricks are not allowed due to the safety of the dog or their future client. If you would like to teach a trick, please verify that it is approved. If a program dog has learned any of these tricks while in prison or with another foster, please make sure that they only receive a reward if YOU cue the trick, never for offering it and always balance practicing tricks with the rest of their training.

Download a List of Approved Tricks

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