Talking to your dog: Basic Commands

💬 [お] adds a soft, polite feel. [すわり] comes from the verb [すわる], “to sit.” Many dogs in Japan learn this exact command.

🇯🇵 A classic dog command in Japan. You may also hear owners use a brighter, encouraging tone rather than sounding strict.

💬 [まて] is the command form of [まつ], “to wait.” It is short, sharp, and easy for dogs to catch.

🇯🇵 This is one of the most common commands used in Japan during training, often before meals or crossing small streets.

💬 [おいで] literally has a welcoming nuance, like “come on over.” It sounds friendlier than a harsher command.

🇯🇵 Japanese owners often say this in a warm, happy voice to encourage recall during play or walks.

💬 [ふせ] comes from a verb meaning “to lie face down.” It is a standard dog-training word, not something you usually say to people.

🇯🇵 Very common in obedience training in Japan, especially for calm behavior in parks or at home.

💬 [たって] comes from [たつ], “to stand.” The [って] ending makes it sound like a direct spoken request.

🇯🇵 This is understandable and used in daily speech, though some trainers may prefer other set commands depending on the dog.

💬 [いけ] is a strong command form of [いく], “to go.” It sounds forceful, so use it carefully.

🇯🇵 This can sound rough in human conversation, but in dog training it may be used as a crisp command when sending a dog forward.

💬 [とまれ] is the command form of [とまる], “to stop.” You will also see [止まれ] on roads in Japan.

🇯🇵 Fun fact: this word is famous from street markings. Learners often remember it from intersections before they hear it in dog training.

💬 [だめ] means “not allowed,” “bad,” or “no.” It is very useful beyond dog talk too.

🇯🇵 Japanese owners use [だめ] a lot with pets and children. Tone matters: firm, but usually not overly loud.

💬 [はなして] comes from [はなす], “to release” or “let go.” It literally means “let it go.”

🇯🇵 A practical home command in Japan, especially when a dog grabs socks, tissues, or something from a convenience-store bag.