Sit and down are foundations. Lure with a treat over the head for sit, and down to the floor, marking and rewarding the instant the position happens.
Stay builds impulse control. Ask for a sit, step back one pace, and return to reward; increase distance and duration only as your dog succeeds.
Come is the most important safety cue. Always reward enthusiastically, even if your dog took forever, so returning is never punished.
Leave it teaches self-control around food and hazards. Trade the forbidden item for something better, and practice with low-value items before real temptations.
Keep sessions under five minutes, end on success, and use high-value rewards for hard cues. Consistency across the whole household matters more than perfection.
