Release Command

What is a release command? Well, it is the verbal cue or hand signal that lets your dog/puppy know they are done with the command.

Release commands are so important! If you do not use the release command, your dog automatically thinks he/she is done after you have marked the behavior and provided the treat. If you use your release command, your dog knows when he/she is done. For example when I ask my dog to “SIT!” they do not move until I release them, so “STAY!” isn’t a necessary command. I still teach “STAY!” as a reinforcer but it really isn’t needed when we truly use our release commands correctly.

I use “FREE!” as my verbal command when I release my dogs. When I first started training, a lot of people were using “OKAY!” as their release command. “OKAY!” is fine to use but let me caution you…we use okay in our everyday language A LOT! So, you may have your dog in a “PLACE!” while greeting your guests and if one of you says the word okay, you have just released your dog… Now you have just released the dog before potentially making sure they were calm to greet your guest.

What are some good words to use as commands? FREE, RELEASE, DONE, BREAK. I have one client that uses NOW. As long as you are consistent, and everyone in the household uses it, your command could be jibberish.

If I use a release command am I being too strict with my dogs? Um…NO! Dogs like routines, they excel in environments where they know what is happening. By not giving your dog a release, they become confused and this can result in anxiety issues.

Let me put it this way… Our dogs only have us and the situations we allow them to be in. We have the entire world, we go to work/school, out with our friends. Dogs have all the time in the world to figure us out, do we spend the the time to figure them out? Not usually. The release command just gives them a bit more structure and one less thing to worry about.

What if my dog doesn’t understand? That’s okay. When I am training a new dog, after I release them I walk away so they know we are done. Say, “SIT!” for about 10 seconds then I say “FREE!” walk away then repeat 10+ times. The repetition allows the dog to know what is coming next. Now, if the dog releases himself/herself before I released them, I drop in my release command quickly so it was my idea not theirs. Always finish with a positive! So if you have been having issues, take a few steps back and release sooner.

In the picture above my continuing education group’s dogs are in a sit. We are able to get the dogs in a long sit with distractions using our release command.