Dog Training Commands in Five Languages: Sit, Down and Come

Choosing dog training commands in another language starts with the same question as choosing an English cue: what, exactly, should your dog do when they hear it? Here are examples for sit, lie down and come in five languages, plus a practical way to introduce a new word.

Sit, down and come in five languages

These are examples of cues used in dog training. Trainers may use different words or teach a different finish to a behavior. If your dog already has a trainer or program, check that dog’s cue list first.

• English: Sit — sit; lie down — down; come to you — come.
• German: Sit — Sitz; lie down — Platz; come to you — Hier.
• French: Sit — Assis; lie down — Couché; come to you — Viens.
• Czech: Sit — Sedni; lie down — Lehni; come to you — Ke mně.
• Dutch: Sit — Zit; lie down — Af; come to you — Hier.

The German, French, Czech and Dutch examples appear in the training or competition documents linked below. Those documents establish how the words are used; their competition exercises are not requirements for everyday handling. A fluent speaker can help you hear and practice an unfamiliar word.

Agree on what the cue means

Decide on the behavior before choosing its name. For example, “down” might mean lying on the floor, while “off” means getting off furniture. Using “down” for both leaves you with two different things to teach under one word.

For a working dog handled by more than one person, share the actual cue and its meaning. “Come” might mean returning within reach, or returning and sitting in front of you. A family member cannot know which finish you expect from a translation alone. Include the release cue—the word or signal that tells your dog the exercise is finished.

Choose cues you can give comfortably and consistently. A hand signal may be a useful option, too. Changing languages does not make a dog immune to distractions or stop a stranger from trying to attract their attention.

Introduce one new cue at a time

Start with a behavior your dog already knows in a quiet, familiar place. To add Sitz to a familiar “sit,” for example:

1. Say the new word, then give the familiar cue. Keep them separate, rather than speaking both at once.
2. When your dog sits, mark the correct response with a familiar click or reward word such as “yes,” then give the reward.
3. As your dog begins sitting after the new word and before the old cue, reward that response. Gradually leave out the old cue.

If your dog looks puzzled or stops responding, return to an easier repetition with the familiar cue. Avoid repeating the new word more loudly. Practice in another quiet spot before asking for it in a busier setting. Fenzi Dog Sports Academy explains cue transfer and gradual changes in difficulty.

If your dog has not learned the behavior yet

Teach the action first. For a sit, Dogs Trust demonstrates guiding the dog’s nose with a treat, rewarding the sit, then fading the visible food before adding the word. Their sequence puts the verbal cue before the familiar hand gesture. Do not push the dog’s bottom down to get the position. Follow their step-by-step sit lesson if you need the foundation.

If your dog arrived with cues in another language, ask the trainer or previous handler to demonstrate them and their release signal. Keep useful, familiar cues while you learn. There is no need to rename everything on the first day.