Looking for dog training commands in English and Spanish? Whether you’re a Spanish speaker training your dog in English, an English speaker teaching your dog Spanish commands, or a bilingual household trying to get everyone using the same vocabulary — this guide has you covered.
Jovie, our Golden Mountain Doodle from SwissRidge Kennels — the Ontario-based breeder who created the breed in 2013 — came to us as a puppy and went through both professional training and plenty of at-home work. As a trained Spanish-English linguist, I noticed something that most dog training guides miss entirely: the Spanish imperative form — the grammatical structure that makes a command sound like a command rather than a request — varies significantly across the Spanish-speaking world. Siéntate (Spain and most of Latin America), sentado (a nominal command used widely), sentá (Rioplatense Spanish in Argentina and Uruguay) — a dog trained in Buenos Aires and a dog trained in Madrid are listening to structurally different commands for the same behavior. This guide documents all of it.
Spanish terms in this guide reflect standard usage across major Spanish-speaking regions. Regional variants — particularly between Spain, Mexico, and the Southern Cone — are noted throughout. Use the jump navigation to find the section you need.
A note on the Spanish imperative form in dog training
Dog training commands in Spanish use the imperative mood — the grammatical form for giving orders and instructions. Spanish has multiple imperative forms depending on register: tú (informal singular), usted (formal singular), and vos (used in Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Central America). Most dog trainers use the informal tú form or nominal commands (adjectives/participles used as commands, like sentado). This guide notes which form is used for each entry. Consistency is more important than which form you choose — pick one and use it every time.
Jump to a category:
1. Basic Obedience Commands ·
2. Movement & Position Commands ·
3. Behavioral & Correction Commands ·
4. Advanced & Fun Commands ·
5. Praise, Rewards & Encouragement ·
6. Training Methodology Vocabulary
1. Basic Obedience Commands — Comandos básicos de obediencia
| English | Spanish Command | Notes / Notas |
|---|---|---|
| Sit | ¡Siéntate! / ¡Sentado! | Siéntate is the standard informal imperative (tú form) of sentarse. Sentado (seated, as an adjective/participle) is widely used as a nominal command — particularly in professional training contexts across Latin America. Regional note: In Rioplatense Spanish (Argentina, Uruguay), the vos form gives sentate (no accent). The original post’s use of sienta is not the standard imperative form and should be avoided. |
| Stay | ¡Quieto! / ¡Quédate! | Quieto (still/calm, masculine) / Quieta (feminine) is the most widely used dog training command for stay across all Spanish-speaking regions. Quédate (imperative of quedarse) is also used, particularly in Mexico and Central America. The gender agreement in quieto/quieta should match your dog’s sex. |
| Come / Here | ¡Ven! / ¡Ven aquí! / ¡Aquí! | Ven is the informal imperative (tú form) of venir. Regional note: In Rioplatense Spanish, vení is the vos form and extremely common in Argentina and Uruguay. In Spain, venga (from venir) is also used informally. In Costa Rica, venga is similarly heard. |
| Down / Lie down | ¡Échate! / ¡Echado! / ¡Abajo! / ¡Acostado! | This command has the most regional variation of any basic obedience command. Échate (imperative of echarse) and the nominal form echado are standard in Spain and most of Latin America. Abajo (down/below) is common in Mexico. Acostado (lying down) is preferred in Argentina. Tumbado/Túmbate is used in Spain. Choose one and be consistent. |
| Stand | ¡En pie! / ¡Parado! / ¡De pie! | Used to ask a dog to stand from a sitting or lying position. En pie and de pie are standard in Spain; parado (standing) is the more common nominal command across Latin America. |
| Wait | ¡Espera! / ¡Espérate! | Distinct from stay in professional training — wait means pause briefly (at a doorway, before eating), while stay means hold position until released. Espera is the imperative of esperar; espérate adds the reflexive for emphasis. |
| Heel | ¡Junto! / ¡Al lado! / ¡Al pie! | The heel command asks the dog to walk close at the handler’s left side. Junto (together/close) is the most widely used term across Latin America. Al lado (at the side) and al pie (at the foot) are also used. K-9 police training in Spanish-speaking countries typically uses junto. |
| Off / Get off | ¡Fuera! / ¡Abajo! / ¡Quita! | Used to stop jumping on people or furniture. Fuera (out/away) is emphatic and widely understood. Quita (remove yourself) is used in Spain. Note that abajo serves double duty for both “down” (lie down) and “off” in some regional contexts — a potential source of confusion worth avoiding. |
2. Movement & Position Commands — Comandos de movimiento y posición
| English | Spanish Command | Notes / Notas |
|---|---|---|
| Fetch / Get it | ¡Busca! / ¡Trae! / ¡Atrápalo! | Busca (search/find) is the command used for the retrieve behavior. Trae (bring) is the return command — bring it back to me. They work together: busca to send the dog, trae to call it back. Atrápalo (catch it) is used specifically for catching a thrown object in the air. |
| Drop it / Leave it | ¡Suelta! / ¡Déjalo! / ¡Suéltalo! | Suelta (release/drop) is the imperative for releasing an object from the mouth. Déjalo (leave it alone) is used to prevent picking something up in the first place — an important distinction in professional training. Both are essential safety commands. |
| Go / Forward | ¡Vamos! / ¡Adelante! | Vamos (let’s go) is the natural command for forward movement together. Adelante (forward/ahead) is used in more formal training contexts, particularly in K-9 work. |
| Back up | ¡Atrás! / ¡Para atrás! | Commands the dog to step backward. Atrás (back/behind) is universally understood across all Spanish-speaking regions. |
| Turn around | ¡Da la vuelta! / ¡Gira! | Commands the dog to turn 180 degrees. Da la vuelta (turn around) is the standard command; gira (turn/spin) is used for the spin trick. |
| Place / Go to your spot | ¡A tu lugar! / ¡A tu sitio! / ¡A la cama! | Commands the dog to go to a designated mat, bed, or spot and stay there. A tu lugar and a tu sitio are general; a la cama (to the bed) is used specifically for sending to the dog bed. |
| Kennel / Crate | ¡A la jaula! / ¡Adentro! / ¡A tu casa! | Commands the dog to enter its crate. A tu casa (to your house) is a common affectionate term for the crate in Spanish-speaking households. Adentro (inside/in) is the most direct. |
3. Behavioral & Correction Commands — Comandos de comportamiento y corrección
| English | Spanish Command | Notes / Notas |
|---|---|---|
| No | ¡No! | The universal correction command — identical in both languages and recognized by dogs regardless of training language. Tone carries more information than the word itself. Use firmly and consistently, not excessively. |
| Quiet / Stop barking | ¡Cállate! / ¡Silencio! | Cállate (be quiet, imperative of callarse) is the natural everyday command. Silencio (silence) is more formal and sometimes more effective precisely because it’s unusual. Note that quieto means “stay still” not “be quiet” — a common confusion for English speakers. |
| Speak / Bark | ¡Habla! / ¡Ladra! | Habla (speak, imperative of hablar) is the most commonly used command for barking on cue. Ladra (bark, imperative of ladrar) is the technically precise term — ladrar means specifically to bark. |
| Easy / Gentle | ¡Suave! / ¡Despacio! / ¡Con cuidado! | Used to ask for gentle behavior — taking treats softly, greeting people calmly. Suave (soft/gentle) is the most intuitive command. Con cuidado (carefully/gently) is used in more deliberate contexts. |
| Leave it | ¡Déjalo! / ¡No lo toques! | Prevents the dog from touching, picking up, or approaching something. One of the most important safety commands — teaches impulse control. Distinct from suelta (drop it) which applies after the dog has already picked something up. |
| Enough / That’s enough | ¡Ya! / ¡Basta! / ¡Ya está! | Ya is one of the most versatile words in Spanish — depending on tone, it means “already,” “now,” “enough,” or “okay.” In dog training, ¡ya! functions as a release word or a firm “that’s enough.” Basta (enough/stop) is emphatic and widely understood. |
4. Advanced & Fun Commands — Comandos avanzados y divertidos
| English | Spanish Command | Notes / Notas |
|---|---|---|
| Shake / Paw | ¡Dame la pata! / ¡Choca! | Dame la pata (give me your paw) is the standard command. Choca (hit/give five, from chocar) is the colloquial command for a high-five variation, widely used across Latin America. |
| Roll over | ¡Date la vuelta! / ¡Rueda! | Date la vuelta (give yourself a turn / roll over) is the standard command. Rueda (roll, imperative of rodar) is shorter and more direct. |
| Play dead | ¡Hazte el muerto! / ¡Muerto! | Hazte el muerto (play dead, literally “make yourself the dead one”) is the idiomatic command widely understood across all Spanish-speaking regions. The shortened muerto works once the dog knows the behavior. This is one of the most charming examples of Spanish dog training vocabulary. |
| Spin | ¡Gira! / ¡Vuelta! | Commands the dog to spin in a circle. Gira (turn/spin) and vuelta (turn/circle) are both used. Some trainers use directional variants: gira a la derecha (spin right) and gira a la izquierda (spin left). |
| Bow | ¡Reverencia! / ¡Inclínate! | Commands the dog to lower its front end while keeping its rear up — the classic play bow position. Reverencia (bow/reverence) is the most descriptive term. |
| Jump | ¡Salta! / ¡Arriba! | Salta (jump, imperative of saltar) is the standard command for jumping on cue. Arriba (up) is used for jumping up onto a surface. Note the distinction from fuera/abajo which mean “get off.” |
| Find it / Search | ¡Busca! / ¡Encuentra! | Used for nose work and scent detection games. Busca (search/look for) doubles as both the fetch command and the nose work command — context and training make the distinction clear. Nose work is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in both English and Spanish-speaking communities. |
5. Praise, Rewards & Encouragement — Elogios, recompensas y aliento
| English | Spanish Equivalent | Notes / Notas |
|---|---|---|
| Good boy / Good girl | ¡Buen chico! / ¡Buena chica! | Gender agreement is required in Spanish — buen chico for males, buena chica for females. Buen perro / Buena perra is the literal equivalent but chico/chica sounds more natural in most contexts. |
| Good dog | ¡Buen perro! / ¡Buena perra! | The direct translation. Gender agreement required: buen perro (male dog), buena perra (female dog). Note that perra, while the correct feminine form, has vulgar connotations in some contexts in everyday Spanish — buena chica is often preferred for female dogs. |
| Very good / Well done | ¡Muy bien! | The most universally used praise phrase in Spanish dog training across all regions. Bien (well, adverb) vs. bueno (good, adjective) — muy bien means “very well done,” not “very good.” The distinction matters: you praise what the dog did, not what it is. |
| Yes! (marker word) | ¡Sí! | In marker training (a reward-based method), a single short word marks the exact moment of correct behavior before the treat arrives. Sí works perfectly as a Spanish marker word — short, sharp, and distinct. |
| Free / Release | ¡Libre! / ¡Ya puedes! | The release word tells the dog that a command (sit, stay, down) is over and it can move freely. Libre (free) is clean and consistent. Ya puedes (you can now) is more conversational. Choose one and use it every time — the release word is as important as the command itself. |
| Treat / Cookie | Premio / Galleta / Golosina | Premio (prize/reward) is the standard word for a training treat in professional contexts. Golosina (treat/sweet) is the everyday household word. Galleta (cookie/biscuit) is used when treats are specifically biscuit-type. Many dogs learn the word for their treats — consistency here matters too. |
6. Training Methodology Vocabulary — Vocabulario de metodología del adiestramiento
This section covers the professional training terminology used by certified dog trainers — useful for bilingual families working with professional trainers, or Spanish-speaking owners navigating English-language training resources.
| English | Español | Notes / Notas |
|---|---|---|
| Positive reinforcement | Refuerzo positivo | The method of rewarding desired behaviors to increase their frequency. The gold standard of modern dog training. Refuerzo positivo is the standard term in Spanish-language veterinary and animal behavior literature. |
| Marker training / Clicker training | Adiestramiento con marcador / Clicker | Using a precise signal (click or verbal marker) to mark the exact moment of correct behavior. Clicker is used directly in Spanish — the English term has been adopted without translation in professional training communities. |
| Luring | Guía con señuelo / Señuelo | Using a treat held in the hand to guide the dog’s body into position (as in luring a dog into a sit by raising the treat above its head). |
| Capturing | Captura de comportamiento | Marking and rewarding a behavior the dog offers naturally, without prompting — for example, marking the moment a dog naturally sits. |
| Shaping | Moldeamiento / Shaping | Rewarding successive approximations toward a desired behavior. Moldeamiento is the technical term in animal behavior science; shaping is used directly in many Spanish-language training contexts. |
| Cue / Command | Señal / Comando / Orden | Modern trainers prefer cue (señal) over command (comando/orden) — the distinction is intentional: a cue is an invitation to perform a behavior, whereas a command implies force. Both terms are in common use. |
| Socialization | Socialización | The critical early period (typically before 16 weeks) during which puppies are introduced to people, animals, environments, and sounds. Socialización is the standard term in veterinary and training contexts across all Spanish-speaking regions. |
| Threshold | Umbral | The point at which a dog becomes reactive or unable to focus. Keeping a dog “under threshold” — close enough to a trigger to learn, but not so close that it reacts — is fundamental to behavior modification work. |
| Reactive dog | Perro reactivo | A dog that overreacts to specific triggers (other dogs, strangers, cars) with barking, lunging, or freezing. Reactivo is the preferred professional term over agresivo (aggressive) — the distinction is important both clinically and in how owners think about their dogs. |
| Handler | Guía / Manejador | The person working with the dog. Guía (guide) is the preferred term in professional Spanish-language dog training and K-9 work. Manejador is a direct translation more common in written materials. |
Why Teach Your Dog Spanish Commands? A Linguist’s Perspective
People ask me this fairly often, especially once they find out I’m a trained linguist. The short answer: it doesn’t matter which language you use, as long as you’re consistent. Dogs respond to the sound pattern and tone of a word, not its semantic meaning. A dog trained with siéntate and a dog trained with sit have learned exactly the same thing — to associate a specific sound pattern with a specific behavior.
The longer answer is more interesting. There are genuine reasons to choose one language over another:
Consistency in a bilingual household. If some family members naturally speak Spanish and others English, choosing one language for commands eliminates ambiguity. Dogs are excellent at learning multiple cues for the same behavior — but it takes more time and more deliberate training.
Phonological clarity. Spanish commands tend to be shorter and more phonologically distinct from everyday conversation than their English equivalents. Quieto and ven cut through ambient noise in ways that stay and come sometimes don’t. This is part of why many professional trainers — including K-9 units — train in a language other than their everyday speech language.
The K-9 argument. Many law enforcement K-9 units train in German or Czech precisely so that only the handler can command the dog. The same logic applies to any owner who wants an exclusive communication channel — teaching a dog Spanish in an English-speaking household creates a vocabulary set that strangers are unlikely to know.
Jovie knows commands in both languages. She’s learned that siéntate and sit mean the same thing — which is either a tribute to her intelligence or a reflection of how thoroughly she has trained us. Probably both.
Explore more bilingual vocabulary resources on Firefly Linguistics:
- Is “Floofy” a Real Word? A Trained Linguist Weighs In — Featuring Jovie
- Dictionary vs. Glossary vs. Lexicon vs. Word List: A Linguist Explains the Difference
- How English Has Influenced Spanish Vocabulary: A Trained Linguist’s Guide
- Firefly Linguistics Bilingual Glossaries — Dictionaries and Reference Resources
About the Author
Andrew Lillie is a trained Spanish-English linguist, certified interpreter, and enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation based in Oregon. He holds a BA from Brigham Young University and a graduate degree in translation from the University of Puerto Rico, and has lived and worked in Argentina and Puerto Rico. He is the owner of Jovie, a Golden Mountain Doodle from SwissRidge Kennels — the Ontario-based breeder who created the breed in 2013 — who has completed both professional obedience training and extensive at-home training — and who is, by any objective measure, floofy.
Andrew is the founder of Firefly Linguistic Services LLC and the creator of the Spanish by Topic bilingual vocabulary platform. The terminology in this glossary was compiled from professional dog training, animal behavior, and linguistic reference sources and reviewed by Andrew Lillie.
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