Basic dog commands aren’t just for tricks. They can be life savers when you or your dog encounters a dangerous situation. Your dog's ability to obey the sit or stay command for example, could prevent it from running out into a dangerous street or getting wrangled up in a dangerous fight with a strange aggressive dog. Obedience training also creates an amicable living environment. Here's a quick list of convincing reasons why you need to train your dog - and train it now.

The sit command is one of the most basic dog commands of all. It:

1. Stops dogs from jumping up on new people it meets.

2. Prevents the dog from running throughout the house when you take it off leash.

3. Allows you to properly bathe and groom it.

4. Ensures the dog won't dash outside when you open the front, back, side, or garage or gate.

5. Allows you to calmly issue treats without the dog jumping on you in anticipation of more.

Used together, these basic dog commands:

1. Let you prepare the dog's meals without it jumping on you, begging, or tussling about your legs and feet.

2. Ensures the dog won't dash outside while you're retrieving the mail, taking out the trash or bringing in groceries.

These basic dog commands are appropriate since they:

1. Prevent the dog from begging at the table during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

2. Disallows the dog from aggravating your guests at home.

3. Gives you a chance to relax and watch television, read a book, or take a much needed nap.

If you need more convincing, just think of how your household would be with an unruly dog running around and calling the shots. In order for a household to own just one iota of a peaceful moment, everyone and every thing in the household must do its part to create a calm environment -- dogs included. Read our basic dog training tips to learn what makes training an absolute success.