If you’re an animal lover and have ever traveled abroad, you may have noticed something surprising: dogs don’t respond to English everywhere.
Just like people, dogs learn commands in the language spoken around them. The words for “sit,” “stay,” or “come” can sound completely different depending on the country. Learning these commands is not only fun, but it’s also a great way for language learners to pick up everyday vocabulary.
Let’s explore common dog commands in different languages around the world.
🇯🇵 Japan
Japanese dog commands are usually short and simple.
Common commands
- Sit: おすわり (osuwari)
- Stay: まて (mate)
- Come: おいで (oide)
- Lie down: ふせ (fuse)
- Good boy/girl: いい子 (ii ko)
To call your dog
- こっちおいで (kocchi oide) – “Come here”
- (Dog’s name) + ちゃん (chan) – an affectionate nickname ending
Most commands are short verb forms, which makes them quick and easy to use.
🇫🇷 French
French dog commands are clear and expressive.
Common commands
- Sit: Assis
- Stay: Reste
- Come: Viens
- Heel: Au pied
- Lie down: Couché
- Good dog: Bon chien
To call your dog
- Viens ici ! – “Come here!”
French commands tend to sound smooth and rhythmic.
🇩🇪 German
German is especially popular in dog training around the world.
Common commands
- Sit: Sitz
- Stay: Bleib
- Come: Komm
- Lie down: Platz
- Heel: Fuß
- Good dog: Braver Hund
German commands are short and sharp, which makes them easy for dogs to distinguish.
🇪🇸 Spanish
Spanish commands can vary slightly by region, but these are commonly used:
Common commands
- Sit: Siéntate
- Stay: Quédate
- Come: Ven
- Lie down: Échate
- Good dog: ¡Buen chico! / ¡Muy bien!
To call your dog
- ¡Ven aquí! – “Come here!”
- ¡Vamos! – “Let’s go!”
Reflexive verbs are common in Spanish commands, which makes this section especially interesting for language learners.
🇮🇹 Italian
Italian dog commands sound musical and expressive.
Common commands
- Sit: Siediti
- Stay: Resta
- Come: Vieni
- Lie down: Terra
- Good dog: Bravo!
To call your dog
- Vieni qua! – “Come here!”
- Andiamo! – “Let’s go!”
“Bravo!” is commonly used in Italian to praise someone — not just dogs.
🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin commands are usually short and direct.
Common commands
- Sit: 坐下 (zuò xià)
- Stay: 别动 (bié dòng) – “Don’t move”
- Come: 过来 (guò lái)
- Lie down: 趴下 (pā xià)
- Good dog: 乖狗狗 (guāi gǒu gǒu) / 乖! (guāi!)
Tone is especially important in Mandarin, since pronunciation can change meaning.
🇰🇷 Korean
Korean dog commands are usually casual and friendly.
Common commands
- Sit: 앉아 (anja)
- Stay: 기다려 (gidaryeo)
- Come: 이리 와 (iri wa)
- Lie down: 엎드려 (eopdeuryeo)
- Good dog: 잘했어 (jalhaesseo) – “You did well”
The tone often sounds warm and affectionate.
Why Learning Dog Commands Is Fun for Language Learners
Learning dog commands in different languages can actually help your language skills.
- It’s great practice for imperative verbs.
- You build everyday vocabulary.
- You start noticing cultural tone and rhythm.
- You see how language works in real-life situations.
- And it reminds you that language is everywhere — even when talking to animals.
Next time you’re traveling abroad, try using the local language to call a dog. You might just earn a wagging tail in return.
