How to Teach Command Discrimination to Dog for Open Obedience

Step One:

Teach signals from a close distance and gradually move further and further away.

Step Two:

Make sure that dog is reliable at one distance before moving onto next distance.

Step Three:

Gradually move from one foot to the next backwards

Step Four:

Don't always do the exercises in order per the competition which is Stand, Down and Sit. Randomize the exercises so that they are all done at difference times. 

Step Five:

Increase doing these exercises in different locations

Step Six:

Remember to treat and reward after each exercise to make it clear what is being rewarded for.