"But of course my dog knows its name!" After seeing hundreds of dogs over the years, this isn’t always true.  They may recognise your voice, or another sound, but do they really respond when you say their name?  This is the most important thing to teach a young dog and it is the prequel to all other commands.  

E.g., ’Dotty’ gains focus for another command, and then ’Sit’ is the command that is acted upon (hopefully!).

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Why would your dog do as you are telling them, if they don't know you're talking to them? 

‘Wait’ is the next step on from sit.  I use it all the time and I’m sure most owners do the same.  ‘Sit’ and ‘Wait’ are usually indications that your dog needs to sit still for a period of time, whether thats a few seconds waiting for a treat, or longer if there is someone at the front door, for example.  

It requires and good amount of focus on the handler/owner and gives a control over your dog from a distance if needed. 

Basic recall is very important in all kinds of situations.  Everyone loves the feeling of calling their dogs name and it rushing over to you to smother you with kisses!  There is a practical side to this too, especially if your intention is to walk your dog ‘off lead’.  Having control over your dog whilst out is very important.  It can easily diffuse potentially dangerous encounters, etc. 

This is a fundamental command.  It is generally used as a ‘pause’, a time to focus, or a control, that doesn’t need the help of either a hand or a lead.  Importantly, it can often be used as a simple distraction to stop your dog doing something you may not agree with.  

Dogs (like men) can only think about one thing at a time.  The theory is that if the ‘sit’ command is strong enough, you would be able to stop your dog doing mostly anything. 

Puppies and older dogs alike quite often jump up at their owners or jump up on something they shouldn’t.  This also includes ‘counter-surfing’, trying to get food from a table or kitchen surface.

Lots of people will push their dog down, or grab them off of something, which can be seen as a punishment, which may lead to fear aggression.  A simple command can achieve the same in a positive way. 

I have never met an owner who likes the fact that their dog pulls on a lead.  It can be one of the most unpleasant parts of a walk, which should be an enjoyable experience for both dog and owner.  Having a dog walk nicely by your side is a pleasure but one that not many dog owners experience.  Teaching this in a puppy's early months is really important and is usually easier to train rather than waiting until a dog is fully grown (and is a lot stronger!)