21 Sep |
Posted by Mark Ehrman |
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So you’ve decided to get a dog. You’ve seen adorable pictures and funny videos all over the internet. You know dogs are great companions and loyal friends. What could possibly go wrong? But before you run out to the closest shelter or dog breeder to pick your furry friend, there are a few important factors […]
Teaching your dog a cue (sit, down, stay, go to bed, etc) is all about COMMUNICATION.
Unfortunately we humans emphasise verbal communication way too much for our canine friends. They much prefer visual communication.
That’s one reason I encourage teaching your dog sign language (visual cues) in addition to verbal cues.
If you haven’t taught intentional visual cues, then you may be inadvertently sending conflicting cues visually versus with words. And this can be an issue for our dogs! 😣
An example is with my friend who visits my home. His mouth is saying “down, off, no jumping, sit!!” (4 cues BTW), but his hands are dangling and waving about above my dog’s head. To my dog, this is an invitation to jump up and interact with the hands. Since dogs prefer visual cues, he continues to jump up despite the verbal cues to not jump. 🤦♂️
If you’re struggling with a similar situation or find your dog just doesn't respond to the verbal cues, consider trying SILENT TRAINING. This means keeping your mouth closed for the whole time. 🤭 No saying “no” or “ah-ah” or even asking for another cue. Instead only speak with your body language, maybe a hand cue, or best just with treats and rewards for the desired behaviour.
This will force you to communicate with your dog without words. It is very challenging, but trust me, it will actually improve your communication skills because you will be using your dog’s preferred communication style. Practice it a few times and see how effective it can be!
So grab some treats, close your mouth, and see if you can get your dog to sit in your living room. Keep going. See how many behaviours you can get with your mouth closed.
Let me know how it goes in the comments below, or if you are having any problems, just reach out!
©2019 Canine Counselling by Mark
