The common consensus is that dogs, by virtue of species, are more attuned to what we do with our bodies than to the words we say. But that doesn’t mean that dogs can’t learn to understand human speech. It’s just harder.
Why bother with words?
Because, once learned, a dog will also respond to your cue when his attention is elsewhere. Your non-verbal signals are not received unless your dog watches you.
There is another advantage. Humans are a verbal species, and as such it is easier for us to be consistent with our words than our gestures. Try getting a family of 5 to use the same precise body language—but they can all learn what word goes with what action we want our dog to do. Consistency is paramount when we teach our dogs. Clever as they are, they don’t understand mentalese. Our communication must be clear.
Naturally, our dogs will still watch us and gain intel from what we do, but what we say ought to override what we do. And because we take the straight road, we must be extra patient with our dogs when we teach them words.
One word for one behavior. Tip for families: jot down each action and its corresponding word and magnet that list on the refrigerator door. Each time someone gets a snack they also get a refresher and the words become second nature—and consistent for the dog.
Be aware of the poisoned cue = a word your dog has learned to ignore, evokes fear or frustration, or is linked to a different action than the one you have in mind.
“Come” and “heel” are common poisoned cues. Dogs who don’t reliably return to their human when called are rarely defiant, but keep doing what they’re doing because when they heard the recall word half the time continued to sniff or play or run. The same with heel. Typically people haven’t trained a proper heel, but bark that word exactly when their dog pulls.
With rescue dogs their name and the word “sit” can trigger a negative emotional response. I have had clients whose newly adopted dog clamped up when they were asked her to sit—even when a treat was involved. One became near-bite aggressive.
If in doubt about the words you use, change them and reteach.
Attach the new word to the action. If you don’t get the according action, your dog won’t make the connection and the word becomes useless, again.
Always give the benefit of doubt to your dog. A dog walker friend once lamented that a new dog in the group was stubborn because he wouldn’t respond to his name or come command and only returned to her when she wriggled the treat pouch. That dog belonged to a breed who has a reputation of being stubborn, and he was an adolescent, so maybe he did tell my friend to talk to the paw. But maybe he had learned that the sound of the treat bag was the recall cue, and that his name and “come” could mean a number of things. So, in the learning stage don’t use a word unless your dog is doing the according action or you are certain she is about to. Otherwise, I repeat, the word becomes useless as a cue.
Speaking of repetition, despite what you heard in the past, you can repeat your signal word. Owners used to be chastised for this, and still are by some trainers, both balanced and positive reinforcement kinds, but repeating always made sense to me and now I am in good company.
Scientist and researcher at the Department of Ethology in Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Claudia Fugazza, allows the dog a few moments to think but repeats when needed, and the late Dr. John W. Pilley who owned Chaser, the border collie who knew more than 1000 words, also repeated the verbal cue. Scientist Irene Pepperberg, in her work with parrot Alex (stands for Avian Language Experiment), also did. In her fabulous book “Alex and Me” Pepperberg recommends to exaggerate and be enthusiastic when teaching; says that both add clarity for the animal. I opine that being enthusiastic in the social interaction also fosters connection and the bond. Happy encouragement makes most dogs feel safe and prompts them to try, and to keep doing what they’re doing.
Repeating is ongoing informational feedback that increases motivation to learn with and from us. It is support with your voice, and keeps your dog connected and in the game. However, a dog also need the opportunity to respond. Give her a moment before you open your mouth again. Spaced repeating is what we want, not staccato-like frantic ordering. Imagine your partner asking you to hand over the salt shaker and releasing verbal diarrhea right after: “Hand me the salt, the salt, salt please, give it”. Or when you try to recall a name and your partner rattles names at you nonstop. Annoying? Does it help you think?
How long do you wait your dog out before you repeat the verbal cue? My rule of thumb is 3-5 seconds. If you still get a blank, your dog either is zoned-in on something thats’ not you or hasn’t got a clue what you are talking about. With the former make yourself interesting to evoke reconnection or set up the environment such that he is able to respond; with the latter add a gestural signal to make it clearer. If you still get a blank, backtrack to the last successful level and proceed more incrementally.
I promise that in the end you will end up with a dog who responds the first time—exactly because he got help in the beginning.
A dog needs a lot of feedback before an action has become conditioned, so cheer yours on to follow through. That is especially critical with a dog who hesitates because she is nervous or doing a cost/benefit analysis whether to heed you or pursue that other thing that allured her. The worst thing in that case is you just standing there doing nothing.
Congruency between your body and your words helps your dog understand. For example, leaning or moving toward your dog while saying “come” sends two competing messages. However, eventually, as said, I want my words to overrule what I do with my body—because I am fail-safe when I yammer but not when I gesture.
Intentionally using a specific tone of voice adds clarity as well.
Ethologist Dr. Patricia McConnell in her fascinating book “The Other End of the Leash” points out that there is a universal to all animals command language. Fast-repetitive higher-pitched sounds evoke motor activity and calls into action, increases excitement and arousal, while lower-toned drawn-out sounds slow the animal down. Egging your dog on after you recalled and he’s is on his way could make him run even faster back to you. Using a high frantic pitch when he chases wildlife might not be so smart. And because that intonation not only conveys excitement but also distress, I wouldn’t use it with an already fearful dog either: it could make her feel more uneasy.
With our dogs we always must take into account that they aren’t like other animals. Dogs are individuals, and our relationship with them is varied and complex. A higher-pitched repetitive sound torqued our easily excitable Aussie Davie up to the point of jumping, yipping and nipping. An even tone worked best for her, and together with a soft inflection also for our feral-born Will who was in general suspicious of any “abnormal” human behavior. For our gregarious Newf, though, high and happy and fast was perfect: it was then when he paid attention to me instead of scanning his surroundings who he could socialize with. Play with what intonation your dog needs. What gets you the best response in any specific situation.
What about a stern voice? Exceptionally you can speak with the kind of conviction that leaves no room for negotiation. There were moments when I didn’t discuss things with my dogs (other than über-sensitive Will), but told them. Told them after I was certain they knew the cue in that context and heard me. That tone, though, is an exception. If you have a permanent regimental intonation, lose it. Ask nicely. Be inviting. It’s a companionship, and your dog hasn’t done anything wrong when you first utter your cue word.
Because I don’t have a photo that entirely fits the topic of this article, you’re getting a cool one of Bowie—who we adopted when he was an adult and who did not understand English when he arrived here. About a year later he comprehend 45 words. All functional. No tricks.
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