One of the greatest barriers to successful dog training is the communication barrier. Dogs communicate mostly through body language while humans communicate mostly through voice. Humans make a variety of sounds, while dogs only make a few basic sounds whose meanings are adjusted according to pitch and volume. All of this is undoubtedly as frustrating for our dogs as it is for us. Therefore, it is important to establish an appropriate system of communication with our dogs based on what's natural for them before we even begin to look at training.
Body Language
Dogs are all about body language and humans do not always understand that they are sending their dogs important (and sometimes misleading) messages constantly through their facial expressions, body posture and hand movements.
Here are a few examples -
Posture and height - The higher you are off the ground, the more seriously your dog will take you. If you are sitting or lying on the ground, it's play time. The only way to convince him otherwise is to become very still and quiet which sends him a white flag message. While this might be the only way to avoid being mauled by an aggressive dog who has knocked you down (and might decide to maul you anyway), it sends a very unhealthy message to your own dog.
Motion and Stillness - Repeating any gestures quickly, such as the above-mentioned hand waving, moving quickly back and forth or side to side, hopping up and down or repeatedly kicking and object is a call to action. It may trigger your dog's prey drive and at the very least it's likely to excite him and he may jump on you. Teach children to move calmly and deliberately around strange dogs and avoid hand waving, bouncing and any other repetitive gestures to avoid making an already tense situation explode. Stillness communicates seriousness and the need for quiet.
A dog trying to get you to play with him, is likely to bounce up and down and back and forth to elicit excitement. A dog who wants you to take him very seriously is going to become still and quiet and rise to his full height. A dog who is trying to avoid conflict will crouch or lay down, become very still and avoid eye contact.
To use this information in training_
- Always stand tall and keep your words and actions calm and deliberate.
- Always use hand signals in combination with your spoken commands. Dogs really do "get it" better this way.
- Do not repeat commands. Remember that repetition is stimulating and can cause him to become distracted. If he doesn't do it the first time you tell him to, go make him do it.
- Watch your dog's posture and the way he moves so you can start to predict aggression and hyperactivity before it begins and redirect your pet to a more appropriate activity.
Tone and Pitch
Dogs only have a couple of words in their spoken language (Arf, woof, grrr). The meanings they convey are differentiated largely by the tone and pitch with which they are delivered. For example:
A play growl sounds gentler that a true growl, which sounds harsher.
A higher pitch hearkens back to baby days. Depending on context it could indicate playfulness or fearfulness. Playful barks are usually short and staccato (yip! yip! yip!) accompanied by a bouncing gait and perhaps a play bow while fearful barks are repetitive calls to action (WooWooWoo! or RaRarRar! usually with a whine at the end), like a doggie siren accompanied by crouching, tail tucking and attempts to hide or retreat.
A low pitch bark or growl is a warning, a demand for respect.
To use this in training...
- Use a high pitched voice to encourage activity and to communicate praise, but remember to moderate your pitch. Too high a pitch communicates excitement and this can ruin a perfectly good heel or stay. Use a caressing tone in this case. However, when praising your dog for running toward you after you call him to "come" a very high, excited pitch is perfectly appropriate.
- Use a low pitched voice for corrections. A single quiet "No" in a low, serious tone is much more then all the yelling and ranting in the world.
Volume
Volume also sends a message about activity and mood. A high volume is aggressive and active while a low volume is gentle and calm. If your dog is barking, he is sending out an aggressive, active message to the world. If you yell in response to the barking you are doing exactly what he perceives himself to be doing and so he is encouraged to continue. Now everyone is barking together, what fun! Dogs use loud noise to get each other's attention - "Hey you, look at me, I have something important to say." Once the desired attention has been achieved, body language is is the preferred mode of communication, though barking may continue as a sort of exclamation point.
Remember that dogs have very sensitive hearing. Unless their hearing has been damaged - which is very easy to do - your dog can probably hear you just fine and raising your voice isn't going to help anything. Besides, he's looking for body language, so be sure to use those hand signals.
To use this in training...
- Train your dog in a conversational tone of voice.
- A sudden loud sound can be used to get your dog's attention. A hand clap, finger snap, whistle, kissy noise or "Hey" but repeated loud noises will just get him worked up. A very loud noise (such as a car horn or air horn) can sometimes be used to break up fights.
- Use a very soft tone of voice if you are trying to get your dog to calm down.
Important Words
When you begin training your dog there are some very important messages you must be able to communicate to him. You must be able to tell him when he has done something right, when he has done something incorrectly, when he has misbehaved (quite different from merely making a mistake) and when he is done working and can do what he wants for a bit.
The reward marker tells your dog that he has done what you asked him to do and has earned a reward for it. You may use a training clicker for this or you may use a word or another sound. You might click with your tongue or use the word "Yes" delivered in a neutral tone and volume. You will use this marker to mark the very second your dog did what you wanted him to do and then you can pet him, throw the ball or reach for that treat. While you are delivering the reward marker, put a smile on your face and nod in an exaggerated way.
The no reward marker tells your dog that he has made a mistake. He's not a bad dog, but he didn't do what you asked and so he gets no reward. If you use something other than a clicker for the reward marker, you can use a clicker for the no reward marker, or you can use another sound or a word. I say "uh uh" again delivered in a neutral tone and volume. Shake your head with a disappointed air as you do this.
The correction word tells your dog that he's done something that is against the rules. He's jumped on someone, taken an object that doesn't belong to him, etc. This correction can only be given while the dog is actively performing the forbidden action and may or may not be accompanied by a leash correction. If it is accompanied by a leash correction, always use the verbal correction first and give your dog two seconds to respond to the verbal correction and cease the undesired behavior before following up with the leash correction. Most folks use the word "No" for a verbal correction, but you can use something else like "Bad" or "Fie" or "Hey" since "No" is such an overused word. (But pick one, don't mix it up.) The important thing is to deliver the word in the proper tone of voice. Low volume, low, serious tone. No yelling. Frown and shake your head.
Finally, the release command lets your dog know that he is done doing what you asked him to do. He may now break his stay or heel or come out of his control area. You really can't teach stay without a release command. When choosing a word for your release command, use something that isn't used often in conversation. If you say "Okay" alot, that can't be your release command. Consider "At ease" "Free" "You're Through" or "All done" delivered in a cheerful tone of voice. Toss up your hands and step backward to as you deliver the command.
You will find these communication tools are priceless when you are working with your dog and if you have been struggling up to this point you might find that this is the magic wand you've been looking for.
Good luck!
