27/11/2025
‘Let us be clear about this’
How many times have we heard this political phrase!?
Unlike in politics, we do need to be honest and transparent when it comes to training our dogs. What you ask for is what you get, what you reward is also what you get, so just think for a moment about that.
How many times do you need to ask your dog for something before it is delivered? If the answer is more than twice, the understanding may not actually be there.
I hear a lot of repetition when asking for a behaviour, which then starts to lead to frustration (from both parties) as well as increasingly animated gestures, which can then lead to the dog jumping up at flying arms and pointed fingers as well as nipping at clothing as the human tries to ‘help’ and becomes increasingly more of a distraction.
You need to make sure what you ask for is understood.
So make a list of your cues and what you think they mean, then ask your dog for the cue… what do they do? What may have you accidentally trained? Is there a miscommunication between what you mean and what your dog understands?
So let us be clear, retrain your cues if required, or even start with a new word if that old cue has become ‘poisoned’ by confusion or negativity.
We should be asking once and waiting. They need time to process and we don’t give them time to think. We ask and then ask again and again and then start adding more words or different phrases! Stop.
Clear is kind
Stillness and quiet creates thinking time
The more energy and movement and verbals just adds to confusion and frustration.
So take it slow.
Verbal = behaviour = reward.
Have many cues does your dog understand?
