12/03/2025
Except for 1 line (ah-ah, or leash pop, which aren't necessary, and can lead to confusion) this article is absolutely correct and very helpful.
He Who Criticises the Most… Teaches the Least
Why Nit-Picking, Nagging, and “No, Not Like That!” Ruin Your Training Long Before the Dog Does
In the world of dog training, whether you’re a pet owner just trying to stop your Spaniel launching off the furniture, a handler shaping a young working dog, or a trainer guiding others, it’s astonishing how often the biggest obstacle isn’t the dog at all. It’s the human mouth.
More precisely: the sheer amount of criticism, correction, and commentary that tumbles out of it.
There’s a brilliant old saying adapted for training:
He who criticises the most teaches the least.
And no truer words have ever been spoken while clutching a slip lead and a lukewarm cup of tea.
Let’s unpack what this means, why it matters, and most importantly, how to fix it before your dog decides your voice is just background noise like the washing machine or your partner muttering about muddy footprints.
1. The Noise Problem: When “Training” Sounds Like a Sports Commentary
Many owners and handlers fall into the trap of narrating everything the dog does, usually negatively.
“Don’t pull.”
“Stop that.”
“No.”
“Oi.”
“For goodness’ sake.”
“What are you doing now?”
“No, not like that.”
“Down, no, DOWN, oh never mind.”
It’s a constant stream of correction, frustration, and disapproval. If the dog could speak, he’d probably say:
“I heard you the first twelve times. I’ve no idea what you want, but I definitely heard you.”
The problem?
Dogs don’t learn from noise. They learn from information.
Criticism is noise.
Clear training is information.
Every unnecessary word you say dilutes the message you actually need the dog to hear. Eventually, your corrections become white noise, and your dog starts ignoring you, not because he’s stubborn, dominant, or plotting his takeover of the neighbourhood, but because you’ve trained him to filter you out.
2. A Simple Truth: Dogs Learn Through Success, Not Shame
Some people train as though pointing out the dog’s every failing will somehow polish the behaviour into perfection.
If that worked, the dog world would be utopia. Everyone’s recall would be perfect, and nobody would be chasing their Labrador across a field while shouting increasingly colourful language.
Dogs learn when:
• They know exactly what earns reinforcement
• The correct behaviour is made clear
• Success is easy at the start
• The handler stays consistent
• Corrections are meaningful, not emotional
• Praise and reward are timely
Criticism without clarity teaches nothing.
Clarity without criticism teaches everything.
You don’t need to be endlessly positive. You just need to be purposeful.
3. The Ego Trap: Why Some Trainers (and Owners) Over-Correct
Criticism is often a symptom of human impatience. It can also be disguised insecurity:
• Owners correct too much because they feel out of control.
• Handlers correct too much because they want to look competent.
• Trainers correct too much because they want to feel needed.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Over-correcting is almost always a sign of poor training on the human side, not the canine one.
A well-set-up training session leaves very little to correct.
A poorly structured one produces correction after correction after correction.
And that leads us to…
4. Set the Dog Up to Win (So You Don’t Have to Moan About Losing)
If you’re criticising constantly, something upstream is wrong. It might be:
• The environment is too hard
• The distraction level is too high
• The dog hasn’t mastered the basics
• You’ve skipped a stage
• You’re expecting reliability with no rehearsal
• You’ve trained the behaviour… but not the context
A dog who succeeds often requires less criticism.
A dog who fails often requires… better planning.
If training feels like you’re nagging, you’re not actually training. You’re firefighting.
5. Say Less. Mean More.
The most effective trainers, whether working with gun dogs, search dogs, pets, or operational K9s, tend to speak very little. They communicate with:
• Body language
• Timing
• Marker words
• Reinforcement
• Clear release cues
• Calm, predictable leadership
Talking should add to training, not distract from it.
Try this challenge:
Say nothing unnecessary for the first 10 minutes of training.
You’ll be amazed at how much better the dog performs when you stop drowning him in commentary.
6. Replace Criticism with Useful Communication
Here’s what to use instead of constant “don’ts”:
a) Marker Words
Clear. Consistent. Fast. They tell the dog what he got right.
b) Planned Corrections
Not emotional outbursts. Not nagging. A single, clean “ah-ah” or leash pop, then move on and reward the right behaviour.
c) Reward Placement
Reinforce where you want the dog to be, not where you don’t.
d) Environment Management
Reduce failure points so the dog doesn’t need constant corrections.
e) Structure and Routine
Dogs thrive when they don’t have to think about what’s expected.
7. The Big Lesson: Stop Criticising. Start Teaching.
Dogs aren’t trying to get it wrong.
Most want nothing more than to understand what you want and earn their reward.
If your training sessions are filled with critique, grumbling, and muttering under your breath about how your dog is “testing your saintly patience,” it’s time to pause and reassess.
The less you criticise, the more you teach.
The more you teach, the less you need to criticise.
Funny how that works.
8. Final Thoughts: The Quiet Trainer Is Often the Best Trainer
Next time you’re out training, whether running a working dog on a trail, teaching a pet dog loose-lead walking, or helping a client with reactivity, take a moment to listen.
How much of what you’re saying is instruction…
and how much is irritation?
Because in dog training, as in life:
Criticism is easy.
Teaching is an art.
Clarity is the cure.
And your dog will thank you for choosing clarity every time.
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk
