Most dog owners have a bad habit that can make the training harder for their pet to follow and grasp what message the dog owner is trying to deliver. They tend to talk too much and carry on a conversation with the dog they are trying to teach. Not only speaking sentences to their dogs, the words are spoken very softly and delivered – asking rather than telling, which by most dogs will be ignored.

Commands are made to be short, sharp and in a firm tone. I also will not repeat the command because the dog heard the first one. After the command is given, the dog is considering did the owner mean it and should I do it? For the most part, it's not what you said, it's how you said it.

Be kind, but firm when giving a command to your dog. Also, be sure to use praise correctly. When the behavior was done correctly, I want my student (dog) to want to do it again. Praising the dog all the time will tend to lose performance. The dog will think: If I'm being complimented whether I did something right or wrong, why bother working at all, I'm praised either way. Getting this right will help someone become successful with their pet training and will make the process much easier for the dog to understand and enjoyable for all. 

For additional questions about this concept, contact K-9 Communication at (203) 874-­7299 or visit the website to learn more. Happy training!