5 Wrong Commands you are giving your dog!

Studies have conclusively shown that Reward based training is the best form of training for your dog. A new training program from Canada’s BC SPCA is a model for all to follow.

Treats are better incentives for an obedient dog than just a pat on the head or a rub of the tummy or nothing at all.

Establishing firm and healthy command obedience early in the life of your pup is paramount for his lifelong obedient behavior.

while you are training your pooch there are a few commands that although do carry some meaning for us as humans but for a dog can be confusing and may elicit an undesirable response from your dog.

Now we do treat our dogs as our friend and family members but fact of the matter remains taht tehy are not numan beings and need to be trained in a manner that suits their psychology. You need to articulate your commands that lets your dog process in its own doggy way.

Wrong Command no.1    “No,Don’t!”

Now this wrong command number one which is absolutely vague even by human cognition standards let alone a dogs less evolved cognitive abilities.

Lets assume that your dog is chewing upon a shoe and you give him a command “No,Don’t” it will be absolutely impossible for any organism to process this command. the dog will be confused as to what you expect out of him. He can process the wrong command as:

• • a) Am I being asked to stand up and chew the shoe?
  • b) Am I being asked to not chew the shoe?
  • c) Am I being asked to take the shoe out and chew it there?

A canine brain is hardwired to follow direct orders  so the command has to tell the dog what to do rather than what not to do. 

A command like:

a) Stop chewing the shoe

b) Stand up and leave the shoe

can elicit a better response without confusing the canine.

On the flipside, experts say that a command like “No,Dont” can reinforce bad behavior as you are giving attention to a dogs behavior which he likes anyways.

A command that cannot convey the exact expected action can be interpreted by the canine as an encouragement by its owners attention to that act.

Wrong Command no.2    “Nothing!”

Now some may think how this is a wrong command for your canine.

A canine brain can interpret your no response or ignoring his behavior as reinforcement for that behavior.

It is of paramount importance that you reward the canine for the behavior that is expected out of your command. No approximations in his response is to be rewarded. As once rewarded he may not respond to your ignoring his wrong response.

Also as mentioned above

  No response can reinforce bad behavior.

Wrong Command no.3     “Lets Go!”

Telling your dog Lets Go and making it believe you are taking him for an excursion/outing/ run and then taking him to a vet for some disturbing procedure like a rectal examination or a shot or any other unpleasant experience will rewire the command for an unpleasant experience so much so that he might stop trusting your commands totally.

Be honest to your canine.

Don’t trick the dog.

Don’t give him a wrong command.

All unpleasant things can be commanded by rewards that are specific for that occasion. So that the dog is rewarded for his patience and compliance. It will trust you more if you don’t trick it into things it doesn’t like to do.

Wrong Command no.4     “Shouting!”

Dogs and kids are some what similar in their cognitive development.

Kids and canines  love being loved and they follow your commands better when you tell them lovingly.

A wrong command like shouting at canines can scare it and it might take you as its enemy and not its friend – a bond which connects you to your canine.

Shouting at your canine will not prevent it from doing what you did not like, it will anyways do it later when you are not looking.

Shouting is again vague and confusing.

Again it can be taken as encouragement by your dog as it draws your attention to your canine which it loves .

Wrong Command no.5  ” Confusing Commands!”

Canine psychologists suggest providing structure and consistency is key to building good habits.

Wrong commands can be confusing and may elicit a reactive response.

Once you have established a command and it response with your canine use it regularly and consistently in as many varied situations as possible to “Proof” it.

So much so that when ever you use the command the dog doesn’t have to , even for a second, think again before eliciting a motor response for it. A habit that can be life saving for the canine or you, god forbid , if you are in such a situation.

Don’t use similar words with different meanings as a canine cognition will not register them separately but will only confuse the canine in the process delaying its response.