In daily interactions with dogs, you see many dog owners use words or phrases that make expert dog trainers cringe. Sometimes these words are too vague for the dog to understand; other times, the words are harsh and cause damaging effects in dogs.
Owners use these words probably because they are inexperienced, distracted, or not adequately trained. Training a dog is easy and if you are searching for reliable dog training in Buderim find them here. This makes interaction with your dog much easier. Here are words you shouldn’t tell your dogs.
No
Telling your dog, no when it does something terrible is often a lousy way of correcting it. The command is too vague for the dog to understand the exact reason you are correcting it. Telling a dog, no, when she is gnawing on your remote, for example, instead of putting it down or drop it will confuse the dog. Vague commands don’t address the issue you want to be corrected. Most times, it likes yelling at the dog. Issue-specific commands that the dog has been trained to understand and stick with them.
Yelling
This is similar to yelling at a small child for doing something wrong. You only succeed to scare them, not correct them. Most times, the poor dogs don’t even an idea what they have done wrong. Some of the effects of yelling are reactive behavior, fear of their environment, and breaking the bond between owner and dog.
Come
The typical call command is Come, a problem arises when the actions that follow the order are something your dog considers unpleasant. Like a visit to the vet for shots or a bath, the dog will often refuse to answer to the come command when this happens.
To overcome this problem, you can reward your dog with treats after unpleasant tasks, don’t trick her, or she will stop believing you.
Down
Usually, dogs have a one-track mind. When used to a specific command, they associate the words or phrase with a particular action. So, when you use it down instead of the put it down, you are confusing your dog.
Even in the heat of the moment, stick with the trained commands. Dogs are creatures of habit and routine; when you continuously give them the same order, even in different environments, they obey. Sending conflicting signals will only hamper your dog’s training.
Just Leave Me Alone
Unlike cats, dogs are social animals; they crave attention from owners. No situation you are going through is worth telling your dog to leave you alone. Nothing makes a dog happier than interacting with its owner.
Even when you are blue and think you need alone time, don’t chase your dog away or tell him to leave you alone.
I Hate You
Dogs are super wise; they pick up on emotions like fear, sadness, anger, and even hate. Telling your dog, you hate it is a line you should never cross because you might never come back from that.
A dog that feels hatred from its owner could suffer depression or some negative emotions.
Stop or Else
Using this phrase as a command is useless; the dog doesn’t understand the order and doesn’t stop the dog from doing the wrong thing. Worse still, it leads to frustration and resentment on both sides.
Good Boy/Girl
The phrase is usually for when your dog has done something you appreciate. In the beginning, your dog might be excited by the compliment, but overuse reduces the excitement, and in the end, it becomes useless.
Hurry Up
When your dog is going or has to go, tell him or her to hurry up will not have any effect. They don’t understand what the command means for one, and even if they did, they wouldn’t stop the call of nature because you told them to hurry up.
You Are Such a Pain
Just like the other variations discussed earlier, dogs pick up on both negative or positive emotions. It is like having a baby; there are days when you want to pull your hair out. But, even on those bad days, there is no justification for telling your dog they are in pain, or you are fed up with them.
Having a dog requires patience, lots of love, and sacrifice. But, once you have decided to take that plunge, know you are in it for life.
Conclusion
While some words or phrases are just confusing to your dog, others are negative and hurt the dog. Ensure your commands are clear enough for your dogs to understand, use commands they are trained with, and keep it simple.
When you are undergoing emotional upheaval, don’t take it out on your dog, they are faithful companions who would love to help you get out of a bad mood. Dogs are loyal friends; treat them as such.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind