How we confuse our Pups
We understand the principles of human contact, but we're not so sure about how to speak with our dogs. And since puppies don't come with instructions (though it would be great if they did), we rely on our human-to-human communication patterns, which are as perplexing to our pups as they are to us.
Human behaviors like word repetition, word inconsistencies, adopting a questioning tone, and growing irritation when we don't achieve the desired outcomes are not beneficial to our puppy's learning process they may slow it down.
Repetition. When we don't receive a response the first time, we may try again with another individual. "Please excuse me. Please excuse me "is a good example. Repetition, on the other hand, is perplexing to a puppy. If your dog doesn't react to a command, there are two options. Your dog either didn't hear you, which is unusual or didn't comprehend you, which is normal. Repeating oneself to a dog that doesn't comprehend you will just add to the confusion. Instead, be ready to assist your dog as soon as you provide a command. This may include physically directing him into position or enticing him in with a food or toy and then rewarding him.
If your dog doesn't understand, there's no need to become angry. Keep in mind that your dog isn't trying to be tough.
Inconsistency Puppies can only understand what we teach them. Because they don't comprehend language, when we say "sit" in one context and "sit down" in another, our pups may get perplexed.
How about your expectations? Do you follow through on them? Do you ever say "sit" and then forget about it? Do you ever say "sit" and then shrug and think to yourself, "Close enough?" You're not helping your dog by doing this; instead, you're confusing him even more. It's best if your dog understands what you want and when you want it.
Questioning. Humans use questioning tones to conceal instructions to one another. "Honey, would you mind picking up some bread on your way home?" you ask your husband. That is courteous. That's beautiful. To puppies who grasp tone better than words, this is perplexing.
A more effective method is to express a command as if it were a set of instructions. "Pup, sit," in the tone of "go down three blocks and turn right," would be acceptable. That's perfect: calm, straightforward, and confident.
Frustration. When our puppies don't grasp our communication patterns, we become angry with them rather than with ourselves. Ask yourself the following questions the next time your puppy does not react as you had hoped: Is that clear? Have we done this in a calm setting many times (imagine hundreds of times)? Is he able to react calmly regularly? What was the tone of my voice? How can I make him comprehend what I'm trying to say? What can I do to make it enjoyable for him to respond? Your dog reflects your instruction since you are the instructor. If you're not pleased with his answer, think about how you might assist him to comprehend things better. An excellent puppy-training approach is to use training to build on the positive.