So often in training, when a dog doesn\u2019t perform the desired behavior in response to the given cue, we blame the dog. I often hear, \u201cHe\u2019s blowing me off!\u201d or \u201cShe\u2019s being stubborn!\u201d In reality, the handler just didn\u2019t make it clear enough for the dog to fully understand what the person was trying to teach. Here are ways we confuse our dogs:<\/p>\n
DON’T EXPECT YOUR DOG TO AUTOMATICALLY KNOW OUR LANGUAGE.<\/strong>\u00a0Dogs don\u2019t come with an English software package installed. We must patiently teach them our language, one cue at a time.<\/p>\n NOT TAKING THE TIME TO DEFINE THE CUE\u2019S GOAL BEHAVOIR.<\/strong>\u00a0Have in mind the specific definition of what you expect. I suggest you create a cue dictionary. Write down every cue you currently use, then define the goal behavior for each cue. Do you want a straight sit with square hips or a sidesaddle sit? A speedy down or a slow down? Defining your cues and the goal behavior for each in writing will help you be clear in your own mind about what you expect, and that will make it more clear for your dog.<\/p>\n AVOID ADDING CUES TOO EARLY.<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s important to teach your dog the behavior and make sure she can perform it reliably before adding the cue.<\/p>\n DON’T USE TWO CUES SIMULTANEOUSLY.<\/strong>\u00a0For example, a verbal cue and a body cue (hand signal): Dogs are keen observers. They pick up on our body language before they pick up on our words. If you use a verbal cue, but also a body movement with it (such as the word \u201csit\u201d and then the hand signal for \u201csit\u201d), I\u2019d bet that if you said the word and didn\u2019t use the body movement, the dog probably wouldn\u2019t understand what you meant and might not give you the behavior you expect.<\/p>\n