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Communication

Communication

How we speak to our dogs is just as important as what we tell them, especially when we are training them.

There are three main ways to verbally communicate with your dog – command, correction and praise. When commanding the dog to perform an action [sit, down, stay, heel], use a tone that carries authority but not threat, or request. You are telling the dog which action you would like performed and nothing else.”

Your stance should also be authoritative – stand up straight. And always be above your dog – stand, do not sit at his level when issuing commands as he will not respect them. When you are at their level, dogs view you as a peer, not the alpha.

Your dog isn’t a machine, and will not always readily perform the commands. Do not allow frustration to enter your voice when giving a command. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated, take a break. Your dog can sense this and will start to associate training with your unhappiness.

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