Words Matter A Lot in Dog Training
This week, one of our trainees almost got run over by a freight train.
Not really. But it was touch-and-go for a minute.
We were doing practice run-throughs in our Novice competition class. On the Recall exercise, Doug called his powerful, fast Staffordshire Terrier mix, Zeke.
But Doug used the wrong word.
If he’d said “Front!” Zeke would have known to dash across the room and sit politely at Doug’s feet. Instead, Doug shouted, “Come!”
Zeke charged full speed ahead and barreled right into Doug’s knees.
Let’s Be Absolutely Clear
Dogs are capable of understanding dozens, if not hundreds, of words. But to a dog, each word has a single, literal meaning. Humans excel at deciphering meaning through context. Dogs? Not so much.
Want to confuse your dog? Tell them to “Sit down.”
Every human knows exactly what you mean. But your dog thinks you just gave two separate, contradictory cues. Do you want me on my butt, or flat on my belly?
Every word you teach your dog needs a specific definition:
- For Zeke, “Come” means “get over here as fast as you can (and clear the runway).”
- “Front” means “we’re playing Obedience, so when you get here, sit politely right in front of me.”
Nuances Matter
At first, Doug couldn’t figure out why Zeke was acting like he was in a demolition derby. He tried the exercise a second time—and had to leap out of the way just in time to avoid another knee-capping.
Then it hit him: “Did I say ‘Come’ or ‘Front’?”
The specific words you choose matter. Dogs are master pattern-recognizers. They pick up on our vocabulary when we deliberately teach them, but also by eavesdropping on our daily routines. It’s why most dog owners eventually have to resort to spelling out loud: W-A-L-K, C-A-R, or B-A-T-H.
Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty
Just how precise should your cues be? As granular as possible.
For people playing dog sports like Rally or Agility, teaching your dog “Turn” isn’t specific enough. When you hear agility handlers sprinting a course yelling “Left!” or “Right!”, it’s not wishful thinking. Their dogs truly know their directions.
We even use different words to cue dogs to spin in opposite directions. Clockwise has one word; counter-clockwise has another.
The most creative version we’ve heard came from one of our students. She uses “Spin” for clockwise, and “Nips” for counter-clockwise. Why? Because nips is spin spelled backward!
Which Word You Choose Doesn’t Matter (Consistency Does)
As long as you’re consistent, you can choose any word you like for any behavior. Dogs don’t speak English; they learn the associations we build for them.
For the “Place!” game, you can use “Bed,” “Mat,” or “Rug.” It doesn’t matter, as long as everyone in the family uses the exact same word.
We often see funny family dynamics play out in our training classes. When the husband uses “Up!” and the wife uses “Stand!”, the only result is a highly confused dog.
Pick a word and stick to it. Say what you mean, use it consistently, and your dog will understand. Because words matter a lot in dog training.