Training Tip: Choosing Commands

When you choose a command word (the word you will use to ask for the behavior you are training) you will want to keep two rules in mind. First, short one or two syllable words are most easily recognized by dogs - this is something you should also keep in mind while naming a dog. Not only will keeping the commands simple help your dog learn the command, it will also make your life easier. For example, every time your dog tries to pick something gross off the ground you don't want to be caught trying to get out "please relinquish that" when "no" would elicit the same response. The second rule is to acknowledge that dogs comprehend hand signals better than words. To accommodate this it is often easier to teach the dog a hand signal and then add the command word. The final tip is to remember that any word will do, you don't have to always use "sit", so be creative and have fun choosing your dog's commands.