Dog Training Simple Commands Are the Best
Dog training simple commands work the best. Complex commands are harder for dogs or especially puppies to understand. If you go to an obedience training class, this point will be made, but it can still be a while till you really have the habit down.
As an example, imagine you are in a training class where the sit is being taught. All over the room, you may hear people saying the word repeatedly, so if the puppy or dog isn’t completely confused, he may come to the conclusion that he isn’t supposed to sit until he hears the word three times!
The purpose in sticking to simple, short words for commands is to help the pet develop a habit of recognizing and responding. Canine behavior has a lot of habitual aspects to it — as does human behavior, come to think of it! When your dog training is based on using simple words that you repeat once per request, this is easier for the animal than if it has to guess at your meaning as you chatter away.
Naturally, dogs may notice certain words in the middle of your conversation with someone else. If you ask your son, “Are you ready to go for a walk with Buddy?” it is likely that Buddy will recognize his own name as well as the word “walk.” Domestic dogs have been listening to people talk for centuries!
Do make a habit of using simple commands, or as they are also called, cue words. That term is nice for getting away from the concept that you have boss the dog around. Of course, there are times when obedience is necessary, but as a rule the most effective dog training happens when you and your pet are just doing something together without your worrying about who is alpha!
When you are teaching your new puppy, do use simple terms like come, sit, stay, and down. These are time-tested training commands that work well.
By the way, since “down” means something like “Get onto the floor,” what do you say when your dog is jumping up on people and you want him to stop? A good word is “off.”
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