If you have had pets before, you know for a fact they can communicate. They may not speak your language, but there is a language they speak. The first dog language they speak is body orientation and the energy they exhibit. By how they behave, dogs can tell us when they feel angry, anxious, or curious. For example, blinking eyes and an open mouth with tongue flicks are a stress signal showing us they are anxious.
Decoding dog language of your favorite pets can be a bit confusing, of course, because it is a sophisticated system that entails nonverbal dog communication. To interpret the body language as well, you have to consider the entire body, not just one specific part. A wagging tail, for example, does not translate to a happy dog. If the tail is straight and stiff but wagging quickly, it can be an indication the pup feels threatened leading to dog bites. Learning to speak dog can defuse tense situations which may end up in attacks and bites. Thankfully there are many ways to read the body language of your new puppy.
Use of Markers
The marker approach is one used by many trainers. One common tool in markers is the clicker which produces a short but consistent clicking sound when the button is pressed. Using your dog’s associative learning skills, a clicker would help you better communicate to your dog in a way that works for everyone, so learn how train your dog with a clicker soon. Upon the start of the clicker training, you teach the dog through positive reinforcement that a treat follows a click. For most dogs, it does not take long for them to understand that clicks are synonymous with food. You can then click when the dog does something that you like. With time, the clicker becomes part of the shared language mechanism between your dog and you. It is also a good way of communicating to your pooch that what they have done was exactly the thing you wanted.
Use Short, Simple Commands
Considering dogs have no reference to the English language, they do not recognize what you say when you speak a sentence. Some dogs can indeed build a reservoir of vocabulary so they can interpret words and even phrases [1] . That being said, talking to them using complex sentence structures will only confuse them and make them tune out. In some cases, the word phrases may complicate the command. For example, using the phrase ‘sit down’ is two different sounds. Though when you use the word ‘sit,’ it is harder to confuse it for something else. For that reason, when training your pet, use commands that have as few syllables as possible. That leads to reduced confusion, and communication is made much easier. This also applies to praising and affirming your dog. It may seem counterintuitive as heightened emotions are involved at the time, but you can limit all the verbal noise for a praise reward. If you are working on teaching them a new verbal cue, reduce the chatting so your dog can sift through what you’re thinking, and it will associate these words with their actions.
Say It Only Once
When talking to your dog or teaching them a new word, another approach is trying not to repeat the word repeatedly. That can be a hard habit to break. Our socialization is partly to blame as people have learned that if someone did not understand us the first time, then the word should be repeated in a louder fashion. This may be effective communication for people, but that does not work for dogs. In fact, the more the verbal signal is repeated, the dog may not associate it with the particular action needed to be done. Asking for your dog’s paw five times in a row may not be the most effective way to get them to do what you want. Rather it becomes chatter, and your dog will eventually tune out. So when you tell the dog to sit, once is enough. If they put their rear ends on the floor, give them a treat, and they will associate sitting with the verbal noise that came from your mouth.
Use Reinforcement
You can show the dog what you want by using dog training hand signals to make the behavior. After marking it, please reward the dog. The constancy of your action will increase the dog’s understanding, and they will learn the required skills. Similarly, showing them what needs to be done after giving verbal instruction can be more effective in getting them to do it. It will build a link between the word and the action instead of just repeating what you want to be done. The dog will also have a hard time translating it.
FAQs
Can humans learn to speak dog?
According to different studies, it is possible to communicate effectively with your dog.
Do dogs know what kisses are?
Many dogs cutely talk to their dogs when they are kissing them. The dog can learn to associate the affection with a warmer tone and respond the same way. They do not necessarily know what kisses are, but they know the implication is a form of love.
Why do dogs lick you?
There is research that shows that licking produces endorphins in the brain of your best friend. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that make the dog feel remain calm and relaxed.
