Expand Your Dog's Communication Language For A More Robust Relationship

One of the biggest mistakes many dog owners make is to limit their dog's communication vocabulary. Once the dog has learned basic commands which cover no more than about a dozen words, they stop the training.

This is far below a dog's capabilities. Some owners report that their dogs understand 100, 250, and even 800 words. One dog, who happens to be deaf, knows 43 words of American sign language.

Imagine the benefits of having a dog with such a vast vocabulary. The more a dog knows, the fewer communication barriers will exist between you. The possibilities are endless.

Dogs are primed for learning your language because they are anxious to please and they understand this means learning your method of communication. They are ideal students.

The more ways your dog can communicate with you, the less stress he will experience. It will also help you because you can give him messages with little effort.

You can teach him a great many things: that you're going on vacation, taking a ride in the car, going shopping, and that dinner is about to be served. You can teach him to fetch the morning paper, bring his lead, fetch your slippers, open and close a cupboard door, ring a bell, put his toys in the box, and many other things.

To get an even better idea of what your dog communication training can do, take a look at service dogs. These are dogs that are trained specifically to help humans, for example hearing dogs and guide dogs.

A hearing dog can let his hearing-impaired owner know when the alarm clock goes off, when the phone rings, when someone is at the door, when there is a danger such as a fire, when strangers are lurking and many other things. A guide dog can steer his blind owner around objects and let him know when it is okay to cross the street or if there is danger ahead.

You will need to consider a different type of training device to expand your dogs vocabulary. One of the most effective is a clicker. First, you train your dog to understand that the sound indicates that he is about to be rewarded.

Simply click the clicker and when he looks at you give him a reward. Once this recognition is established, apply it to your dog's actions, such as sit or come. The ideal is to have your dog respond to hand or voice signals, a click when he does the command, followed by a reward.

If you have ever introduced your dog to a squeaky toy you will probably be familiar with how excited he becomes. Since a dog's hearing is so acute, he is quickly alert to such sounds. That is why clicker training is so successful, especially in teaching your dog new words.

Get yourself a clicker and see how quickly you can expand dog's communication skills. Remember, that repetition and patience are key.

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