Do dogs understand the word no

They simply shut-down because they are afraid of doing something wrong. The word ‘No! ‘ is so often over-used that dogs learn to ignore it in any case. Each time you say ‘No!

How do you tell a dog no?

To teach her “no” or “leave it,” begin by showing her the behavior you want.

  1. For example, show her a treat in your hand, and then say “no” before closing your fist around the treat. …
  2. Use a stern voice to issue the command, but don’t yell or otherwise make your dog think you’re punishing her.

Do dogs understand the word no?

When we say “no” to a toddler or a dog, it usually means “stop what you’re doing right now” but a dog doesn’t know that. It knows you’re not happy – your body language and tone of voice will convey that. But as far as we know, it doesn’t realise why and it certainly doesn’t know how to respond.

How do I teach my dog to say no?

Call your dog over and let him see the treat in your hand. As you close your hand, say «No!». Let him lick and sniff, but do not give him the treat. When he finally gives up and backs away, praise him and give him the treat.

How do you tell a dog not to do something?

A timeout acts as a negative consequence for a behavior and is one of the best ways to let your dog know you don’t appreciate something they did.

This can be done progressively by:

  1. turning your head to the side and withdrawing eye contact;
  2. turning your back to your dog;
  3. walking away/leaving the room.

The EASIEST Way to Get Your Dog to Understand You! (How to teach your dog words and phrases now!)

Do dogs know you messed up?

Our pets do understand that certain actions violate family rules and will result in certain reactions. Cause and effect is a great lesson! Pets don’t have to feel guilty to be well-behaved. But even if pets do feel guilty sometimes, let’s not assume that their guilty looks are always based on their behavior.

How do you verbally correct a dog?

A verbal correction is where you use a word and tone/voice inflection to indicate to your dog that it is doing the wrong thing. The tone and the word that you use will need to be associated properly first. Otherwise, your dog won’t understand that you are not pleased, and in fact, it could have the opposite approach.

Is it OK to tell dog no?

Most humans like to use the word “No”. Many dog trainers, however, feel that this is a very negative way of training a dog and research shows that dogs who are responded to in a negative way such as shouting or hurting them, may eventually respond with aggression towards their handler!

Is Doggijuana a catnip?

Doggijuana is a non-addictive catnip. There are no added ingredients that are harmful for your pet.

Is it OK to say no to your dog?

There is nothing wrong with using the word “no” properly when training your dog. “No” should be said calmly and should mean, “That is not a behavior that I want.” “No” can also be a “no reward marker.” It can just mean that the dog will not get a reward for that behavior.

What should you not say to a dog?

5 Things to Stop Saying to Your Dog, According to Trainers & Vets

  • “No!” Why it’s problematic: Saying, “No,” to your dog is too vague. …
  • Yelling (in general) …
  • “Come!” (When it’s bad news) …
  • “Down” (When your dog learned “drop”) …
  • Nothing.

Do dogs understand the word sorry?

There hasn’t been any study to show that dogs truly understand what they did wrong. They typically act based on your reaction to their actions. As a result, it seems like an apology when they respond to you with body language.

Do dogs understand when you kiss them?

According to Animal Behaviorists, ‘dogs don’t understand human kisses the same way that humans do. ‘ When kissing a young puppy, you may not notice any signs of recognition at all because they have yet to associate kisses with affection.

How do you punish a puppy?

If you catch your puppy misbehaving, try a loud noise such as clapping your hands or a loud «uh-uh» or a sharp “off”. Remember, reprimands need to occur while the behavior is happening, preferably just as it begins, and never after.

Do dogs think you left them?

Whether you’re going out for a day or just popping off to the toilet, it’s more likely than not that your dog will look at you like you’re leaving forever. Their eyes will widen, they will begin to whimper, and they appear to be thinking that that’s it – they’re alone forever.

Will a dog forget his name?

There is no direct or simple answer as to whether they can learn and know their name or not. Essentially, it depends on the dog! Let’s take a further look at why some dogs are better with verbal language than others and how some dogs are able to learn their names.

What happens if a human has catnip?

However, catnip is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when smoked or taken by mouth in high doses (many cups of catnip tea, for example). It can cause headaches, vomiting, and a feeling of being ill. Not enough is known about the safety of applying catnip directly to the skin.

What happens if I eat Doggijuana?

The worst that could happen if they were to ingest a large amount is an upset stomach or being drowsy. The effects will wear off after about an hour and do not pose any long term health risks.

Why does my dog only hates one person?

Dogs were found to prioritize the scent of humans over other scents. Typically when a dog sniffs a person they are uncomfortable with, it’s due to the pheromones that person is giving off. To the dog, those pheromones may signal a threat or an alarm telling the dog to beware.

Can a dog forget it’s owner?

Dogs most certainly recognize and remember their owners, even after long absences. This can be attributed to numerous factors, but they mainly rely on their sense of smell.

Does shouting no at a dog work?

Yelling at your dog does not work because it will just get him more stressed or it will only increase his energy level and how excited he is about the situation. Instead, your Bark Busters dog trainer can teach you how to use a calm yet firm voice to refocus your dog and to teach the desired behavior.

Do dogs forget first owners?

Most dogs do not simply forget about their previous owners when adopted by new ones, at least not immediately. The longer a dog lives with someone, the more attached they tend to become. Some dogs may seem a bit depressed at first when suddenly uprooted from their familiar surroundings.

How do you discipline a dog that won’t listen?

Disciplinary methods that are considered to be positive and beneficial are:

  1. Time-outs.
  2. Using your voice to put a stop to unwanted behavior, rather than hitting your dog.
  3. Taking their toys away.
  4. Avoiding giving your dog attention when they misbehave.

Should I growl at my dog?

While it may sound obvious, growling at your dog is not likely to improve its aggressive behavioral problems, a new study suggests. Hitting it is probably worse. Researchers say dog owners who kick, hit or otherwise confront aggressive dogs with punitive training methods are doomed to have, well, aggressive pets.

What dog behavior should not be ignored?

When You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Dog’s Bad Behavior. There are some behaviors you don’t want to ignore, such as puppy nipping or pulling on leash. Any behavior that feels good to your dog, is naturally calming (such as licking or chewing), or is fun to do is not likely to go away when ignored.

– For example, show her a treat in your hand, and then say “no” before closing your fist around the treat. …
– Use a stern voice to issue the command, but don’t yell or otherwise make your dog think you’re punishing her.

It can be useful to teach our dogs to stop doing their inappropriate activity. Most humans like to use the word “No”. … So, rather than yelling or constantly saying “No”, quicker progress can be made by teaching your dog a ‘no’ signal – one that tells him to stop whatever he is doing whenever he hears it.

Subsequently, Why you should never punish a dog?

“Punishment may teach a pet that something is unpleasant, but it does not teach the pet what is desirable.” Punishment may teach a pet that something is unpleasant but it does not teach the pet what is desirable. Training should focus on reinforcing what is desirable and not punishing what is undesirable.

Also, Why doesn’t my dog understand no?

Dogs cannot understand the word “no” because dogs don’t understand the concept of negatives. So if you say “no chew!” You’re making two huge assumptions. First, you’re assuming that the dog knows what “chew” means, and he doesn’t unless you taught him the command: “chew.” (Did you? Probably not.)

Can you teach a dog yes and no?

So the short answer to the question is no. You can’t teach your dog to understand “yes” and “no.” You can teach him to respond with yes and no movements to your covert hand gesture, but he’ll never understand the concept behind the words. Their minds just aren’t built that way.

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Related Contents

  • 1 Is it okay to tell your dog no?
  • 2 How do I teach my dog what no means?
  • 3 Should you tell your dog no?
  • 4 Is it OK to tell your dog no?
  • 5 Is it OK to tell a puppy no?
  • 6 How do I teach my dog to stay no matter what?
  • 7 What are the 7 basic dog commands?
  • 8 Why is my dog ignoring my commands?
  • 9 What age should you start disciplining your puppy?
  • 10 How do you discipline a 3 month old puppy?
  • 11 How do you discipline a puppy that won’t listen?
  • 12 Do dogs understand yes and no?
  • 13 Should you tell your puppy no?
  • 14 Is telling a dog no bad?
  • 15 At what age do puppies become aggressive?

Is it okay to tell your dog no?

There is nothing wrong with using the word “no” properly when training your dog. “No” should be said calmly and should mean, “That is not a behavior that I want.” “No” can also be a “no reward marker.” It can just mean that the dog will not get a reward for that behavior.

How do I teach my dog what no means?

– For example, show her a treat in your hand, and then say “no” before closing your fist around the treat. …
– Use a stern voice to issue the command, but don’t yell or otherwise make your dog think you’re punishing her.

Should you tell your dog no?

There is nothing wrong with using the word “no” properly when training your dog. “No” should be said calmly and should mean, “That is not a behavior that I want.” “No” can also be a “no reward marker.” It can just mean that the dog will not get a reward for that behavior.

Is it OK to tell your dog no?

There is nothing wrong with using the word “no” properly when training your dog. “No” should be said calmly and should mean, “That is not a behavior that I want.” “No” can also be a “no reward marker.” It can just mean that the dog will not get a reward for that behavior.

Is it OK to tell a puppy no?

Be firm. A firm “no” from you signals to your puppy that his behavior is not ok, but yelling or physical aggression from you will just make him afraid of you. Dogs don’t understand that these responses are directed towards a behavior, and instead interpret them as threats to themselves.

How do I teach my dog to stay no matter what?

Watch the video on YouTube

What are the 7 basic dog commands?

When you get a new dog, whether it’s a puppy or an adult rescue, she probably needs some obedience training. More specifically, a well-behaved pup should respond to seven directions in order to become a good canine citizen: Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Heel, Off, and No.

Why is my dog ignoring my commands?

There comes a time in pretty much every dog’s life that he will not take a given command. The reasons for this are numerous, ranging from just an age related phase, not adequate training, fear, or just simple distraction issues.

What age should you start disciplining your puppy?

Young puppies have short attention spans but you can expect them to begin to learn simple obedience commands such as “sit,” “down,” and “stay,” as young as 7 to 8 weeks of age. Formal dog training has traditionally been delayed until 6 months of age.

How do you discipline a 3 month old puppy?

– Be consistent. …
– Be prompt. …
– Be firm. …
– Use positive reinforcement. …
– Give timeouts. …
– Don’t use physical punishment. …
– Don’t stare down, drag, or hold down your puppy. …
– Don’t shout or scream.

How do you discipline a puppy that won’t listen?

– Time-outs.
– Using your voice to put a stop to unwanted behavior, rather than hitting your dog.
– Taking their toys away.
– Avoiding giving your dog attention when they misbehave.

Do dogs understand yes and no?

Yes. My dogs understand the concept of yes and no as relates to specific things. … So, they can understand, “do you want to go out” and they can respond to that with their body language.

Should you tell your puppy no?

There is nothing wrong with using the word “no” properly when training your dog. “No” should be said calmly and should mean, “That is not a behavior that I want.” “No” can also be a “no reward marker.” It can just mean that the dog will not get a reward for that behavior.

Is telling a dog no bad?

Repeatedly shouting the same command over and over isn’t going to get your dog to listen. … Rather, it’s only going to cause your dog stress and confusion. Because, at the end of the day, your dog may not actually understand what the word “no” really means.

At what age do puppies become aggressive?

about six months

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Understands-my-dog-what-the-words-Yes-and-No-mean

Dog

I see people on a daily basis saying no to their dog. And yelling it at him. They say NO! and they get angry because the dog doesn’t understand it. To me it is something that personally draws my attention, since on the other hand I do not see anyone saying YES! with the same emphasis. It seems very curious to me, at least.

Having a dog means having the responsibility of having to take care of it and guide it, and that requires having to educate it. That is clear to all of us. What is not so clear to everyone is that anyone, without training, can properly train a dog. In my post today, I talk to you about that precisely: Does my dog ​​understand what the words Yes and No mean? Come and read …

First of all, I recommend reading previous posts, in order to better understand the message I want to send you in this one we are in. Those entries would be for example, Educating on an emotional level: The Stress that humans cause o Educating on an emotional level: The Stress that humans cause II.

First of all, It is necessary to understand that the concept and the meaning of the words YES and NO, is totally human. A dog, from birth, it is practically impossible for him to understand them, if he is not educated for it, and I am sorry to say that because he shouts it louder, he does not have to understand it. It is that easy and simple.

There are people who tell me: Well, I yell at him NO! strong and I pull him by the leash and stop doing it. And I say to those people: You don’t have a problem with the dog, YOU are your dog’s problem. So clear.

If you were in Russia, and a Russian came and said to you: Привет доброе утро, я получаю время ?, and got angry if you didn’t understand, ask yourselves how you would feel.

Well, something very similar happens to the dog when his friend, his human guide, jerks his leash and yells at him, not knowing what he is for. That is not setting a limit or anything like that. That is not knowing what is being done, period.

If you want to teach him the meaning of the word YES and the word NO, go to a professional in your area, either Educator or Trainer, to teach the Obedience tool to your friend (always positive, please), and that within that tool include it.

Greetings and take care of your pets.

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Everything for your dog

Take care of your dog as much as he takes care of you with these recommendations that we make:

Life would be a lot easier for pet parents if dogs understand human language. If only dogs knew when to stop when you tell them to, training them would be a lot easier. Teaching your puppy basic commands like “No” is essential. It can make all the difference in how quickly and successfully your pup learns during other training courses.

Teaching a puppy “No” is not as easy as it may sound. Getting your pup to understand the “No” command requires patience, consistency, and commitment.

We share with you these exciting ways of teaching your puppy “no,” and ensure that he actually understands what it means!

Is it OK to tell a Puppy no?

The “No” command is one of the essential canine obedience cues and commands your dog needs to learn. When your dog understands this word, he usually stays out of trouble, and life is easier for you both. And training them at home would be much easier by then.

How to teach a puppy no and make your dog understand so his behavior will be easily corrected

Just as humans need to know what is appropriate behavior and what is not, it is important that dogs are taught house rules too. The moment you bring a pup home, you should teach him what is acceptable and what is not. And, the earlier you start teaching them, the earlier correction can be applied when necessary.

First things first. Teaching your dog requires that you stay patient, committed, and dedicated.

Although younger dogs tend to be more trainable, older dogs can still be trained as long as you are willing to dedicate your time and effort to teaching them.

And do not yell at your dogs if, at first, they do not get what you want them to do. Remember as well that punishment never works and may only cause more dog behavior problems.

Teaching the “No” Command

Make sure you teach your pup in a room with few distractions so you have his full attention and concentration on the lesson. Also, ensure that your dog is hungry enough to get him interested. This training is best to be done before mealtime or before your dog has gotten any food.

Choose a single word that you will use to communicate “no” to your puppy. This should be something simple and easy for them to understand, such as “no” or “stop.”

With a treat in your hand, hold your open palm out around 6 inches away from your dog’s mouth.

How to teach a puppy no - People may use treats or food to encourage dogs to learn

The natural tendency is for your dog to grab the treat with his mouth. When he does, close your hand in a fist and say the word “No.” Remember not to yell while saying the word. Rather, use a firm voice. When your dog keeps trying to get you to open your fist and get the treat, gently pull your hand away and get your dog to calm down.

Use Positive Reinforcement

When you teach your dog the “No” command, always come with a handful of treats. On the one hand, this will serve as positive reinforcement. On the other, it is a necessary prop in training.

If your puppy does something you don’t want them to, say the “No” command firmly and immediately give them a treat when they stop the behavior. This will help reinforce the idea that following your commands is rewarded.

Whenever they behave exactly as they do, rewards should be given. Treats, toys, praises, and other rewards are positive reinforcements that can be used during training.

One step to better training is positive reinforcement

Repeat the Process

Once your dog has calmed down, repeat the process of showing him the treats in your open palm. Again, when he tries to grab the treat, say “No” and close your fist. Repeat this process up to 5 more times or earlier when you notice your dog losing interest in the activity. Then, it’s time to give your dog a break.

After a short break, get your dog’s attention again and hover the treat before him. Again, repeat the process a few more times and take a break when you find it necessary. As a pet owner, you would have an inkling of when your dog needs a break from any training session.

Home training to teach your dog basic commands

Dog trainers and pet experts have always advised limiting any dog training method and session to 3 times per day and not to exceed 30 consecutive minutes of training.

So if your pup does not get the cue and needs more sessions, that is completely ok. Continue with the sessions the following day. Keep in mind to take breaks in between sessions and take a break when your dog’s attention is waning.

Take every learning one day at a time and enjoy the process!

Be Consistent

It is essential to be consistent with your command and expectations so that your puppy knows what is expected of them at all times. Once you have chosen what word to use to teach your puppy the “No” command, use it consistently. Do not interchange it with another word although of the same meaning. Otherwise, your pet would get confused as they don’t think as humans do.

Make sure everyone in the household follows the same rules and uses the same command or word when interacting with your pup. This way, your pet would not get confused or overwhelmed by conflicting instructions.

Food has always been effective in getting your dog's attention during training sessions

Test your Dog

When you notice your pup has a good grasp of the meaning of the word, there’s one more step you need to take. It’s time to test your dog.

Place a treat at the center of your hand and open it up in front of your dog. Once he starts moving towards the treat to take it, simply say “No” in a firm voice. When your dog moves to eat the treat, it means that he still has not gotten what the word “No” really means. Close your fist and pull your hand away. Repeat the whole training process and continue educating your pup.

When your pup does not move toward the treat, it means he knows the meaning of the word “No.” If such is the case, praise and give him the treat or a toy as positive reinforcement.

Now that your pup understands the meaning of “No,” use the word “No” in teaching your dog what unwanted behavior is. Praise your dog and give him treats every time he exhibits positive behavior, but never use punishment when your dog does not show the behavior you want him to.

Applying “No” to other Dog Training Sessions

Now that your dog gets what “No” means, you can now use this cue in teaching your puppy other tricks and behavior correction sessions.

Since every trick you want your pup to learn requires obedience, teaching him to obey you is much easier now. You can easily let him know that something is not what you wanted by saying “No.”

Imagine, for example, you are doing an activity where you want him to lie down. Instead of doing so, he just sits. By saying “No,” he will get the notion that sitting is not what you wanted him to do.

Praise your dog after doing good and give them dog food during breaks to keep them active

How Long Does it Take for a Puppy to Learn No?

Quite frankly, there is no definite answer to this question of how long it would take for your pup to learn “No” or any other skill for that matter.

The amount of time for your puppies to learn the “no” command varies. Depending on the ways you employ to teach your pup, your persistence, self-control, and dedication, it could take a few weeks or a few months. Sometimes, it is also affected by the age of your puppies and the dog breed.

For dog trainers, training a dog to the “No” command may take a shorter period than when dog owners do it themselves. Certain dog behaviors affect how a dog trainer makes progress in dog training. And with the experience they have, they surely accomplish things faster and better when working with our dogs.

Punishment should be avoided when training puppies

What If?

Why doesn’t my puppy understand no?

What if you’ve been teaching your dog the “No” command for some time but do not see any improvement?

As with every training method, some lessons may be harder to impart to your dogs, while others may be a bit easier.

But if you’re really having a hard time teaching your dog a thing or two, consulting a dog trainer, pet behavior consultant, or veterinarian would help. Talking with other people and dog owners may also give you some clues on other ways that would help make things easier for you.

In cases like this, consult an expert!

Consult a pet behavior consultant when necessary

Why is it Essential to Teach your Dog?

It is important to teach a puppy “no” and set boundaries early on in their training. This will help them understand what behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not. Rewards such as treats and praise should be used to reinforce desired behavior while redirecting attention away from unwanted behavior.

Consistency is key when it comes to commands and expectations, as well as enforcing boundaries in a positive manner. It is also important to monitor the puppy constantly for inappropriate behavior and provide socialization opportunities with people, animals, and different environments.

Finally, patience, consistency, and positivity are essential when it comes to training a puppy. These qualities will help ensure that your pup learns the right lessons quickly and effectively.

The “No” Command is Meaningless

Teach Dog No

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Honestly, some dogs have learned “no” is their name. It’s true, as a dog trainer, I’ve watched pet owners say “no, No, NO” over and over again to their dogs. Sometimes, the “no” command makes up the entire interaction between pet owners and their dogs. Not only is this puzzling and depressing, but it also doesn’t work.

Dogs learn to tune out unimportant information and the “no” command soon becomes background noise. So, let’s look at this word differently and see if “no” even teaches your dog anything. The answer just might surprise you.

What Does the “No” Command Mean?

Seriously, what does “no” mean? It could mean:

  • Stop that
  • Don’t move
  • Stay there
  • Don’t look at me
  • Don’t walk toward me
  • Stop touching me
  • Stop licking
  • Stop jumping
  • Don’t run away
  • Don’t dig
  • Stop barking
  • Wrong
  • Stop pulling

“No” has multiple meanings, so when telling your dog “no,” what are you asking your dog to do? It gets confusing, especially for the dog. Basically, telling a dog to stop doing something is the most common reason pet owners say “no.” Here’s the tricky part though: if your dog stops doing a behavior (i.e. barking, jumping, pulling, or growling), what do you want your dog to do instead? Before you answer, let’s visit this scenario from a human perspective.

Let’s say you and your husband go out to dinner. As you’re driving down the road, you notice that your husband is speeding. The moment you notice he’s speeding, you tell her “no.” In this situation, what are you asking her to do? “No” could mean take your hands off the wheel, close your eyes, turn around, look at you, stop the car or go faster. The word “no” provides little information. Instead, say “please slow down” and your husband will lift his foot off the accelerator.

Does “N0” Teach Your Dog Anything?

It really doesn’t. Instead of saying “no,” teach your dog an alternative behavior. When teaching your dog an alternative behavior, you’re rewarding a behavior that’s opposite of what you’re asking your dog to stop doing. This may sound complicated, but it’s actually quite easy and works quickly. Basically, you’re asking your dog to do this instead of that. Check out these examples:

  • If your dog is jumping on guests, ask your dog to “sit” instead.
  • When a dog barks, reward her for being quiet.
  • If your dog potties inside your home, reward her when she potties outside.
  • When your dog pulls on leash, reward a loose leash.
  • If your dog moves around while brushing, reward your dog when she stands still.
  • If your dog runs away from you, reward your dog for running toward you.
  • If your dog tries to eat food on the ground, teach the “leave it” cue and reward when she “leaves it.”
  • If your dog has something in her mouth, teach “trade game.”

Believe it or not, teaching and rewarding an alternative behavior works every time! Instead of focusing on what your dog did wrong, figure out what your dog should do instead. Here’s a huge hint: choose the opposite behavior. It’s really hard for a dog to jump and sit at the same time. 🙂

No, you shouldn’t. Remember the word “no” is meaningless. Instead, teach your dog what to do instead. When I explain this “no” concept, most pet owners ask, “Well, what should I say when my dog is running toward a busy road?” My response to that is: “Teach your dog a rocket recall, and say “Rover, come here” when this happens. Then, reward your dog thoroughly with treats and tons of praise.” Screaming “no” won’t stop your dog from running away. I wish it were that simple.

Beware of dog trainers and websites claiming that dogs must learn the “no” command. Remember, “no” could mean anything. Plus, “no” means nothing during the learning process. If you were learning a foreign language, such as French, and I said “no” when you spoke French, what am I teaching you? Not to speak French, it would seem. But, if I asked you to pronounce a French word differently, that would help you learn quicker and faster. It’s the same with dogs, horses, snails, fish and even children. Teach an alternative behavior instead of saying “no.”

Teaching an alternative behavior may seem a bit different, but it’s the best way to stop unwanted dog behavior. Before saying “no,” figure out what your dog should do instead. Remember, teach your dog to do this instead of that!

communicating with dogs

A key component of success when communicating with dogs is really understanding the Dog’s Point of View. One of the most common conversations I have with new clients is their use of the word ‘No’ when applied to their dogs behaviour, whether that be in the home or out on walks.  When I ask them how they deal with certain situations, they tell me ‘I say No! and he/she stops’.

If you think about the circumstances in which you  usually use this word in relation to your dogs behaviour, it’s obviously going to be when they’re doing something you want them to stop doing, go figure! Therefore it’s highly likely  when you say ‘No!’ it’s said in a sharp tone, with a high degree of negative energy and emotion behind it, because you want your dog to stop.

If you are interested in learning more about the impact of our emotional energy on our canine family members, and how we can use it to help improve our relationships and their behaviour, you might be interested in a book I’ve recently published with my colleague Janeen Warman of Human Hound Healing.  You can find Emotive Energy Balancing – Teaching and Communicating with Energy Awareness for sale on Amazon here.

So back to that word ‘No!’ If you look around at your partner, your children, your dog … what are they all doing? What would they all do if you suddenly shouted angrily ‘No!’ right now… do you think they would react? (I’m not going to ask you to try it though because that wouldn’t be nice for your dog 🙂 )  Do you think they would stop what they were doing? Of course they would, and this is why the majority of people believe their dog ‘understands’ the word No, because it has an impact on their behaviour.

But the question is, when you say ‘No’ to your dog, what does it really mean to them?

Communicating with Dogs Negatively

Consider this for a moment, if I say ‘No!’ to you, how do you know what it means? Obviously you already understand what ‘No’ means in our language and I imagine you would think of a scenario whereby you’re doing something or about to do something and the word ‘No’ means you should stop doing it or you’re not allowed to do it.  As humans however, we have the mental capacity to analyse and extract information from a situation to the exclusion of anything that’s irrelevant.

For example, if you were sat in a chair absorbed in reading a book and without looking you reach for your glass to take a drink.  I can see you’re about to knock the glass over instead of picking it up and I might shout ‘No!’ or ‘Stop!’ loudly to prevent that happening.

Would you think I had said ‘No!’ to tell you to stop sitting in the chair?

Would you think I had said ‘No!’ to tell you to stop reading the book?

Of course you wouldn’t, you would quickly realise and understand that I had said ‘No!’ to stop you knocking your glass over.  In addition to this you would clearly understand that I wasn’t shouting at you because you were doing something wrong, but merely to prevent the accident from happening.

Our dogs cannot do this.

Imagine your dog is lying quietly on their bed chewing on the remote control. You walk in and yell at them ‘Fido No!’ but what information does this convey to them?  That they shouldn’t be lying on their bed or that they shouldn’t be chewing on the remote control?

Communicating with dogs

Of course, the answer is chewing the remote, but since your dog is doing both things simultaneously how do they know which one is ‘bad?’ and which behaviour it is exactly that you want them to stop? Can you see how this could be confusing to them?

It can often be the case, that dogs who hear the word ‘No!’ shouted at them a lot of the time, not only find the experience stressful, but also quite confusing.  No doesn’t give them any information on what you actually want them to do.  Dogs who get told ‘No!’ regularly can even stop offering behaviours at all in some cases, they simply shut-down because they’re afraid of doing something wrong.  They might even ‘misbehave’ more (jump up, bark, chew, run away etc) because they’re confused and stressed and don’t understand what they’re ‘supposed’ to be doing.

Think about the variety of situations the use of the word ‘No!’ might be said in relation to our dogs behaviour:

  • When they chew things
  • When they steal things
  • When they’re eating something you don’t want them to
  • When they bark
  • When they pull on the lead
  • When they bark & lunge at something on a walk
  • When they go to sniff something undesirable
  • When they jump up
  • When they mouth
  • When they growl
  • When they have a toileting accident inside the house
  • When they’re sitting or laying somewhere they shouldn’t be
  • When they’re being demanding of attention

That’s a whole lot of very different scenarios… how do you teach them what ‘No’ means in each of those varying situations?

It’s also important to mention here as well that bellowing the word ‘No!’ in an angry or intimidating way, especially with fearful, anxious or reactive dogs (and especially by men) can be incredibly frightening for them. Add to this the scenario where a dog is already experiencing a heightened level of fear or anxiety (for example a dog that is reactive on walks or toward visitors in the home) you shouting ‘No!’ can create even more negativity and anxiety toward whatever trigger is causing them concern.  This means they will probably be even MORE fearful and anxious of that trigger in future, because it causes their person to bellow ‘Nooooo!!!’ at them whenever the situation presents itself.

Something else that many people don’t realise is that the word ‘No!’ can actually be reinforcing to a dog that doesn’t get much attention in other ways (the same can be true of children.)  When they’re being good and quiet and doing all the things we like, we don’t pay them any attention.  We fail to let them know that they are being so good!  We don’t reinforce those good behaviours, we just get on with all the other things we need to do, so from the dog’s point of view (and the child’s) those behaviours aren’t really very rewarding.

However,  when they ‘play up’ or demand our attention, hey presto they get it! Even if it’s negative and we’re a bit cross or frustrated, from a dog (or child’s) point of view, any attention is better than no attention!

What do our dogs (and children) learn from this? If you act up, be annoying, do things that you know will get you attention (‘bad’ things) then you are almost guaranteed to get it.  That’s some pretty strong consequential learning don’t you think?  Add that to enough repetition and you have an annoying, demanding, ‘naughty’ dog (or child.)

communicating with dogsTramp Being Good for a Change! 😉 

By being conscious of when our dogs are doing things we like, and capturing those moments, reinforcing with attention, praise or rewards we can increase the likelihood of those behaviours becoming stronger and being repeated.

Another common scenario when people can make the mistake of using the word ‘No!’ at the wrong time (probably without realising it) is when their dog is actually doing the right thing.  Think about a dog that doesn’t come when called, maybe they run off to see another dog or chase a small furry creature. Usually this scenario ends up with the dog coming back eventually after they’ve had their fun, only to return to their person to be grabbed harshly by the collar and shouted at with something like ‘NO! BAD DOG.’ and sadly even smacked sometimes (unfortunately I have seen this myself out on walks far too many times)

What did the dog learn here? Coming back to my person is not a very nice experience, coming back is a bad!  What do you think the chances are of this dog choosing happily to run back to their person the next time they call them?

This scenario of telling the dog off when it’s actually doing the right thing can be played out in many different situations.  It can often result in a dog that’s not only confused about what it should or shouldn’t be doing, but one that also finds all these situations very stressful because they create a loud, shouty human.  This alone can add to their erratic, out of control behaviour resulting in a spiral of negativity and misery for everyone involved.

Communicating with Dogs Positively

So what can you do if you find yourself saying ‘No!’ A lot?

Dogs are likely to learn quicker and understand more clearly when we tell them what we want them to DO rather than what we want them to stop doing (the same is actually true for people too.)  Whilst this is the approach I recommend people to take, it would be unrealistic to try to get everyone to stop using the word ‘No!’ completely.  It takes practise and even then, those two little letters pop out without us even thinking.

We use the word ‘No!’ automatically because it has meaning to us.  It’s the first thing that comes to mind, so it can be very difficult NOT to say it.  Instead of trying to work against a communication that comes naturally to us, I try to encourage clients who have already developed the ‘No!’ habit to spend ten or fifteen minutes making a list of the times they use the word ‘No!’ and the behaviours their dog is doing at these times.  Then I recommend they embark on the following process:

1. MANAGE YOUR DOGS BEHAVIOUR WHILE THEY LEARN ALTERNATIVE SKILLS
Start to practise being proactive rather than reactive in all problem situations. For example:

  • Don’t leave things lying around that you don’t want your dog to have
  • Have them on a lead or training line if you don’t have a reliable verbal recall
  • Put them in another room when visitors arrive until that initial burst of uncontrollable excitement has subsided
  • Drive them to off lead walking area’s instead of allowing them to constantly pull on the lead

2. TEACH YOUR DOG WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO INSTEAD
Teach your dog the skills they need in the situations you find yourself saying ‘No!  If they’re consistently and repeatedly acting out with inappropriate behaviours (or should I say behaviours that are inappropriate for them to be doing as part of their co-existence in our human world) then they either do not know the appropriate behaviours or you haven’t taught them that skill with enough consistency for them to be able to apply it in that situation.

Some more appropriate skills they may need to learn could be:

  • ‘Leave it’ – for when they’re about to get something you don’t want them to have
  • ‘Drop it’ or ‘Show Me’ – for when they already have something they shouldn’t have
  • ‘Sit & Wait’ – instead of jumping up or mobbing people and other dogs
  • ‘Here’ or ‘Quiet’ – instead of barking in the garden
  • How to walk ‘Close’- instead of pulling on the lead
  • ‘Off’ – for when they get on the furniture or places you don’t want them to be

You can find step by step guides to teaching most of these skills in my book Teaching Dogs Practical Life Skills – A Step by Step Guide & Workbook

3. DEVELOP & PRACTISE YOUR HABITUAL RESPONSES
Start, right now, to practise and embed your habitual responses so that when your dog’s behaviour elicits a ‘No!’ from you, you consciously use the word ‘No’ as a communication instead of a reprimand.  So instead of shouting at them use more of a matter of fact tone but then immediately follow it with a ‘doing’ action request.

For Example:

  • Your dog steals something > ‘Nope… Show Me’
  • Your dog is about to eat something unsavoury > ‘Nope… Leave it’
  • Your dog is barking in the garden > ‘Nope… Quiet please’
  • Your dog has jumped on the sofa > ‘Nope… Off please’
  • Your dog is about to react to another dog on a walk > ‘Nope… Let’s go’

Personally I rarely say ‘No’ to my dogs, but my brain has had a lot more practise than most, and even then it still slips out sometimes! Just remember though, all these ‘doing’ behaviours that we want to add onto the end of that ‘No’ when it slips out, are skills your dog needs to learn.  They need to be taught first so your dog clearly understands what you mean for them to do, and then practised often in a variety of situations before they will be able to give you a more appropriate response within the distracting ‘real life’ situations that you need them.

So… how often do you say ‘No!’ to your dog? 😉

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