Or what should I tell him?
ANSWER:
Sounds like you are asking, "What do I say when I
want my dog to stop sniffing a bush".
This is a fun question. Certainly makes one
think! Words are important!
“LEAVE-IT” is fine here, BUT some people like to
differentiate between stuff that is always forbidden (I use
“LEAVE-IT” or “NO”), and stuff that you don’t want him to have now.
(I still use LEAVE-IT, but I also use THAT’S ENOUGH, depending on the
context. I try not to use “NO” for stuff that I may let them have/do
later, but I am not perfect). Confusing? Yes, a bit! Do my dogs get
confused when I don’t use the right command? Yes, sometimes they do!
Don’t get so bogged down by the details you don’t say a
command when you need to, but think (like Sharon did) about being clear for
your dog’s sake.
For example... a burger wrapper on the ground may always
be forbidden (“No” or “Leave it,” maybe “Yucky”) but a biscuit may not be
forbidden, “Leave-it” , unless I don’t know where it came from, then it may be,
“NO”. For me usually tone plays a part here!
Sniffing a bush usually isn’t forbidden, unless in your
world it is NEVER ok to sniff a bush... so in my world, the word is
"That’s Enough" but, for me, "Leave-it" would not be
incorrect. I may use “That’s Enough” for barking too, or looking at
another dog … and I may use “NO!” if they are sniffing roadkill, or paying
looking at a snake passing at a distance on a trail, or see an aggressive dog
across the street, but I may also use “Leave-it.”
The answer is, there always room for improvement! I
try to use my tone to define what I need from my dogs at the moment, but strive
to better than me. Practice makes perfect. Clarity is
important for people, and dogs. I know, it isn’t black and white and that
is challenging…
Words can be tricky.. the easiest solution is to create a
glossary of terms for yourself that use for training, and post on the fridge with
definitions and uses. Read them often! Say it in a sentence?
Can you recall that word on the fly? What about your family?
I hope I answered the questions.
Happy training!
Here are a few from my list:
Sit-butt and front feet on ground
Down – check and front and back elbow on the ground, from
down I sometimes say “get comfortable” meaning to shift the back legs at the
very least you may be here awhile or “dead dog” for on your side and head down.
Bow – front elbows on the ground
Head down – chin on the ground or chair or my lap
depending on where the dogs is
Come – come to me
Front- sit front and center facing me up close to my
feet/legs until given a new command or released.
Heel – go to my left and remain there until given a new
command or released. Sit/down if I am stopped and walk if I walk unless
you are told to stay or I leave on my right foot.
Stand – on all four feet
Leave-it – don’t touch that (usually something they
cannot have at the moment)
Take it – pick that up
Find it – hunt for whatever we are hiding or playing with
(could be a scent)
Stay – Don’t move from the position you are in until
released or given a new command. My dogs are allowed to lie down if I
leave them a long time without release.
Let’s go – release from wait when leaving to walk, or
move along on a walk away from something.
ALL DONE! – release from any command, you are free to go
for now until a new command comes.
Hup up – get up on this!
Speak – bark
Wave – move front paw in air, other one to switch
paws
Paw – give me front paw, other one to switch paws
Roll over – obvious.
There’s more but you get it….
Then there are environmental cues like don’t leave the
yard and don’t leave the house and don’t jump on guests (when mom is watching,
lol) follow me on a walk
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