09/12/2025 - Training
Have you ever realised your dog has learnt a word you didn't consciously teach them? Perhaps they go wild at "walkies" or freeze at certain phrases? The way we use language around our dogs is more powerful than we often realise, and understanding this can transform your approach to dog training.
Dogs don't naturally communicate through spoken language. They rely primarily on body language, movement, and visual cues, with audio being their last option. Yet we humans love to talk, and when it comes to our dogs, we talk a lot. The problem is that all this chatter can work against us in surprising ways.
Through simple repetition and association, dogs can pick up words without any formal training. You might discover, as many owners do, that saying "ready" before activities creates an unexpected cue, or that "thank you" has accidentally become your drop command. These associations form naturally when we consistently use certain words before specific events or consequences.
But here's the flip side: talking too much can actually teach your dog to switch off. Just as we sometimes tune out when someone talks endlessly, dogs learn to ignore constant chatter. When every moment is filled with narration, instruction, or commentary, which words are actually important? This verbal overload can weaken the cues that matter, making it harder for your dog to distinguish between meaningful commands and background noise.
The power of silence in dog training is vastly underrated. When you reduce unnecessary talking, the words you do use carry significantly more weight. Try conducting a training session without speaking at all. No nagging, no repeated cues, no commentary. Simply wait and observe what your dog naturally offers, then reward it. Many trainers find this approach far more relaxing and effective, removing the stress of unfulfilled expectations.
Words can also carry emotional weight that we don't intend. Consider the dog who learnt to fear the word "spider" not through any direct experience with spiders, but through repeatedly witnessing a family member's frightened reaction. The word became linked with screaming, stress, and sudden movements. Now, even without the dramatic response, the word alone triggers anxiety. This demonstrates how quickly and powerfully dogs can form associations, particularly when strong emotions are involved.
Similarly, recall cues can accidentally mean "there's something exciting to see" rather than "come back to me" if we only use them when spotting distractions. Words like "walk" or "dinner" can create overwhelming excitement if repeatedly paired with high-value events, even when we never formally taught them.
The lesson? Be mindful of your word usage around your dog. Consider which associations you're creating, both intentionally and accidentally. Use fewer words with more meaning. Embrace silence as a training tool. Notice patterns in when and how you use certain vocabulary. Your dog is always learning from you, picking up not just the words themselves but the emotions, contexts, and consequences that surround them. By becoming more conscious of your language, you can communicate more clearly and build a calmer, more responsive relationship with your dog.
Hear more about this topic: