We say a lot of things to our dogs, usually in English. I often remind my clients that English is a Second Language for dogs. Their first language is Canine. If a dog is from France, its first language is still Canine, not French.
The foreign tongue we expect our pets to implicitly know is, not surprisingly, frequently misunderstood by them. Here are some examples of what dogs are thinking when we speak:
US: Stop it!
DOG: Define “it.”
US: Don’t do that.
DOG: Define “that.”
US: Toby! Toby! Toby!
DOG: Huh?
US: Bad dog!
DOG: I can see your lips moving.
US: Get over here right now!
DOG: That sounds menacing. Whatever it is you want, I’m not doing it.
US: Shut up! You’re driving me crazy!
DOG: Okay, let’s both bark!
Yelling is not productive, because if you get really LOUD in English, the listener – your dog – will STILL not understand it. It will still be a foreign language to him, just noisier.
Your dog can learn English words (or French, or Chinese, or whatever language you speak). Stick to one word commands – the same commands every day – said in a calm, quiet voice. Guide your dog so that he associates the command with the activity (as in Sit means butt on the floor) and reward him for correctly translating your language into his.
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