YOUR DOG DOES NOT THINK HIS NAME IS “NO.”
“NO” is a perfect word, understood the world over. We say it to our spouses, children, siblings, parents, friends, and fellow employees; this list is endless. “NO” is an attention-getter, so you can follow it with a command like “sit.” So why are we afraid to say “NO” to our dog?? The answer is often, “My dog will think his name is “NO”! Well..what about those of you who use “EH-EH?” Does your dog think “EH-EH” is his name?
This is a true account of an experience I had as a trainer many years ago and, similarly, many times over again since then. Often, I’m hired to train a dog that has been unsuccessfully trained once or twice before by someone inexperienced, uninformed, and lacking the behavioral knowledge and understanding that is the foundation of training. In this situation, the former trainer told the pet parent that they were to say “FOO” to correct their dog because if they said “NO,” the dog would think that is his name. Just in telling this and seeing myself typing it, I have to laugh at how ridiculous that sounds. I asked the pet parent why their dog did not think his name was “FOO.” They had no answer, but they laughed at how ridiculous that sounded.
Recently, someone in my neighborhood, let’s call her Susan, told me she had taken her dog to one of the well-known pet supply chain stores that feature in-store training classes. Susan was told by the chain store trainer to use the sound “EH EH” (can’t think of any other way to spell that) to correct her dog and never to say “NO” because…can you guess? That’s right! Susan was told her dog would think its name was “NO.” Once again, I had to ask, “Why doesn’t your dog think his name is ” EH EH”? We both laughed.
So, let’s clear up a few things. “NO” is said in a firm, authoritative voice, and you should be standing. It’s not a question. It’s not said in a singsong, please stop eating the couch???… kind of voice. Alternatively, when you use the puppy’s name, it is said in a sweet, loving, soft, come to me because I want to hug and pet and play with you and protect and take care of you because I love you kind of voice and you should be crouched or bending down. As the puppy grows, you can stand up as he approaches you and train him to sit after coming when called.
If you are a pet parent who truly wants a well-trained dog that will stop on command and come to you, even when he is off leash and headed for the street, try this! Yell “eh-eh” in your loudest voice while pretending your dog ran out of the house and headed toward an oncoming vehicle! You be the judge.
“NO” is a universally known word in any language.
The moral of this story is that your puppy will not be confused, but the trainer who told you not to say “NO” because your dog will think it is his name may be incompetent.
