Dogs can understand hundreds of words and can be taught to do remarkable jobs. Some of my clients teach their canine family members to understand two languages… and yes, that is possible. One thing to be aware of is teaching your canine to respond only to a language that your veterinary office, boarding or daycare facility, or groomer does not commonly use. Keep in mind that no matter how much love and the best intentions you have for your dog, there are unforeseen circumstances that may result in your dog being in someone else’s care. Even if it’s temporary.
It’s very important to use words that you can attach a meaning to when training. I’m sure most if not all of us talk to our dogs as though they are human, and it can be quite comforting to both parties but when it comes to training your dog, simple words that you can attach a meaning to or tangible action to, will produce the best results. A simple example of this is teaching your dog to sit. “SIT” is a simple, perfect word. It requires no further explanation, additional verb, or noun. “Have a sit”, “Please sit”, “Harley sit”, or “Harely sit down” is incorrect, inconsistent, and conflicting and only add to confusion and disregard for the command “Sit”. However, let me add that even though “Sit” is a command word, it should be asked nicely and not yelled.
I’m not privy to how abstract words became part of training, but I have never, ever found them to improve a dog’s ability to learn. Lately, I hear pet parents use the word “FOCUS” and see no sign of understanding or response from their dog. Additionally, nothing is offered to the dog to focus on, even if the dog should understand what the word focus means…which he does not.
Focus is an abstract word that does not seem to make a connection to what the dog is doing. It is no more effective than asking your dog to “THINK” or “CONCENTRATE”.
Here’s another one that snuck into dog training vocabulary…” STAY WITH ME”, or “WITH ME”. Stay is a command older than time itself, used as a teaching tool meaning to stay at sit, stay at down, stay at place, and stay inside a room and not cross the threshold. Stay means stay. Telling a dog to STAY WITH YOU as you are walking is not proper dog training and too abstract for a dog. You are telling your dog to STAY while moving! “WITH ME” is slightly better but the fact is, the proper word is “HEEL”. Dogs have been taught to “HEEL” or “Called to HEEL” but never “Called to with me”.
The point is, if you were learning to play Golf, would you change the correct terminology for that? Would you say “LET’S BOGEY” or “HAVE A SLICE”?