I've always said "No" to my dogs and assumed they'd eventually understand that "No" means "Stop whatever it is you're doing." It has worked well with some of them. With others, not so much.
Dogs aren't good at generalizing. There's nothing inherently wrong with saying No, but it doesn't give them enough information. Say that your dog jumps on people. If you say No, the dog might get that something is wrong, but he or she doesn't know what.
Maybe my person will be happier if I jump higher? Or if I jump more to the right? Consistently saying "Sit" is more likely to produce a good behavior; the dog will understand what you want.
On of my dogs thinks bikes and motorcycles are annoying things that should be herded. She is part Border Collie, and trust me, they'll herd anything. She wants the bikes to stand still in a neat little group.
If we're out walking and she sees a bike she'll start barking like crazy and tug on the leash. I'm sure she thinks I'm pretty silly; if I'd just let go she could run over there and teach the bike to behave!
I've said No for about a year to no avail. The last couple of weeks I've changed my behavior, and every time we see a bike I tell her to sit. Now she looks up at me as if asking, "Do I have to?" and I nod and say "Sit." She sits down and watches the bike. No more crazy struggle! Win!
~ Maria Sadowski
That's pretty awesome Maria! Oh my, the visuals I got with your baby chasing the bikers down! :)
ReplyDeleteShe's so funny too: she doesn't care about people walking, and she doesn't care about cars. A person leading a bike is fine, but someone riding a bicycle or a motorbike, oh my! "Stand still, stand still I tell you! Come back here and get in a group with the bike over there!" LOL!
DeleteGreat idea...I hate saying no all the time.
ReplyDeleteI do too! I bet my doggies are tired of hearing it too, lol!
DeleteVery good advice. One other thing most of us do is just say the dog's name but not what to do with the name...Emma means me, but Emma sit, or Emma come is much better as I know exactly what you mean and I can decide if I feel like doing that or not...I can be stubborn :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent point! I sometimes catch myself saying a dog's name in a disappointed tone of voice. As if Bonnie will know what to do just because I say "Bonnie" in a scolding voice... Silly me!
Delete