A dog is a social animal that provides excellent companionship to human beings. But how do you communicate with your pet to form a strong bond? Do dogs understand how to communicate with us? As a pet parent, these are some questions you might have to build a strong relationship with your dog. A stronger bond means you can communicate meaningfully with your dog. This post explores the measures you can take to speak to your dog like a professional.
How to Speak to Your Dog Like a Professional
Here are different ways you can communicate with your dog:
Understand Body Language
First and foremost, you should know that dogs, like any other animals, cannot talk like humans. However, they have their way of communicating, which you can master to improve your relationship with your pet. Dogs learn to communicate with people by association, connecting certain activities, behaviors, sounds, and other objects.
Dogs cannot understand the words we speak, but they can pick up specific sounds commonly repeated to them. For instance, they associate the word “ball” with playing in the park and “dinner” with food. A dog responds to the tone and pitch of your voice rather than the exact words you might be saying. A friendly and warm tone communicates affection, while a high pitch conveys authority.
Additionally, a dog uses body postures to communicate, such as wagging its tail and raising or lowering its ears. You can easily interpret what your dog is communicating when you understand some of these signals. An excited and playful dog wags its tail, while an aggressive pet looks tense and stands tall. A fearful puppy folds its tail between its hind legs and sometimes trembles. Canines also observe our posture, facial expressions, and other gestures. By using relaxed body language, you will convey a sense of trust to your friend and invite it to play.
Keep Your Commands Short and Simple
Dogs do not understand English words but associate them with certain sounds. If you give your dog verbal commands, make sure they are short and simple. A dog cannot decode the meaning of your message, so you must keep them concise. In most cases, a dog is responsive to specific commands you repeatedly teach. For example, common commands include words such as “sit,” “play,” or “come.” These words provide a clear line of communication with your dog, and it will understand your expectations.
Be Consistent
To establish good communication patterns with your dog, you must be consistent. Your pet will gradually build a stronger association between the words consistently said and the expected behavior. Therefore, avoid confusing your pet with big words and long phrases that may be meaningless.
Remain Calm
When communicating with your dog, you need to remain calm. Remember not to shout or raise your pitch when communicating with your dog, as this will be associated with discipline or authority. If you tend to be aggressive toward your puppy, it will back off, negatively impacting the message you’re trying to convey. Friendly tones communicate happiness and motivate your dog during training. However, remember to use simple, clear commands to keep your friend focused and relaxed. A normal tone is enough to correct your dog.
Eye Contact
Eye contact can go a long way in strengthening the bond with your dog. When you look your pet in the eyes, it shows interest, but avoid prolonged direct eye contact. Some dogs will perceive eye contact as a threat. Therefore, call its name first to draw its attention before looking it in the eyes. Holding a treat is another method of drawing your dog’s attention. Reward good behavior with treats and praise the dog for making direct eye contact with you. Give it the treat when you’re satisfied with its behavior. Once your pet masters the art of looking at you, you can withdraw the treats.
Greet Your Dog
A dog feels comfortable when you treat it like a valuable asset. One way of doing this is by greeting it whenever you meet for the first time during that particular day. Approach your pet calmly, say hello, and allow it to sniff your legs. This shows that you’re friendly and non-threatening. Dogs rely on the sense of smell to identify human beings and other pets or objects.
Use Talk Buttons
With advanced communication technology, you can embrace the use of specialized buttons that your dog can use to communicate its needs. This device consists of labeled buttons your dog can press to communicate with you. Each button on the device consists of various words like “play,” “food,” or “outside.” Once the dog presses the button, you should respond quickly to build trust with it.
Express Affection to Your Dog
Dogs primarily respond to physical affection from human beings. If you spend quality time with your dog playing games, massaging it, and going for walks, a strong bond between you will develop. Regarding dog training, remember that actions speak louder than words.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When speaking to your dog, you should avoid certain mistakes that can affect your relationship with it. The following are some of the things you should avoid doing when you talk to your companion:
- Yelling: Yelling at your dog creates a fearful and negative response, which ultimately impacts your bond with your pet. A dog is sensitive to high-pitched sounds and loud noises, which create a fearful environment. A calm tone is sufficient to reinforce positive behavior in your dog.
- Ignoring your dog: When your dog welcomes you home, wagging its tail, you should never ignore it. Always pay attention to your pet because it communicates through body language. Ignoring your dog causes fear, anxiety, and discomfort, leading to undesired behavioral problems.
- Punishment-oriented training: When training your dog, avoid using punishment. Instead, use positive reinforcement, like offering your pet rewards and praise. Punishment creates a culture of fear that scares away your friend.
Conducting a full conversation with your dog is impossible, but specific methods can help you communicate effectively with it. Talking to your pooch strengthens the bond between you. To speak to your dog, you need to train it first to build good behavior. These tips can go a long way in helping you learn how to speak to your pet like a pro.