MetroSniff's 5 Cs of Dog Training - Clarity

5 Cs, clarity, Fundamentals - By Staff Writer on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 15:12

Imagine living in a world where you didn't speak the language.  Where things were controlled for you buy creatures who you could not verbally communicate with.  You would likely do your best to follow what you thought they wanted but unless they were very clear in showing and demonstrating things to you, it would be a horribly confusing experience.  If there was any confusion on what they wanted you would do your best to comply and often, simply because you were guessing, get it wrong and get in trouble.  Welcome to a dogs world. 

Dogs will always do what is in their best interest and if thought correctly they quickly realize that pleasing their owner is what is in their best interest.  If they make you happy they get love, kisses, rubs, treats and play time so they try their best.   The key is to clearly communicate the behavior you want and what they get out of performing that behavior.  The problems often arise because we don't speak the same language and you are not as clear as you think.

While you think you are being perfectly clear to your dog by yelling at them after returning home for shredding up the couch, pointing at the place where they chewed a hole, you are confusing the heck out of them.  It is likely their shredding party took place the moment you left and yelling at them hours later makes the dog think that you are angry you are home.  They can't understand what you are so mad about and even though they might look guilty it's just because they know you are mad about something, but to them it could be anything.  The key to being clear is stopping to think about what you are trying to get across.

Keep reading to learn how to send a clear message to your dog.

How To Send A Clear Message