Basic Dog Training Tools

There are four basic tools to communicate with your dog. They are, in order: cues, markers, releases, and corrections. 

Cues are ways that we communicate what we want our dogs to do. "Sit," "Down," and "Stay," are examples of basic cues. 

Effective cues, however, incorporate hand signals along with verbal cues. This is because dogs are more visual than they are auditory, a fact backed up by research and practice.  

Hand signals also work when the dog cannot hear you, e.g. in a crowded space, near heavy traffic, etc. Furthermore, older dogs tend to lose their hearing to some degree and hand signals provide a means to give cues effectively in such a case. 

Markers are ways that we communicate that the dog has done what we want. These follow and help to shape the cues. For example, I might say to my bulldog, "Dexter, sit." Immediately upon sitting, I would then mark the behavior with "good boy," or "thank you!"

Release words and/or phrases tell the dog that he or she can go on to the next step. A dog in a stay means he or she can't move from the spot until a release is given. For example, even giving treats should be accompanied by a release (this will also help curb the “great white” jump and snap usually associated with getting a treat).

I use "OK" as my universal release word, but I've had students use "Break," "Green light," or even the utilitarian "Release." You can use whatever you like, but be consistent. Different release words may be used in different situations, but again, decide NOW and BE CONSISTENT.

Finally, corrections are ways we tell our dogs to either try again, or stop what they're doing. "No" is the most commonly verbal correction used by folks, although it’s among the least effective (more on that later!). There is a whole clutch of corrections that can be applied to various situations with variable emphasis to fit your needs. It’s worthwhile to keep in mind that there are visual corrections just like there are cues, and you will get your point across better with a combination of the two.

The proper order is the same as I've presented these basics. Any controlled situation is therefore:

NAME => CUE => MARKER or CORRECTION => then RELEASE if necessary

Example: “Darwin, come!” *the dog comes* “Good boy!” *I clip his leash on* “OK. Let’s go!”

With practice, this series of steps will become second nature. AND I’M TALKING TO YOU! Humans need to practice dog training too!