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Dog training is a form communication. We attach meaning to cues, signals, or commands to convey information to get our dogs to do what we’d like them to do. In this podcast Dr. Roger Abrantes and I discuss whether the words you use to describe dog training affect your relationship with your dog.
Dr. Abrantes is a dear friend of mine, a scientist, an expert in dog training, a blogger, and someone I very much admire. His experience and knowledge goes way beyond dog training. Roger’s formal education is that of an evolutionary biologist, however, as a well traveled citizen of the world who has lived in places such as Denmark, Portugal, Thailand, and Africa, he has also become a de facto expert in languages, and communication in general.
Words always come along with some sort of association. For example, when requesting a behavior from a dog, such as “high five” or “shake”, many people will tell you they are giving the dog a command. Dr. Abrantes explains that the word “command” has a militaristic connotation. A command is something that is issued and must be obeyed. No questions asked. Disobedience to a command in many cases must be severely punished. But is that really how you see your fun little request to shake your dog’s paw? Must she obey? Or, more accurately, are you simply requesting a friendly interaction with your best friend, or practicing a routine you learned in a dog training session? Is non-compliance truly a punishable offense? Shake is a friendly gesture after all.
Roger points out that before a command becomes a command it is a signal. A dog cannot obey a command he does not understand.
He believes that when we are interacting with, and communicating with our dogs it’s just like communicating with a friend or colleague. We generally don’t command each other but rather signal back and forth in a friendly and reciprocal fashion.
We also discussed whether other words commonly used as dog training vernacular, such as “obey”, should really have a place in describing the partnership that takes place between a human and a trained dog. Especially how often when people use the word “punishment” what they really mean is they are seeking “revenge”.
It was a fascinating conversation, and I hope you’ll tune in below and join in the conversation. Roger and I will be taking questions and entertaining your input in the comments section below.
If you’d like to hear more from Roger he can be found blogging away at both Dog Star Daily and his WordPress blog.
This entry was posted in Kelly Gorman Dunbar, Leadership/Motivation/Counseling, Training and Behavior and tagged dog training, dogs, Kelly Dunbar on October 17, 2011 by Kelly Gorman Dunbar.
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Master & Commander: Decoding Dog Training Terms says:
October 18, 2011 at 7:04 am
[…] find out the connection between serving too much mayonnaise and successful dog training, listen to the interview. It’s one of the most interesting — and illuminating — conversations I’ve […]
Power of Words…in Dog Training and in Life says:
October 19, 2011 at 2:42 pm
[…] Now on to the serious stuff! Have you ever thought about how the words you use in communicating with your dog impact you and your dog? I had not, until I listened to this Animal Cafe interview with Kelly Gorman Dunbar and Dr. Roger Abrantes about how the words you use in describing dog training may affect your relationship with your dog. […]
Dog Training: Signals, Cues, Commands, Obedience and Punishment « Roger Abrantes says:
October 22, 2011 at 2:18 am
[…] This is the podcast where Kelly Gorman Dunbar interviewed me for Animal Cafe. […]
Dog Training Communication | Dancing Dog Blog says:
November 1, 2011 at 6:24 am
[…] This is one hot topic and an interview you do not want to miss! Listen at Animal Cafe. […]
silent communications | magic & mia says:
July 28, 2014 at 3:43 am
[…] my eyes open & he decoded & de-mystified this pack leader┬átheory beautifully. Do listen to this interview it is the most interesting & the most illuminating conversation i’ve heard in a long […]
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