Tuesday Training Byte: Help- my dog just doesn't understand what I am asking

Dogs do not understand English and people usually do not understand dog "language" so there seems to be a failure to communicate. I use body language and luring with hand motion far more than words to get my dog to do what I want. Dogs understand body language and facial expressions better than words. This boils down to more motions and fewer words. If my dog still doesn't seem to get the idea that for example I want him to lay down, I may try up to three times. Then I get my dog to move away and do something fun and/or easy in an upbeat manner before attempting the down again. If my dog doesn't seem to get it, I do not attempt that again in this session, otherwise the dog gets frustrated along with the trainer. Make sure you understand the concept of capturing the desired behavior that I spoke of in a previous blog post. If I see my dog lay down on his own, I make sure to toss a few treats between his front feet and say "Good Down!" "Down" and bend over to give him a good pat while he is still in the down position. Soon your dog will associate the word down with the position that earned him treats and pets. Your praise, pets, and treats must be timed so your dog gets rewarded while in that position for him to understand. If he stands up before you can get the treat it is too late for him to make the association. With a few successes, he will get the hang of it. Happy training!

My girl "Muddy" waiting in the down position for our turn in the obedience ring.