How you use your dog's name can
cause him much confusion. Your dog will associate related events and see
a relationship between contiguous impressions. He gets excited when you get
the leash out, right? Sure, because the leash means a walk--a fun event.
When you know very well that your dog forms many strong associations, why
believe or assume he won't make similar assumptions and learn similar things
regarding his name?
For example, I say: "Rover, Come!" and "Rover, Stay!" away from me. The
next time I say Rover, do I expect him to break towards me or run away? Because
I was just silly enough to teach him it means both! Look at how silly I
can be: "Rover, Shut Up!" "Get Down, Rover!" "Rover, NO!" These are great
ways to teach him that the word Rover means a reprimand. I then say: "Honey,
Rover was so cute today! When Sam visited, Rover played so nicely! Even
Carl liked Rover!" Rover just got ignored for paying attention to his name
three times because I wasn't talking to him!
What have I done wrong so far here? First, I taught Rover that his name
doesn't mean him, so he can ignore it. Second, I taught him it means punishment.
Third, I taught him it means to stay away from me. But if he doesn't come
to me EVERY time I call him, I'll rip his lips off! Do you see how we confuse
our dogs?
One of the most common desires of dog owners is to have their dog come
when they call him. This is much easier and more reliably successful if
you first remove any reason he has NOT to come when called. If the name
means reprimands or to stay away from you, you sure gave him reasons not
to come when called!
Here's the answer: Use a dog's name only when you are directly addressing
that dog in a positive way. Say it when giving the dog meals, treats, love,
massages, petting, walks and whatever he really likes. And the ONLY command
you say it with is "Come!" because coming to you should be among your dog's
greatest joys, so that's consistent with all the other positive things his
name is linked with. If the ONLY times your dog hears his name is "Yes,
Rover! Good Rover! Rover, here's a treat! Have a massage, Rover!" how does
he NOT come when you call him?
A very effective way to verbally correct a dog and avoid his name is to
use specific words. "Off!" means stay on the floor or get off of whatever
he's on. "Quiet!" means to be silent--not be bark or howl. "Drop!" means to
leave something alone or drop it from his mouth.
So now you don't need a name! If one or two dogs is/are barking, "Quiet!"
not only tells them what to do, it tells all of them exactly who you're
addressing! The quiet dogs know you mean the loudmouths! Same with Off,
Drop, Back, Out or whatever direction you say.
The point is very simple: Don't use your dog's name to mean contradictory
or diametrically opposed things. Use it to mean only good things directed
to that dog, and make coming to you a very good thing. I've done this for
decades with dozens of my own and thousands of client dogs all over the
world. I KNOW it works very well!
Given what I hear about training today, the dogs aren't the only ones confused!
About the Author:
Author: Dr. Dennis Fetko, "Dr. Dog"
Website: http://drdogsbehaviorsolutions.com.
Description: The author, Dennis Fetko, Ph.D., "Dr. Dog" is a world-renowned
animal behaviorist whose accomplishments range from appearing on the 20/20
television show and managing the reintroduction of captive-bred Arabian
Oryx into the Saudi Arabian National Wildlife Research Center to making
a presentation at the South American Veterinary Congress. Dr. Fetko's audios
and ebooks detail his fast, easy--and even fun--methods to eliminate your
dog's behavior problems. Learn more at http://drdogsbehaviorsolutions.com.
