This One Dog Training Hack CHANGED EVERYTHING! (Cues vs. Commands)

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In this video I discuss the idea of a cue vs. command and how our language can frame the way we interact with our dogs. I start with an anecdotal story with another language switch that changed my training relationship and results and then talk about why I use the word cue instead of command when I talk about working with dogs.
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[@dennisminer4]

As a professional traininer, I want to commend you for being self-aware and honest about the learning curve we all go through as we continually improve our skills. I coach all of my clients to use vocal tones that encourage enthusiastic engagement and cooperation with their dogs. If I feel myself getting impatient, I too have learned to take a pause, take a breath, and reassess my approach, the context in which the dog is working, and how the dog is feeling in the moment. Thank you for this excellent reminder.

[@DoggyU]

Thanks Dennis! Totally agree, learning to step away, take a breath, and re-assess a situation is vitally important when working with any animal! Thanks for commenting!

[@danielok9815]

having a background as a trainer and a disability ( including ADHD) your fantastic at being inspiring, vulnerable and getting to the point. Training other peoples dogs isn't challenging for the most part training a dog for myself has been a huge challenge. I forgot the part about my disabilities getting in the way of my abilities to train Care for and maintaining consistent routines. It's awful to admit some of the things that came out of my mouth, or didn't come out of my mouth because I was stuck in a brain fog with no sleep,etc. One thing I'm grateful for is I have no problem, humbling myself and seeking out guidance which I've done but you really speak to the self sabotaging trainer in me. Thank you so much you've made today much better.

[@pittymama4500]

This is a lesson we all have to learn I don't think anybody can say they haven't unless they just haven't had this Epiphany yet. I kept finding myself constantly frustrated because I knew that we knew these things but why did he choose to just sometimes be stubborn and not pay attention. At that point I was always frustrated because I felt like everybody was judging my dog and seeing his every mistake which gave me anxiety which made him nervous and confused. It all was a big ole domino effect that started with me talking at the dog instead of talking to him. I gave him commands yet I wasn't communicating. You would think this would come early but it didnt. I had this picture that I wanted to achieve but I didn't really know how I needed to get it and what was i missing. Your dog is always doing the best that they can, with the information that we have given them, & in the enviorment we are asking them to perform.

[@holisticleedriven8532]

Another thing to consider, in case anyone's reading. Dog's health. My dog was a well trained Service Dog in a familiar setting working routine when she began clearly, blatantly, repeatedly refusing orders. I didn't understand what was going on. When we finally took her to the vet 2 days later, we had to put her down. It was too late! Make sure your dog is medically sound if they begin behaving strangely and unexpectedly.

[@Catbooks]

Love the concept of moving from command to cue. It helps put you on the same team. The one frustration I still have with my dog is on recall. I usually walk him off leash, and usually his recall is pretty solid. But if he sees a person or dog he's friends with, he won't always recall if I ask him to. He knows what it means, but if the stimulation is too high, he tends to blow me off and this worries me. I consistently correct, then repeat the recall, he comes, and I praise/reward, but we're not moving forward on this and I don't know why. I do have an emergency recall and so far he's always stopped and come, but it worries me his blowing me off in these social instances might erode the emergency recall. Thanks again, you have such great insights!

[@DoggyU]

Recall can be so tough! I highly recommend that if your dog is repeatedly practicing behavior that you don't want, you manage that behavior while you work on training against higher-level distractions. For recalls, it means doing the thing that no one wants to do, but actually works, which is going back to a 30 or 50 ft. long line and making sure they can't choose to run up to a distraction that is too much for them (taking away the option of practicing unwanted behavior) while simultaneously bolstering your practice of recalling around distractions by deliberately setting up situations to work on it.

[@EpsilonAD]

"Having a hard time not giving me a hard time." Well said. Eps wanting to rush towards exciting things is her having a hard time with emotional regulation. This is a new way for me to think about it. I wonder how I can help her with regulating this emotional, joyful response. I guess being in less of a rush myself may be useful. Small, more gentlely taken steps repeating successful cues possibly. Thank you for a thought provoking and useful clip. 💞🐾

[@DoggyU]

Glad it was helpful! I'm hoping to put out a public facing video soon on the engage/disengage game (I already have a few on Patreon) to help address how to help with big excited feelings!

[@EpsilonAD]

That sounds great.

[@apriloliver]

Thank you so much for this video. I am thankful you were willing to share what it was like for you early on as a trainer. I've been getting down on myself and feeling like I am a horrible doggy parent because I have turned to physical punishment when I get frustrated. I have adjusted my mindset and I am looking forward to more content about what our role is as a trainer. I like the idea that my dog and I are a team. I used to feel like there was pressure on me to be the teacher, but I am realizing that my dog is teaching me a lot as well! He isn't a bad dog giving me a hard time, he is a good boy who is having a hard time and teaching me what it's like to be a dog in a scary world.

[@DoggyU]

💜💜💜

[@maurettatanner3968]

Yes yes yes!!!! Fabulous Laura!!!! This is sooooooo good!!! We all have done this before and I think we all witness humans putting human thoughts into the dog….these types of psychology videos are sooooo fabulous Laura!!! 👊👏👏👏

[@DoggyU]

Thanks Mauretta!

[@TrainMePlease]

Great video Laura and thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your history with this topic. I've got a video on this very topic from a few years ago. Super important. 👍

[@DoggyU]

Thanks Jose! To all my subscribers - be sure to check out Jose's channel! He does an awesome job delivering training info in a concise and approachable way! You can check it out @TrainMePlease :)

[@TrainMePlease]

@@DoggyU Thanks so much for the shout out. =)

[@traceyallen8286]

Teamwork is what it's all about......thanks for addressing this in such a positive way.

[@DoggyU]

Thanks Tracey

[@robina.disotell5683]

Thank you for making this point.!!! For 5 years now, I've been addressing this during my first consult meeting on how I train. (Therapeutically) The hardest dogs to train, are the ones that never learned making the right choices and are only responsive to stress- triggered commands. Just last night I proved this point. The dog won't 'listen" to the wife, but does everything the man wants. That's because of her direct, yet loving tone doesn't raise the anxiety like when her hubby demands something. Not allowing the dog to think things through, is a sign of the human not understanding the potential of their 4-legged mate. They are still stuck in old beliefs.

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

This was such an important video. Thanks for making it.

[@Tucker.In.Training]

Thanks! I struggle with getting frustrated with my family puppy, so this helps a lot! I know I’m wrong for raising my voice and getting rough, so I try to breath! :)

[@DoggyU]

Recognizing it is definitely a step in the right direction! Then coming up with a protocol for when you're feeling frustrated. Such as, "if I'm feeling frustrated I'm going to take 3 deep breathes. If I'm still feeling frustrated, I'm going to say "scatter" throw a handful of kibble on the ground and then put my dog away until I'm feeling ready to train again". Also, making sure the puppy's physical and exercise needs are met will make them generally less frustrating to deal with. Lots of long-line walks and oral stimulation through raw bones, puzzle toys, Toppl's etc. Here's one of my favorite toys for puppies: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZymd5d4gt6Yi9k And give yourself a break! Everyone gets frustrated sometimes. Recognizing it and having a plan in place is best for you and pups :) You got this!

[@Tucker.In.Training]

@@DoggyU thank you! This is great advice. 🩷🐾

[@carmensandiego211]

Love this video 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@DoggyU]

Glad you enjoyed it Carmen San Diego :)

[@valeriefuquanOreo]

Love this! Thanks Laura! Makes you stop and think for sure!

[@wagsofwonder]

This is so helpful! Thank you so much!!!

[@DoggyU]

Thanks Liv! Glad it was helpful!

[@UNbalancedDogTrainer]

Brilliant video and message, Laura! :)

[@DoggyU]

Thank you ☺

[@earth2wendy]

Laura, great video and your deeper point is well taken. No donkeys=time to travel for us. We were in Kanab at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary this past week, a beautiful and moving place. On one of the many pet graves there, we came across a particularly endearing, etched picture of a bulldog, with the following engraved epitaph: “Patrick, world champion crawler who loved and was loved by many,” followed by this quote: “If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.” Chief Dan George It seems relevant to me to the greater point you make in your “Cues vs. Commands” video. ❤from E2W and Trip

[@DoggyU]

Sounds like a really heart-opening experience. I'm so sorry about the donkeys but I'm happy that you are able to travel

[@mycraftworld-tina4934]

I have struggled for 3 yrs of not being able to separate from my SD. If I have to go in for MRI, he whines with separation unless my husband is with to take him out to distract.

[@Boone22]

Because the size of refrigerator height, my dogs size..teaching them to open and close the refrigerator could be hard on the refrigerator. Lol! Having a 190# dog pulling doors open (AT 1ST)could be very expensive. Lol! I didn't have an old refrigerator for training purposes.

[@DoggyU]

I train this on an old cabinet first - you can typically pick one up at good will or renovation stores for cheap. I then teach my dog to use the desired pressure/not flail around on that cabinet before doing it on items I care about ;)

[@Boone22]

@@DoggyU THANK YOU for this tip! they know how to open and close mailbox..I will try training them on a cabinet.

[@user-iw1zp5bx3b]

I have watched endless videos of yours and I am very impressed by your talent and skill! I have a 12 week old service puppy in training which I picked him up from the breeder last week, Simon and I begin our first puppy training class today and I also have a good friend who has been with 4 different service dogs throughout her life who is going to give me two training sessions a week but I have not seen videos which can help me with beginning stages of chewing and just adolescence training techniques which I can be utilizing a home ( could you recommend some from your log of videos and any other suggestions you recommend for me I would be at your mercy?) I would love to purchase, pay for or anything you would suggest! Thank you very much! Lee

[@DoggyU]

Hi Lee! I'm so glad you're enjoying my content! I think you might be interested in this Deep Dive over on Patreon that covers ... "all things puppies!" LOL! I talk about strategies for nipping, chewing potty training and more. You can find it here: www.patreon.com/posts/all-things-for-74993930

[@kavitadeva]

Hi Laura. Thanks for a video that brings forth the nuances in how to look at your relationship with your dog, and how to use certain energy to create better results. I did talk to Donna, and she said there would be so much I'd have to unlearn because she does ONLY PRT. And because I get so overwhelmed so easily from my CPTSD and physical illnesses it would be better to just let Finn, my SDIT to be a pet. I still want to know how to train Finn to initiate coming to me when I am struggling. As you know I don't know HOW TO TRAIN THAT. Laura do you have any lengthy videos teaching that? If you can send me a link, I'd be happy to pay for it. I really want that behavior from Finn. It's important and it will build our bond. I immediately went to your video link for the free mini course, and wouldn't you know it didn't go anywhere when I touched the enroll button. I'll try again right now!! Thanks Laura Happy Trails 🐕‍🦺🐾

[@DoggyU]

Unfortunately, I don't have a video of that yet. I will be working on courses to address this in 2024. Stay tuned!

[@kavitadeva]

@@DoggyU thank you for always responding Laura. Hope the road trip is going well !

[@danacharette6860]

Hi, I'm a new subscriber and would like to ask ... how would you teach a dog (11 month, female, Australian Shepherd & Rotweiller & German Shepherd & ??? mix) to fetch an item that's on the floor such as her blanket, toy, ball and bring that item to you? We bought her at a shelter at 5 months. She already knows cues like sit, heel, no pulling, laydown, stay, up, back, turn around, and is potty trained to go in a very specific small section of our large yard. however i have no idea how to start the fetch cue ? I'd appreciate some advise. thanks!

[@DoggyU]

Hey Dana! Welcome to the channel! The retrieve can be a complicated behavior for a dog that doesn't have a natural retrieve. That being said, it's very possible with a shaped retrieve. I actually have a 3 part series on how I train the retrieve over on Patreon. You can join for just $18 a month and see all three parts! You can find that here, along with 150 other training videos: www.patreon.com/posts/deep-dive-hold-1-86695732 Thanks for being a part of the community!

[@jakeepup96]

I've been very frustrated. My service dog in training suddenly will not stop licking my other dogs urine and privates. It would be fine if once in a while but it's insanely obsessive for him. I've tried saying no, leave it, recalling him to me. Nothing works. I feel bad because he's constantly leashed now, but he won't stop no matter what I do.

[@DoggyU]

Hey Jakeepup! Is your other dog a female? Is she possibly going into heat? Is your SD neutered?

[@jakeepup96]

@DoggyU my service dog is still intact, he's 9 months. But I have two other dogs, ones a male, who's neutered, and the others a female, she is intact as well, but she's not due to be in heat for a few months. I know he could be testing to see if she's in heat, but he's obsessive about it 😅

[@DoggyU]

@@jakeepup96 Unfortunately, this sounds like it's within the realm of age-appropriate behavior for an adolescent dog just getting his hormones, even though I know it's very annoying. I think would consider putting sniffing on cue. Hannah Brannigan's most recent podcast (Drinking From the Toilet) might be helpful! I would also watch your other dog for signs of heat, and keep them separated temporarily, as sometimes the dog's know before we do :) But it may be something that needs the eyes of an in-person trainer for to help suss out the best solution.

[@jakeepup96]

@DoggyU I'll definitely take a listen to it! My current trainer told me to just correct him verbally, and interupt it, but that doesn't work most of the time. I'll definitely keep an eye on her, I never let them be alone because I don't want any puppies, especially a malinois X rough collie, that's a recipe for disaster 😅 but we will power through. I've never had this happen, even with other intact males he's my first to lick it. Do they stop after the females done in heat? Or is this just a forever thing?

[@DoggyU]

@@jakeepup96 In my experience, if it's heat related, they stop after she's done with her heat. Fingers crossed that's what it is!