Whether you’ve just brought home a new puppy, or your dog’s all grown up, effective communication between the two of you is important! Not only will it help you properly train your furry friend, it’ll also strengthen your bond with each other. Unfortunately, canines don’t use words, so we have to learn to talk to them through other means. Find out how to communicate with your dog with our handy tips!
Get to know them
Spend time observing your dog. While all canines will use certain methods to communicate, this can vary from dog to dog. One of the best ways to get to know how your four-legged friend communicates is to take the time to be around them and watch their behaviour in different situations.
Be sincere
Dogs are fantastic at picking up on non-verbal cues and can easily size you up, detecting changes in mood. If you’re worried that they’re not listening to you, they’ll sense your uncertainty. Likewise if you’re scared, angry or happy. When trying to connect with your dog it’s best to remain calm. This should mean they’re more likely to listen to you, making any training just a little bit easier!
Harness your inner child
Canines, especially puppies are more receptive to higher pitched voices, such as those of children. It could be time to harness you inner six-year-old! Talking to your pet in a high voice can work especially well when trying to give praise. Dogs won’t understand long sentences, so stick to short commands when teaching them any tricks.
Body language
Learning about your dog’s body language is key to good communication. Dogs use their bodies to tell us many things about the way they’re feeling, and it’s also one of the main methods they use to communicate with each other! There are too many nuances to list here, so why not check out our post on Understanding your Dog!
Playtime
Taking the time to play with your furry friend can be a great way to help develop communication between the two of you. Once you’ve learned to read their body language, too, you might be able to pick up on how they’re feeling and what type of play they enjoy best!
Don’t yell
If your dog’s been naughty, remember not to raise your voice, however tempting it might be! When we shout at a dog it rarely has the intended effect. This is because your dog won’t understand what you’re saying; they’ll know you’re annoyed, but not the reason why. It’s best to use positive reinforcement, treating or praising them for being good. That way they’ll learn which actions please you.
Repetition, repetition, repetition
A key point to remember when trying to communicate with your dog is to try, try and try again! Our furry friends are creatures of habit, so if you repeat a command enough times, rewarding them whenever they get it right, soon enough they’ll know exactly what you mean!
While you might never reach the standard of Dr Doolittle and be able to enjoy actual conversation with your pooch, these tips should help you establish a strong relationship! To keep that relationship long-lasting and happy, you might also want to consider taking out dog insurance. At The Insurance Emporium, we offer flexible Dog Insurance with Vet’s Fees cover up to £8,000*. You could also get up to 30% discount^ on your policy. Get yourself down to The Insurance Emporium to find out more!
* Vet’s Fees cover up to £8,000 as standard available on lunar monthly Lifetime Gold policies only.
^ The 30% discount is made up of 20% Introductory Discount plus 10% Multi-pet Discount (if appropriate). The Introductory Discount is available for the first 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies.
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