# The Importance of Good Communication When Training Dogs
I can't say enough good things about dogs. They can adjust to any circumstance. They have an extraordinary capacity for making connections, and can quickly grasp the significance of a wide variety of sounds, including those used in human language.
Many experts estimate that dogs have "vocabularies" of up to 150 words. Despite their intelligence, expertise, and flexibility, dogs will never be able to communicate with words.
They communicate mostly via nonverbal cues and nonverbal displays. Since this is the case, it stands to reason that your dog will "filter" your words via your [own body language, facial expression](https://www.petmd.com/dog/puppycenter/communication/evr_dg_socializing_your_puppy), tone of voice, and even your attention. In addition, most dogs will "follow" your body language even if one or more of these "disagree" with the words you are using.
Miscommunication, rather than willfulness, stubbornness, or dominance, is usually to blame when things go wrong during [**dog training**](https://dogsland.top/). While the focus of this essay is on training a family pet, learning to properly communicate with your dog is essential whether your dog is a family pet, a competitor in canine sports, or a full-time working dog.
**Paying Attention Is the First Step in Effective Communication**
Providing undivided attention is one of the simplest ways to convey meaning. The same holds true whether you're instructing on a novel ability, reviewing a more familiar one, or honing a more complex habit. To reinforce a behaviour in your dog, you may use any of your own body language to call attention to it, such as touch, speech, eye contact, a smile, or laughing.
Doing so will show your dog that you appreciate the good behaviour. Because of their naturally social nature, dogs benefit greatly from human company and praise. Not even factoring in whether or not the dog finds the behaviour rewarding in and of itself, they will value it and try to get it. One should remember that reinforcement may occur without the use of a direct reward during training.
As you urge your dog to concentrate on you during training, you should also enter the session with the intention of giving him your undivided attention. Don't workout if you're too busy or distracted. This is only common courtesy, the kind you would show any friend.
You don't have to gaze at your dog the whole time, but you should be aware of his presence. In order to be a successful teacher, one must be alert, present, and "in the moment" during training, allowing them to recognise and praise positive reactions as they occur. What if your dog reacts in a way you didn't anticipate?
Never remember it or bring it up again, either vocally or in writing. In many cases, praising a dog for a bad answer would just reinforce that behaviour in his mind and encourage him to repeat it. Don't waste time and effort on things you don't want to see repeated.
As you continue to use this method while training your dog, you'll notice that he or she actively seeks out opportunities to please you. A dog's willingness to cooperate, the depth of your bond with him, and the joy you take in training all rise in tandem with his behavior's steady improvement. The negatives of the situation seem somewhat elusive.
**How to Train Your Dog by Reading Its Body Language**
Leadership is shown to its fullest extent in the act of [training your dog](/dog-training-guide/the-importance-of-good-communication-when-training-dogs.md). You are taking charge by proactively instructing, guiding, and directing your dog. Therefore, as a teacher and leader, you should project an air of confidence and poise via your body language. Let's examine the parts of nonverbal communication that matter for your dog:
You may encourage others to learn just by the way they look at you. Your facial expressions are the first indicator of your whole body language. The experience of training your dog should be a happy and rewarding one for both of you. Facial muscles should be intentionally relaxed before starting and at regular intervals while doing this.
Soften your smile. The gaze has to be mellowed. Calm down and keep breathing normally. When you're calm and content, your dog will see you as a secure space to spend time in. (And, of course, there's no cause for alarm, right?) Not the United Nations, but dog training!
Instead of intimidating your dog into avoiding eye contact, which hinders your ability to communicate, a gentle gaze will encourage your dog to seek out your face.
A dog's behaviour during times of stress might be a mirror of the owner's inner state.
He can attempt to find peace and quiet by avoiding eye contact with you or even physically withdrawing from you. In an effort to reassure you, some dogs may be abnormally lethargic and sedentary, or even subservient.
He could "act out" to get your attention or defuse the tension. This kind of dog is prone to generalised anxiety and may even engage in comical acts in an effort to divert your attention.
Many dogs are sensitive to their owners' emotions and can mirror your anxiety by seeking solace elsewhere or searching the area for the cause of your distress.
If any of these occur when you are working with your dog, examine your own actions before becoming frustrated with your dog. Try again after you've taken a few deep breaths, relaxed your face and body, and smiled.
Project assurance. Body language and gestures should convey a sense of comfortable confidence while teaching your dog, particularly if he is new to you or to training. Keep your head and shoulders up as much as possible without becoming stiff. (Do you recall the look on your face at that time?
The way you carry yourself should "encourage learning" as well. A confident, authoritative posture, such as an erect yet relaxed stance, is ideal for a teacher. Maintaining a confident demeanour when bending may be achieved by maintaining the shoulders back.
Any dog may get confused by excessive bowing, bending, ducking, and bobbing, but it's especially critical when just starting to teach a dog or with dogs that have naturally exuberant or pushy dispositions. Because of this, he can wrongly conclude that you are only playing or being subservient, and not really training. In order to be effective, any hand signals used to convey instructions must be clear, unambiguous, and concise. They should not be moving about aimlessly or in a threatening manner, and the dog should never feel threatened or bothered by them.
Share your calm demeanour. Quiet down. Keep your body language "silent" when doing both still exercises (like a sit-stay) and active ones (like heeling or a recall). Don't drown out your cue in a flurry of motion or noise that no one can make sense of.
Keep your dog's attention on you by removing distractions so he can fully process what you're saying and the signals you're trying to send with your hands and body. After your dog has learned the basics, you may work on teaching him to react to vocal signals instead of just looking at you when you say anything. But for the time being, priority number one. Take baby steps before you try to sprint.
**Rather Than Mere Words**
Being conscious of how your tone of voice and the timing of your signals impact your dog's ability to learn and react is an important part of communicating clearly and successfully with your dog. When you give your dog a command, remember that your voice communicates more than just that word.
Be reliable first. Inexperienced dog owners typically use a wide range of cues, from a lovely, uncomplicated "sit" to a loud, powerful "SIT!" to a sing-songy, not especially confident "si-yit?"
Each of these noises acts as a totally distinct indication to a dog. It bears repeating that canines are not considered to be very talkative. Your training partner may get confused if you provide commands in a range of tones, pitches, and durations. As a favour to both you and your dog, try to maintain a regular cadence in your instructions. That is to say, choose on a musical style and stay with it.
Encourage teamwork. Give your dog a verbal command while keeping your voice and body language calm and steady. Use a [natural tone of voice](https://services.petsmart.com/training). Imagine that your dog is successfully completing the activity as you provide the cue, and your assurance will come out in your tone of voice.
Avoid seeming whining, inquiring, or imploring. It will be a frustrating waste of your time to try to teach your dog using these "lost puppy" voices. You won't even be seen, never alone respected, with them. Do not forget that you are a leader and not a slave. There's no need to adopt a harsh "command voice," though.
There are two reasons for this. Firstly, dogs' reactions vary depending on their level of self-assurance; aggressive, scary tones tend to elicit resistance from more self-assured canines and mindless submission from less self-assured ones. Neither environment promotes understanding, collaboration, or teamwork. Second, your dog can hear and understand you just fine if you use a natural, conversational voice and a positive, upbeat demeanour around him.
If you want to use your dog's new skills in real life, you'll be constantly on the go, giving him or her new instructions. Consequently, why in the world would you teach your dog that you must act like a "drill sergeant" to get him to behave as you wish?
It's not beneficial, adds unneeded tension to training, and doesn't portray a cooperative collaboration. In reality, if your voice and manner are casual and conversational, your dog will be far more likely to react quietly, voluntarily, and deliberately. The takeaway here is to use a calm, even tone of voice that is natural for you while teaching your dog his signals.
Gratitude that comes from the heart is invaluable. When we finally get our dogs to accomplish what we want them to, we frequently give them praise that is insincere, overly-rehearsed, and not particularly praise-like because we have been so focused on getting them to learn.
Remember that how you come across is much more significant than what you really say. It is more important that your genuine joy and satisfaction at that very time shine through in your words of praise than that they have a certain tonal character or pitch. In other words, your dog should know how much you value his or her efforts, whether they resulted in a breakthrough achievement or were only the latest in a long series of incremental improvements.
To discover how your dog reacts to various upbeat noises, you may "test drive" them on him or her. The most crucial factor is that your dog understands from your tone of voice and your body language that you are delighted.
Your dog knows exactly what you sound like and looks like whether you're happy, sad, furious, or indifferent since he shares your home with you. The tone of your voice will reflect the sincerity with which you admire your dog in your mind.
The tone of your voice should be dismissive, not angry or threatening, if you must use it to express your disapproval of a certain action. This is meant to teach, not scare.
Bear in mind that you and your dog will make blunders as you work together. The goal here isn't to make him feel awful about what he did wrong, but rather to figure out how to help him do right in the future. With this method, your dog will not only get the point, but will also be eager to continue working with you.
**Reconciling the Pieces**
So, while training your dog, remind yourself to chill down, laugh, and enjoy the experience. Do you have any other options?
Sure. However, the focus of this essay is on improving your interactions with your dog so that your training sessions are more productive and enjoyable for both of you. Keep in mind that you and your dog will learn via trial and error. It's not only acceptable, but also to be anticipated as a healthy and necessary part of the learning process. Now go have fun!
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