Thread: Teaching NO !

Originally Posted by EeeBees

Whoa up!!! We use short two letter words because phonetically and physically they are the easier for us and the easiest for the dog...but it is not about the word you are using, it is about the corrective action and the modification of the unwanted behaviour that is important here...so the word is used to gain the dogs attention by mostly it tonal quality which imitates the gruffness of the growl...the bitch remonstrating her puppies isnt growling in a trill like fashion!!

I have to disagree... Tonal training gives more importance to one tone over another. If every command is given the same importance it gets the same response. I, likewise, have no place for meanness in training... my father always taught me "Give an animal a lesson in meanness and you have to be careful it did not learn a lesson in meanness".

People using "no" teach a dog that the current behavior is unacceptable... without offering up another behavior. Dogs are not that lateral. the same effect is gained (the sound No, Ut, whatever is irrelevant) buy using the same command it already knows "Stop" (Whatever sound you use) stops the current behavior... the smart handler then gives a command to offer up another behavior which is acceptable. This keeps the lines of communication open, the dog keeps respect for the handler because it understands and everyone can play happy, non-confused families. The dog remains relaxed in taking a command without a confusing tirade from the handler.