Well, it all depends on what we’ve taught them! Have we paired these words with any meaning? “Good boy” is often followed by pets or scratches—both of which my dogs love. “Cookie” is paired with food, frequently an extra tasty treat. So, they respond with delight when they hear these words or phrases.

But what would happen if I changed my tone?

If I said “Good boy” angrily, I highly doubt I’d be met with a happy, wiggly dog. In fact, I bet my dog would look confused or even move away from me. If I did the same with the word “cookie,” they might react similarly. Though since “cookie” is associated with food, they may offer a low, appeasing wag and a puzzled expression.

So, what does all of this mean for training?

If you attend nearly any dog training class or read any of the hundreds of training books out there, you’ll encounter a common theme: “Only say the command / cue once.”

Like many others in the animal industry, I struggle with this. Remember what I said at the beginning? We love to talk. We also often lack the patience to wait for our dogs to translate the cue into a behavior. So we repeat ourselves—over, and over, and over again. In doing so, we unintentionally teach our dogs that they don’t need to sit until we say it three times, each time getting louder or more curt.

And what about other words? 

Consider the word “down.” How many meanings does it have for your dog? Do you say it when you want them to lie down? What about when they jump on Grandma? Or when they put their feet on the counter? So which behavior are you actually asking for?

Imagine how confused our poor dogs must be.

This is exactly why I teach my dogs the word “off,” meaning, “Please take your feet off whatever they’re currently on.”

Take this example: your dog is sitting at the window, barking at a bunny outside. You respond by saying “No bark” in a likely loud voice. Have you taught your dog what “bark” means? If so, does it mean “speak” (i.e., bark)? Then, in your dog’s mind, they may think they’re simply doing what you asked! “Yes, I am barking! Isn’t it great fun?!”

If you haven’t taught them the meaning, they might just assume you’re joining in. After all, yelling at pesky rabbits and squirrels is a blast—and even better when your favorite human joins in!

Instead of joining the yelling party at the window, try this: grab a yummy, stinky treat and bring it to your pup’s nose. Once they’re interested, palm the treat and calmly—but happily—ask them to move away from the window with you. Once they’re away, say “quiet” (or a similar word) and offer them the treat. I also like to toss a few small treats on the ground in another room to help my dogs settle back down.

Here’s a challenge for you: write down all the words you’ve taught your dog—and what they mean. It’s an eye-opening exercise, even for experienced pet professionals. We need to be more aware of the words we’re using and the meanings we’re attaching to them.

So next time you talk to your dog, think about what meanings—if any—you’ve paired with the words you’re saying. And the next time you ask your dog for a behavior, try asking once and giving them time to process. They are translating, after all!

Our dogs love us and genuinely want to work with us, but it takes time for them to process this very human world. Consistency and predictable patterns are incredibly helpful for both dog and human alike.