Commands vs. Labels
It’s a very common—and very human—habit: we start giving our dog a “command” before the dog has any idea what the word means. Some dogs may catch on quickly, but many don’t. What often happens instead is this: the owner points at the dog (why do we do that?) and repeats “SIT!” over and over while the dog looks confused.
The more a word is repeated in a moment of confusion, the less meaning it carries. To the dog, it becomes noise—like the teacher in a Peanuts cartoon: “wah, wah, wah…”
Instead, we want to build meaning first.
Show your dog the behavior before you name it. A good rule of thumb is to shape behaviors using food or another reward your dog values. Once your dog is consistently offering the behavior, then you add the word as a label. You’re not commanding—you’re describing something the dog already understands.
Dogs love to learn because learning is work, and dogs are wired to work. When you approach training this way, you’re tapping into that natural desire rather than creating confusion or pressure. A great example of this can be seen in skilled trainers who wait to introduce a verbal cue until the behavior is already clear and reliable—at that point, the word simply clicks into place.
Test Your Verbal Commands
So how do you know if your dog truly understands a cue?
First, remove the training wheels. Without food in your hand, ask your dog to perform the behavior. Do they respond? Or are they still relying on the sight of food or your body language?
Next, add distractions—but do this gradually. Start in a low-distraction environment like your home or yard, and build a strong foundation with lots of successful repetitions (we’re talking hundreds, even thousands). Then slowly introduce more stimulation.
Over time, your dog should learn to channel the energy from distractions into the behavior you’ve taught. This process takes patience. If you rush it, the behavior will fall apart under pressure.
Success builds success. Every correct repetition strengthens the behavior. Repeated failures, on the other hand, weaken it. Set your dog up to win.
What If My Dog Doesn’t Listen?
If your dog doesn’t perform the behavior, it’s not a discipline issue—it’s a communication issue.
Rather than asking, “How do I correct my dog?” try asking, “What did I miss?”
Your dog may not fully understand the cue yet. The environment may be too distracting. The reward might not be motivating enough. Or your timing and clarity might need refinement.
Think of it this way: if you had a boss who expected you to work without pay—and then yelled at you for not performing well—how long would you stay? Probably not long.
Dogs need a “paycheck,” not punishment. That paycheck could be food, a favorite toy, a game of tug, or even affection—whatever your dog finds rewarding.
If your dog isn’t responding, either the reward needs to be more compelling, or the communication needs to be clearer.
Dog training isn’t always easy—it can be repetitive and detail-oriented. And remember, dogs aren’t primarily listening to our words. They’re reading our body language, our energy, and the opportunities we create for them to succeed.
So if your dog doesn’t understand or can’t perform, the responsibility isn’t to punish—it’s to adjust, clarify, and guide. For inspiration, I recommend watching this film: Old Dog.