How should I speak around my puppy? I don’t want to dilute my obedience commands by using some of the cues or his name in conversation. How do you speak to a dog in order to preserve the meaning of commands?

I need some advice about how I should speak around my 14-week-old Retriever. I am following training methods detailed in courses and videos purchased from your company. My question concerns carelessly using words associated with very important skills in everyday conversation with the puppy. Among them is the word COME. My puppy has learned a very good unrestrained recall. However, both myself and my wife find ourselves saying COME HERE to the puppy for a variety of reasons but not the official COME requirement. Another example is the use of his name. When he hears his name called similar to the COME command, he always directs his attention to me and comes to me as if the COME command was given. But again in everyday conversation, his name is being said without command and no reward. I do not want to dilute the command words by haphazard conversation. Do you offer any courses detailing how to speak to your dog to preserve training commands?

Cindy's Answer:

I'd review the DVD you have, Power of Training with Food (also available as a course). I believe Michael covers how to start and end a training session so the dog isn't constantly "on".

When we start with puppies we immediately begin using the words that mean "we're training now" For me that word is READY and after a session is done we let them know it's over. I use ALL DONE and I break my mental connection with the puppy/dog at that time. I don't interact with them in a training way, I don't reward anything they offer at that time, etc.. They learn over time there is a cue for when to be tuned in and focused and when to relax.

The rest of the issue is for you and your wife to change the words you use in casual conversation so the puppy doesn't get tuned in. Good dog training is mostly about our behavior and the criteria we set for the dog. You may want to choose different verbals for your recall if it's a real problem.

For puppies, if they come to me when I say their name I take that as a win. As he grows and your training becomes more complex he'll understand the difference between just saying his name and a recall.