I let my dogs out first thing this morning, as usual, and as soon as they left the deck, they both tore pell-mell for the fence and proceeded to chase and bark at a rabbit on the other side. The rabbit ran for shelter. The dogs proceeded with their "business" but barely finished before the rabbit reappeared somewhere out of my line of sight, and they were barking madly at it again.

It was early in the morning and I didn't want them waking up everyone in the neighborhood. I knew better than to say "Come!" I have to admit their recall is not good enough that I can call them off a prey animal with that word alone (one of them I probably could but definitely not the other one). I was hollering something to the effect of, "All right, you guys, C'mon. Enough!" I was being completely ignored.

So I said loudly, "Let's Eat!!!" Both of their heads instantly jerked in my direction and they both came bounding across the yard, into the house. Of course we made breakfast right away.

It just got me thinking about how our dogs actually do listen to the things we say, even when we don't think they are. I'm sure I've used that phrase often when it's time for meals, but I wasn't actually trying to teach a command.

Have any of you inadvertently taught your dog a command you weren't really trying to?

I intentionally trained "go to bed" for going to their crate and they do it 100% of the time, (except for the new guy).

But I found out that "time to go" works just as reliably, because it was what I said to my kids every morning when it was time to go to school. I guess the dogs knew after a while that that meant crate time.

It is interesting to me how habits can be created accidently through repetition. I'm positive that Ollie knows the difference between week days and weekends but I haven't figured out what I do that differently with him in the mornings that means, "I'm home with you this morning".

Something else, when Steve was out of town recently, I thought I'd let Ollie sleep with me on the couch. He LOVES couch time with me and thought I'd stay up and watch movies and it would be a treat for him. Ten o'clock, he went to his crate on his own and stayed there.

It frustrates me with myself that my intentional training doesn't get the the results that my unintentional training does.

 Quote: janet dudley

It frustrates me with myself that my intentional training doesn't get the the results that my unintentional training does.

Me, too! Lol

My personal favorite accidental command I have taught my youngest dog is "Don't be a jerk!" I say this to him often enough that he now knows it means to stop whatever he is doing that is bad and be good!

For the emergency recall, I use "Do you want a cookie?" Works every time

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Have any of you inadvertently taught your dog a command you weren't really trying to?

Yes the most recent is with the crate. He goes in and when I reach to latch it, out he comes a million miles an hour, runs a lap around me and back in he goes and awaits for the door to be shut. I'm not sure how it started, he more than likely was trying to not really crate and I know my response was laughing and fussing because it was so crazy and unexpected.

I really do enjoy taking advantage of behaviors offered and train to it, I do try to be careful not to inadvertenly mark behaviors I don't want (like the crate thing) but it happens. I can't remember the training word for it, capturing?

Also have had my share of finding my training holes in basic OB at the most inconvenient times.

I use the word "Bon" french for good as an habit when about to get going. Harley knows very well and will be at the door in a blink. Some how Dexter not so much.
Dexter will run to his creat when ever the peanut butter comes out.

I have said "Dog Dinner!!!" almost every time I have fed my dog (which she gets very excited about) and I intend to use it as emergency command if I ever need a guaranteed recall!

 Quote: ariane gauthier

I use the word "Bon" french for good as an habit when about to get going. Harley knows very well and will be at the door in a blink. Some how Dexter not so much.
Dexter will run to his creat when ever the peanut butter comes out.

Same here, with peanut butter or the kong.

My female is forever in our pool. Usually, I don't care. But recently, I had put the shock (chemicals) into the pool and needed to keep her from jumping in.
The recall that works best for this situation is " Daddy's home" and she turns full blast toward the back door to go see him!

I know it is bad to lie, but I had to keep her out from the chemicals. My female is as stubborn as they come on recall.

My male, however is really great at recall. Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do to avoid trouble.

I use the down command "platz" in emergency situations on and off the training field. Have saved a few bunny lives when the chase was not safe and a potential live bite to a person that entered our back yard unannounced. The dog complies whether 10 yards away or a 100 yards away in high pursuit.

The word "free" - it's a release word and I always throw a party when the dogs get back to me.