The document discusses effective techniques for dog training commands. It recommends using a calm, firm voice when giving commands to avoid confusing the dog. The dog's name should precede each command so the dog knows it is the one being addressed. Positive reinforcement with praise and treats is important when the dog correctly obeys a command so it understands it has done well. While voice commands are common, some dogs are trained using whistles and hand signals instead. Consistency is key so the dog learns exactly what is being asked of it.

2. Dog Training Part V: The
Command Voice

3. Whengivingcommandstoadog,acalm,firm,authoritativevoiceismost
effective.Dogsdonotrespondwelltohesitant,pleadingvoices,nortoyelling,
whichmightsoundtothedoglikethreateningbarkingorscolding.Itisalso
importantthatthewordusedforthecommandandthepitchofthevoicebe
consistenteachtimethecommandisdeliveredsothatthedogcanmoreeasily
learnwhattheownermeans(siiiiiiiiiiiitdoesnotsoundthesameassit,for
example).

4. Usingthepuppy'snamebeforeacommandensuresthatthedogknowsthata
commandiscoming,thatitisforhim(ratherthanforotherdogs,children,or
people),andthatheshouldpayattention.Thisis importantbecausedogshear
alotofhumanspeechthathasnorelevanceforthematall,anditiseasyfor
themtodisregardcommandsamongstthebabble.

5. Toreinforcethecommand,thedogalwaysgetssomekindofrewardor
reinforcement(praiseandusuallyatreatortoy)whenitperformstheaction
correctly.Thishelpsthedogtounderstandthathehasdoneagoodthing.

6. Notethatnotalldogsaretrainedtovoicecommand.Manyworkingbreedsof
dogarenottrainedtoavoicecommandatall;theyaretaughttoobeya
combinationofwhistlesandhandsignals.Deafdogsareperfectlycapableof
learningtoobeyvisualsignalsalone.Manyobedienceclassesteachhand
signalsforcommoncommandsinadditiontovoicesignals;thesesignalscanbe
usefulin quietsituations,atadistance,andinadvancedobedience
competitions.

7. Thespecificcommandwordsarenotimportant,althoughcommonwordsin
Englishincludesit,down,come,andstay.Short,clearwordsthatareeasily
understoodbyotherhumansaregenerallyrecommended;thatway,people
willunderstandwhatahandleristellinghisdogtodoandotherhandlershave
agoodchanceofcontrollingsomeoneelse's dog if necessary. In fact, dogs
can learn commands in any language or othercommunications medium,
including whistles, mouth sounds, hand gestures, and soforth.

8. To LearnMoreAboutDogTraining,go to
http://howtohousetraindog.com/go/dog-training
http://howtohousetraindog.com/go/theonlinedogtrainer