If you are around dogs and their owners very much as I am at the veterinary hospital you will undoubtedly hear more than once; “sit! sit! sit! SIT! Or “sit! sit! sit! SIT DOWN! This one really made me chuckle; “sit! sit! sit! SIT DAMN IT! We talked about this before we left home!” Do you think they really had a conversation about how to behave at the vet before they left home? Yep, I’ve heard them all.
I know what you are thinking right now. “I’ve been guilty of that!” Well, you are not alone. I’ve been guilty of some of those too. Even if you know better, it sometimes just slips out that way in frustration.
When I hear others do it, I always wonder what the dog must be thinking. Maybe he’s thinking; “So, I don’t have to sit when I hear sit because the command is; sit! sit! sit! SIT!
Or, “Which is it? Sit or sit down”? And the last one has to be really confusing. The poor dog must be thinking, “I heard a bunch of words, but I had no idea what you were saying!”
More Confusion With Training Cues
So what training cues do you use when you want your Chihuahua to get down from the couch? When you want him to not jump on people, or to get in the down position? Do you use the word “down” for all three? You know the dog is really confused with this one, right?
Chihuahuas don’t understand a conversation or a string of words, but they can and do learn to associate one action with one or two words. They associate training cues with an action or command.
Be consistent with your cues. For instance, say “down” if you want him to get in the down position and “off” if you want him to get off the couch or any furniture. How about “don’t” when you want him to not jump on people. The point is you can use any word, just use a different word for each command.
Most importantly, just say it once. If you say it over and over again, it becomes a string of words and your Chihuahua has no clue what you want. That’s the tough one, isn’t it? Especially when you are first teaching him a certain command, or when you get frustrated (we all do, by the way).
When Training
Say the word once. Be patient and wait. It may take him a while to figure it out. You can even almost see the little wheels turning in his head. He’ll tilt his head one way and then the other (that’s so cute!) as he tries so hard to figure out just what you want him to do. Because all they want in the whole wide world is to please you — well, and maybe food, food is a biggie.
During a training session, say it once then just stand still and quiet until he does figure it out and praise him profusely when he does. If he doesn’t, then walk him in a circle (you should have him leashed when training) and start again. Then to him, it’s like starting over and not a repeat of the word.
More Confusion
Do you use gestures or hand signals as training cues? Maybe even along with the word cue? Is everyone in the family on board with the same one? What if dad snaps his fingers and points to the floor and mom uses a flat hand, palm down. But one of the children bends all the way down and touches the floor. So what do you think your poor Chihuahua is thinking?
Here’s a suggestion that I wish I could take credit for, but I read it somewhere. Get the family together and ask everyone to cue the dog to “sit” or “down”. Be sure to video it because there will be laughing, and hilarity will ensue!
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Conclusion
So for you and your Chihuahua’s sake, be consistent with your cues whether verbal, hand signals or both. Whatever the cue is, use it only once! If your Chihuahua decides he doesn’t want to, turn him around or leave the room for a minute and start over. Keep doing that until he does the command.
If you are consistent with this, your Chihuahua will become a pro — and so will you — and he will consistently follow your every command.
Have you been guilty of saying a word more than once or over and over? Share your experiences with our readers. Leave your comment below
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