Training
Your Dogs Vocabulary
By Paulette Bethel
I would like to address a need I am seeing as I observe those of you who are working in the field; to universalize our verbal cues with our dogs.
I work with patients at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital and I repeatedly hear patients ask dogs to "speak", "shake" and give "kisses". Therefore, I am recommending that all of you who are handling begin using the same commands. Often different dogs are used with clients and I think it would be less confusing if all the dogs responded to the word "speak", rather than "bark". If it becomes necessary to substitute a dog or even switch animals for one reason or another, the continuity of the treatment isn't lost.
I encourage Testa to greet people by telling her to "say hello" and I know many of you, too, used this phrase. It basically means to go to an individual and allow herself to be touched. I like it because it is friendly and usually understood by the person to let the dog come to them. This is different enough from "say Hi" or "say Bye" that I doubt your animal will be confused.
I have taught my dogs to bark on command by using "bark" or "gublaut". Most clients will say "speak" and so I am teaching my therapy dog to respond appropriately to this command.
"Shake" is a common command as is "sit" and "down". "Give kisses" is handy because without it Testa is less likely to lick someone's face and not everyone enjoys her kisses. (I don't understand this even a little bit.)
Two other verbal cues you should teach your Pet Partner® "easy" (really handy when someone is tentatively offering a treat), and "wait". Wait means just that - hold on for a minute.
When pulling a wheelchair it is important for the dog to know when to go, stop, and whether or not to turn right or left. I think it helps to use the dog's name and then give the command: "Testa, turn right", for instance. It is a simple job to teach your dog to do these four maneuvers if you will tell them to do so as you are walking, turning or stopping. The easiest phrases for a client to remember are your dog's name, "go forward", "Stop", "turn right", "turn Left". This is very empowering to someone who is always being told what to do by a nurse, therapist or doctor. It also allows a patient to feel safer as they go ao0oming down the halls for the first time behind an energetic golden or rottweiler!
This is a helpful beginning for better control if you want to teach your dog to pull a wagon. Those shafts are great sources of bruises and bumps when you need you animal to turn away from you and they are moving out with gusto.
If you dog likes to retrieve you can facilitate good patient-animal relations by finding a commonality in language, here, too. "give" seems to be more generally sued as is "fetch". I know this may present entirely new problems for some of you ; it certainly has for me, but it is so rewarding when a person you are working with tells your dog to do something and the dog does it. I have had people look at me with joy radiating over their faces as the say, "she did it, she must really likes me".
One final command that will make you life much easier is "leave it". If your dog is sniffing or trying to get to an object that is better left alone this simple command ca make a big difference.
Created: April 7, 2004 by News Administrator
