Sit, down and come are three cues many people use to prompt their dogs to do something. But what happens when your dog can’t hear those words? They might be a distance away or have hearing loss. Enter the physical cue! People can really mess up their hand signals when training their dog, but physical cues can be easy to teach once you know the process.
In the episode you'll hear:
- What a physical cue is and how the training can get messed up.
- How physical cues overpower verbal cues.
- Why we want our dogs to have some physical cues.
- How stimulus creates behaviour and reinforcement sees behavior repeated.
- How to train your dog to go to a mat or bed.
- About generalizing a behaviour before adding the cue.
- When and how to add a cue for your dog.
- How I use a finger point as one of my physical cues.
- The reason I use "hop it up" for a verbal cue.
- Why to remember "new cue, old cue".
- The physical cue to use for your dog coming when called.
- How to test the cues that you use now for your dog.
- Why I don't have a verbal cue for a hand touch.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 44: Using Coincidences and Positive Associations in Dog Training
- Podcast Episode 6: The Art of Manipulation
- YouTube Video: Perch Work Dog Tricks (Pivots and Spins)
- Podcast Episode 85: Understanding Your Dog’s Sit: LWT
- Blog Post: Dog Training Question ~ When Do I Add a Cue?
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
- *Large Raised Travel Bed
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I had only been taught/shown to teach my dog by luring. It is SO refreshing to see/hear how to actually get the dog thinking and learning effectively.
5 Stars!!! Great Podcast!
Hi Susan,
I have 4 deaf Dalmatians that work with the Memphis Fire Department as K9 Public Safety Educators and therapy dogs.
It’s rare that I have 4 dogs out together but when I do I use a bent knee as a cue for all 4 to sit. All 4 sit at once, instead of using my hand to ask each one individually. It is quick and easy and very impressive.
Dear Susan,
Just finished listening to this episode – very useful as usual. So, today I’m going to try Hop It Up in different locations with a physical cue. Might even try the garden if it stops raining!