Establishing a Clear Communication System with Your Dog

Communication system with my dog

Here’s a guide on how I establish a communication system with my dog(s). Depending on the individual dog, I might use the entire guide or just certain parts. I utilise various tools, along with hand signals and verbal markers. This approach is clear for my dogs and easily generalises to all behaviours. The thing that I do implement is a clear difference between indirect and direct reward. I try to avoid using a marker for both direct and indirect rewards. While it’s perfectly acceptable to use it for both, in my experience, it tends to interfere with the meaning of my markers, particularly in terms of duration and quick release. This will be another blogpost. 

Release Markers

Clicker – Quick release: Come and get the reward from me. My dog is allowed to jump on me and be active. I prefer the pushiness of my dog. I won’t show the reward until my dog is really pushing me. 

Yes (verbal marker) – Quick release: come and get the reward from me. My dog is allowed to jump on me and be active. I prefer the pushiness of my dog. I won’t show the reward until my dog is really pushing me.

Ok (verbal marker) – Quick release: Get the reward away from me. This could be a ball on the ground. 

Finished – Neutral release with no reward. When my dog is in a specific position and I want to signal that the behaviour or exercise is finished but don’t want to reward the behaviour, I use a neutral release. 

Verbal correction

Ah-ah – Stop what you are doing that is not allowed. 

Duration Markers

Good – Duration marker. My dog stays in behaviour and continues the behaviour, reward will come to my dog. 

Repeating Cue – Duration Marker. This could be when my dog is in a sitting position. I say “sit,” repeating the cue for the behaviour my dog is already doing, and then the reward will come to my dog.

Hand moving to my treat pouch – Duration marker. Dog sees my hand moving to my treat pouch, meaning you stay in position, and the reward will come to you. 

Luring

Closed hand – Stay in position food comes to you 

Open hand luring – Come and chase the food in my hand, I release the food when I am happy with the behaviour. 

Negative reinforcer

Leash tapping– Negative reinforcer, move into known behaviour.

Slight leash pressure when dog is in behaviour – Opposition reflex, push into behaviour.

Showing my hands open

Keep going signal – I only use this with my detection dogs. Especially in extensive off-leash searches, when they come check in and ask for guidance. It means the search is not finished yet, keep going. 

This list can change over time as I will add to it.