Stop shouting in the park

In a noisy Indian city, your commands are often just background noise. Here is why your dog is tuning you out and how to fix it.

Kylosi
1 / 10

Visuals win every time

A dog's brain reacts to a hand gesture in under 75 milliseconds. Spoken words take more cognitive heavy lifting. If you wave and yell, they only 'see' the wave.

2 / 10

Avoid 'Overshadowing'

If you give a hand signal and a word at the same time, the visual signal 'blocks' the sound. Your dog never actually learns the word; they are just following your hand.

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The 'Cue Callousing' trap

Do you use 'No' for both your kids and your dog? When a command becomes background chatter in a busy home, it loses its power. This is cue callousing.

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The 'Baitho' advantage

Choose punchy, distinct sounds. Using local words like 'Baitho' or 'Idhar' prevents confusion with the English chatter your dog hears all day.

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Vowel sounds matter

'Sit' and 'Stay' sound identical to a dog (both start with a sharp 'S'). Use words with different endings like 'Stand' and 'Kukkur' to help them discriminate.

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The 'New Cue, Old Cue' rule

To teach a new word, say it FIRST, pause for a split second, then give the hand signal they already know. This lets the sound predict the action.

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The Fridge Dictionary

In a multi-generational home, consistency is king. Pin a list of commands to the fridge so everyone uses the same 'Baitho' and not 'Sit down.'

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The Treat Bag dependency

Does your dog only listen when they see the treat? They haven't learned the cue; they've learned that the 'treat bag' is the signal. This is a context error.

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Proofing at the Kirana

A command learned in the living room doesn't exist at the kirana store. You must 'proof' the cue by practicing in different high-distraction environments.

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Beware the 'Poisoned' cue

If 'Come' always leads to a bath or a nail trim, the word is poisoned. Throw it away. Pick a new word like 'Here' to start fresh without the baggage.

It's not about the words

Training isn't just about obedience; it's the architecture of communication. When you clean up the 'noise,' your dog can finally hear what you're actually saying.

Build Your Training Dictionary

See the exact order of operations to clean up your cues and get faster results with your pet.

Read the Guide