If they offer a 'sit-down-paw' combo for a treat, they don't understand you. They're just playing the lottery.
Dogs are primarily visual processors. If you gesture while you speak, your voice becomes background noise. In science, we call this 'overshadowing.'
'Sit' and 'Stay' sound nearly identical at a noisy weekend market. Use phonetic contrast like 'Sit' vs 'Wait' to ensure you are actually heard.
If you say 'Okay' to your family all day, your dog learns to ignore it. Pick a unique word like 'Hamba' or 'Break' that isn't in your daily chatter.
To make your dog listen when they aren't looking, say the word a split-second BEFORE the hand signal. This allows their brain to predict the movement.
True discrimination means rewards only come for the EXACT command. If they sit when you asked for 'Down', do not give the treat. Reset and try again.
If 'Come' always means 'leave the park' or 'bath time', the cue becomes poisoned. Use a new word like 'Here' to restart a failed recall.
Saying 'Sit, Sit, Sit!' teaches them that the cue is a three-word phrase. Give it once. If they ignore you, change the environment or the reward.
If they only listen when they see the snack, the treat has become the cue. Keep rewards hidden in a pouch until AFTER the behaviour is complete.
A 'Sit' in your kitchen isn't a 'Sit' at the Sea Point Promenade. Gradually add distractions to ensure the signal remains crisp everywhere.
A new hat or leaning forward can look like a totally different signal to your pet. If they suddenly 'forget', go back to basics and remove the gear.
Move from guessing to knowing. By choosing distinct cues and respecting visual power, you build a vocabulary that survives the distractions of daily life.
Get the specific cue list and the discrimination drill checklist to transform your pet's focus today.