Training Archives - Page 3 of 3

Listening to my humans tell me stories and ask me questions is my favorite thing in the whole entire world. I actually credit this as the reason I'm able to consistently write such comprehensive blogs. As a matter of fact, this is exactly how you can make your dog smarter. Talking to your dog is the easiest and most efficient way to make them smarter. Not only that, studies suggest that the simple act of communicating with your dog on a daily basis makes you smarter as well. Disclaimer: The Can My Dog articles contain information based on the individual research and opinions of the author of the site – who just so happens to be a dog. How you utilize the information given is completely up to you. Proceed at your own risk. Did you know that humans are actually the only beings (on planet Earth, at least) who can personify inanimate objects and other living creatures? As it turns out, this is a really good thing to do. Anthropomorphizing is "actually a natural byproduct of the tendency that makes humans uniquely smart on this planet." [Nicholas Epley, professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago, and expert in anthropomorphism (assigning human qualities to nonhuman things). You heard it hear first. Straight from the behavioral scientists quote text. Talk to Your Dog Everyday To Make Them Smarter When you talk to us on a regular basis, we pick up on certain cues, words, and emotional associations, thus exponentially increasing our cognitive awareness on a comprehensive scale. In short, your dog learns more words, and they get smarter. We begin to truly understand you. Commands become clearer to us and life gets a little easier all the way around. Communication is key in any relationship. Why should yours and your dog's be any different? We all know one of the hardest things about a new puppy is the 'language' or communication barrier. By initiating consistent communication from the jump, you will begin to compound on a progressive relationship and bond that will truly be one of a kind. How cool is it to know that we really do know what you're saying to us?! We hear you loud and clear, humans. Side note: Did you know that's one of the reasons we turn our head when you're talking to us? It's so we can hear you better. Talking to Your Dog Will Improve Your Bond and Their Intelligence We know. We're your best friend. We can't blame you for choosing us. We're cute, cuddly, warm, and full of love. And when you chat with us about your day and your problems, you'll begin to generate an unmatched closeness between us. Imagine that. Water a seed and watch her grow! Dogs need to be needed and love to be loved. It's just part of our DNA. When you take the time to sit and gossip with us, it makes us feel like an integral player in your human pack. It makes us feel like we're the center of your world - and this is EVERYTHING to us. We're pack animals. Bonding is critical to our well-being and this is one sure fire way to expedite the process. Repetition is Best When Teaching Your Dog Anything We learn best through repetition. This is fairly obvious, right? You teach us the word 'sit' by repeating it over and over and over. With treats as incentive, of course. Same with 'stay', 'come', 'down', 'rollover', etc. Then there are those other notable words we pick up simply because you say them a lot. 'Outside', 'go', 'treat', 'mommy', 'do you want some', etc. We're really good at picking up on things from our humans. We've learned very well how to adapt to a life with you guys. We laugh in the face of domestication. Bring on something trickier, people, we've got this down pat! Body Language is Also Good When Communicating With Your Dog Verbal communication is only a small part of it. It's actually the hardest part for us. Body language is SO much easier for us to pick up on. We typically start there and then slowly begin to string together the words falling out of your mouths as they directly relate to your tone and body language at the time. Be over the top with your gestures when talking to your dog. Again, this helps them with word association. Good? Bad? Food? Mad? We don't necessarily know exactly what you're saying all of the time, unless we can pick up on your body language first. Dogs Have a Positive Impact on Overall Human Health It's important to understand that this is a mutually beneficial arrangement and should not be thought of as a burden or something else added to your never ending to-do list. You talk to your dog, they get smarter, your bond becomes unbreakable, and you're all the healthier for it! The direct benefits of communicating with your dog on a regular basis can effortlessly be broken down into two very simple bullet points. Please avert your eyes directly below: Puppy Love (one of the seven wonders of the world)FREE THERAPIST (you're welcome) Not only will talking to your dog increase their IQ, ability to engage, and your overall bond - but all of this simultaneously increases your overall health and well being as a side effect. Some studies even suggest that humans with dogs have healthier hearts, are sick less often, and lead more physically fit lives. Again, this human + dog relationship is multifaceted with limitless potential on both sides. This section is complete. Conclusion Let's wrap the rest of this package up and put a cute little bow on it. I'm pretty sure it goes without saying that talking to us is hands down one of the best and most productive things you guys can do. It makes you smarter. It makes us smarter. I see no confusion. However, if you actually need me to say it, then scroll up to the very top and read this over again. Read it all this time. No skimming. And as always, continue to Live, Love, Laugh, and Scratch our bellies often! Love you guys, JTB P.S. If you're new to this world, you may want to check out my Ultimate Guide for First Time Dog Parents. It's a great reference to get you started on this journey. Related Questions How Many Different Words Can My Dog Learn? A dog of average intelligence can learn roughly 165 different words and commands. Of course, this both increases and decreases depending on your dog's individual mental ability and cognitive capacity. For instance, smarter dogs ranking in the top 20% can learn upwards of 250 words and commands and can count to 5. In comparison, this gives them the same mental abilities as a 2.5 year old child. At the end of the day your dog can learn as much as you're willing to teach them. Constant talking, training, patience, and repetition will yield the most effective results over time. Never stop talking to your dog and never stop teaching them new things. This will keep them stimulated and engaged thus giving them a higher quality of life! Read more: How many words can my dog learn? What is My Dog Thinking? You want to know if your dog has thoughts, and if so, what are they thinking. Your dog's mental capacity allows them to have emotionally charged and repetitive thoughts throughout the day. Their thoughts cover an array of topics from hunger, to love, excitement, and boredom. As a matter of fact, a dog has identical emotional brain structures as humans and even produce oxytocin - the chemical responsible for love. Feel like going deeper down the hole of dog thoughts? I covered this topic in it's entirety in another post. Read more here: What is my dog thinking?