Wildfowl_-_September_2019

Silent Communication

What we say to our duck dogs without ever uttering a word.  By Tom Dokken

RetRieveRs

©

Tony

J.Peterson

40 WILDFOWL Magazine | September 2019 wildfowlmag.com

MUCH OF DOG training involves

verbal commands. This is no secret,

and not something that is likely to

change any time too soon. While

having a dog that understands what

you’re actually telling him is impor-

tant, it also pays to understand what

he interprets from your movements

because he’s taking more than audio

cues from you.

This all starts with puppies and

the first treats they accept from your

hand. When a tiny bit of deliciousness

is offered to them, it doesn’t take long

before they realize that your hand

might be a source of more calories.

They will begin to focus on your hand

in certain situations and this, as simple

as it sounds, is the basis for nonverbal

communication which is often con-

veyed by gesturing.

Nonverbal communication will

come into play with many basic obe-

dience commands as well as more

advanced work in the field. But it’s

not just our hands that dogs will be

watching, they will also learn to look

us in the eyes and take direction sim-

ply from our facial expressions.

This is a good thing, and I encour-

age it with pups by holding treats in

my hands and then holding my hands

by my face. I want a young pup to

start establishing that connection

with me, because it will be something

that can benefit training throughout

the dog’s life. This is very similar to

holding a treat in your hand and then

leading a pup onto a platform for the

place command, which teaches him

not only where he is supposed to be,

but that a simple movement of your

hand can lead him there.

DAILY LIFE NON-VERBALS

If you think that your dog isn’t cue-

ing off of your body language at

home, consider this—when you’re

working drills with him does he

check back with you? And if he does,

when you start walking or looking a

certain way how does he respond?

Most dogs, with a little training un-

der their belt, will use you as a source

If you’re advanced enough in retriever training, your dog should begin to learn

that there are two ways he will be given a command—verbally and nonverbally.

Both should be equally effective in getting him to do what he is asked.