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Teaching your dog basic commands is a great way to help form a positive relationship with your pup. You can even take this a step further by teaching your dog commands in a different language.
In fact, research has shown that dogs can notice the differences between a language commonly spoken by their parents and a foreign language. Although we still don’t have any evidence that dogs can truly understand different languages, they are very perceptive to differences in intonation.
Why Train My Dog in Another Language?
Although it isn’t necessary to use a different language when teaching your dog commands, doing so has considerable benefits:
- Training your pup with a language not commonly spoken in your area means your dog may be more receptive to your commands.
- In certain cases, you may want to ensure that your dog will only listen to your commands. Using another language to train them means it will be more difficult for other people to use the same words with your dog.
- Using a language foreign to you can be a mentally stimulating exercise for you and your companion!
Of course, it’s worth keeping in mind that these benefits can backfire, as well. If you live with someone who will also be using these commands with your dog, how they pronounce the words is very important. This is because although dogs do not understand inference, they are highly attuned to slight changes in tone and pronunciation.
As such, if you and your dog are living with roommates or significant others, make sure they know how to clearly pronounce the commands you are using.
One final benefit of teaching commands in another language is that it can give dogs the ability to relearn behaviors. For example, if you’re adopting an older dog, they may have been trained insufficiently. By using another language, your furry companion can create new associations with the commands, helping them to learn desired behaviors more effectively.
How to Train Your Dog ‘Bilingually’
For those looking to expand their command vocabulary, it’s recommended that you pick a language you have some familiarity with. However, this is not essential. If you’re interested in using another language to teach your dog basic commands, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- First, be consistent. Make sure you use a word that is easy for you to pronounce and stick to it. And don’t use the same word for multiple commands.
- Second, be patient and kind. Remember that positive reinforcement is more effective when teaching your dog new skills. Don’t scold your dog for not understanding the command.
- Finally, remember to give affectionate praise to your dog when they follow your commands. This will not only help strengthen the bond between the two of you; it will also imprint the behavior on your pup more effectively.
As you go about creating a training method for your dog, it’s worth considering whether using another language might be a good idea. Doing so can help your dog be more receptive to your commands, and it will be a fun exercise for both of you.