Language?

[phoenyxstarr]

Do you have any preference for a language for training? My dad used to be a canine officer & when he had the drug dog, we all had to learn some basic German commands to help care for him. Since we got Jasper & Rocky, I've been thinking about training them in German. Since Rocky is a boxer, which are from Germany according to my research, it would make since to train him in German. Plus he responds to some commands better in German... But I don't know if that is because his previous owner was working with him in German or if its because he was responding to my tone of voice.

Anyway, I think I'm going to look up the German commands & start working on them tonight when we take them to the park. Do you think I should train both in German or no? I think it would confuse the dogs but I may be wrong...

[Bill]

I would train both in my everyday language. I don't think dogs understand any language better than any other. I do know that they understand words. Just because Boxers originated in Germany doesn't mean they will understand German any better than any other language when they are being trained.

[kernow]

My dog is deaf, but I still talk to her as well as using hand signals, I think it is reassuring for her to see me talking to her, it just feels right somehow. I speak to her in English, it has never crossed my mind to use any other language.

[Orrymain]

I would make sure he knows English since that's the native tongue, I assume. Think about when others may be caring for him, like on vacations or if you're sick.

[kernow]

I think tone of voice matters much more to the dog than the language used.

[Justontime]

I am sure tone of voice and body language are what matter, I speak to my dog in English and she has no proble understanding what I want.

[Orrymain]

I agree, but they do need to be able to distinguish between commands so they have to know the words to some extent.

[Bill]

My dogs know words. Body language or tone of voice aren't necessary once your dog has learned the word. My dogs can even pick words out in a sentence. For example, my release word for "stay" is "OK". If I use it in a sentence, the dogs will release themselves. Same if I use, "go" or "walk" or "ride" or "ice" in a sentence even when I'm not talking to them.

[Orrymain]

lol -- that makes me think of times in the past with other dogs of mine who could pick out words like "ice cream" ... and walk and ride. I'd be on the phone or something and the next thing I know, I'd have 3 dogs with rapidly swinging tails staring up at me.

[Stephanie]

I use both words and signals. Sometimes I use just words, sometimes I use just signals. I speak a little French and a little Greek, so sometimes I give the commands in Greek, sometimes in French; I mix and muddle things up depending on my mood, they have no probs understanding me whatever language I use.

I have to use the intial letter for words like "park" and "walk" and "treat" or spell it out if we have visitors - they can all pick these words out in conversation alright, especially 'treat.'