The Communication Mistake That Confuses Most Dogs

One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is over-communicating. Long, complicated sentences, repeated commands, emotional reactions, and inconsistent tone create confusion, not clarity. Dogs don't understand explanations; they understand patterns.

Clear, concise cues presented calmly and predictably are much more effective. It is better to state a command once and then wait rather than repeating the command five times. If owners repeat a command multiple times, dogs will learn that it is not necessary to listen the first time they hear it.

Body language is just as important as the words. Dogs pay close attention to posture, movement, and timing. When body signals and words don't jibe, dogs follow the body-and ignore the words.