Dog Training Commands - Training the 'No' Command

So why doesn�t your dog understand what �no� means? Plain and simple, you haven�t taught him what �no� means. We humans take for granted that if we repeat a word often enough that the meaning becomes understood. After all, we speak to our babies and eventually they learn what all of our words mean, right? Dogs process information differently than do humans. In teaching our babies to understand our words we form subtle and repeated associations with body language, tone of voice, volume of voice, etc. We can�t teach our dogs in such subtle manners but must be more overt in our methods. In other words, you must attach a meaning to each command you give your dog and not assume that he picks up the meaning because you yell it or say it in a different tone.

The word �no� when it relates to our dogs should have a negative association. Our dogs should know when they hear this word that whatever action they are doing should immediately be avoided. If your �no� has a strong enough negative association it will override his desire to do whatever it is you don�t want him to do, such as excessive barking, jumping on the couch, or other misbehavior.

The key is to create the negative association. You create the negative association by performing something undesirable to your dog as you say the word �no�. So what are your options? When your dog is performing a misbehavior you can teach him the command �no� by doing one of the following corrections:
1. Spraying your dog with a spray bottle while saying �no�.
2. Shaking a rattle can while saying �no�. A rattle can is a tin can full of pebbles or coins that makes a scary or disruptive sound to your dog.
3. Jerking on his leash while telling him �no�.
4. Shaking his scruff while telling him �no�. This should typically be done only with puppies.

Many people make the mistake of yelling �no� at their dog. Don�t do that! Don't yell your dog training commands. Let the correction speak for itself. If you give a jerk on the leash while firmly, but not loudly, telling him �no� he is going to form an association to the word and not to the volume. If you are constantly yelling at your dog you tie your own hands. You will make it such that your dog only responds when you yell. You want your dog to believe that the command carries power, and not your level of frustration.

If you train this correctly you will notice that when your dog hears the command �no� he will avoid whatever naughty behavior he is currently doing.

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