SILENCE IS GOLDEN
“Silence is golden” captures the essence of effective dog training. During training and handling, keeping quiet, except for command words, is crucial. Noise can elevate stress levels, while silence helps reduce tension and improve focus. Dogs are naturally quiet animals, vocalizing mainly when distressed, overly excited, or to underscore non-verbal communication. They rely heavily on body language, gestures, and movement to communicate with each other and with us—if we’re attentive.
Dogs learn best in a calm environment with minimal verbal distractions. Excessive talking, baby talk, or constant questioning can confuse and overstimulate them, often leading to ‘selective hearing.’ While their hearing is sharp, the key is to minimize unnecessary chatter.
Adding visual cues to verbal commands helps dogs understand better, as they typically grasp gestures or sign language before fully comprehending verbal instructions. They are sensitive to tone but benefit from a quieter approach. Patience and calmness are vital in training, making silence a valuable tool.