Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

I Said No…Day Two Hundred, Eighty Five

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There are a lot of people who work with dogs, who will tell you not to use the word “No” with your dog.

I’m not one of them.

For me “No” is the same things as “ACK” which is a word (sound really) designed to deter your dog from whatever naughty thing they are doing.   It’s a marker really, similar to a clicker which reinforces positive behavior; “No” is a marker which says “that’s not a good choice,” “stop doing that” “look at me for direction.”

I use “No” a lot.

Especially with Delilah.

“No” (when I can tell she’s thinking of taking off on me during our walk.)

“No” (that’s not where you are supposed to be, when I am working in the kitchen and she is under my feet.)

“No” (those dishes are in the dishwasher to be washed not licked clean by you.)

“No” (get your nose of the counter.)

No is a very good marker if it makes your dog stop and look to you for direction.

This afternoon after our walk Sampson went outside to cool off in the pool.

I was in the bedroom and I heard the screen door shut and I knew he was coming into the house soaking wet.  I ran to the closet for a towel and as I did so I saw him step into the house; I said “No, stop.”

I didn’t even say his name, just “No, stop.”

He was waiting for me when I got to him with the towel.

No is a word you can use with your dog.

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Comments

  6. I use no with my monsters too. I do try to discourage it with my new students, because I think people tend to overuse it…and I also want them to get in the habit of thinking positive, working on positive solutions.

    But sometimes it’s just what comes out of your mouth! I use ACK! a lot too 🙂

  8. I love that picture. We use “no” too, but not too much at hunt tests. At hunt tests it can be taken as intimidating your dog; therefor, it is used sparingly. 🙂

  11. A quiet, appropriately toned “no” is just fine. The big problem is the “nooooooo, NOOOOOO, NO, NO, NO, NO!” that doesn’t communicate anything to the dog or show them what you want them to do.

    Of course, when your dog is doing something crazy, the obnoxious no is the one that will come to your mind first.

    • Excellent point. I normally just use it as a quick little correction. No, let’s go this way. Although when she is running off through the woods I suppose I could be going Nooooooooo Noooooooo. LOL

  12. I use “Eh-Eh,” but “No” means the same thing. I totally understand why trainers starting advising against it though – it was for those old fashioned “choke ’em up” trainers who used to yell “NO!” as they were verbally or physically reprimanding their dog. (Ie: hitting it with a newspaper and screaming at it.)

    Totally NOT cool.

    But there is nothing at all wrong with using the word “No” as an interruption, and then telling the dog what you do want it to do! 🙂

  13. I agree, “No” works for me, as well as the Ack sound, and I also do the shocked sound, worked on 3 generations of humans in my family; also has worked on my dogs! What’s not effective and drives me Nuts is when other people let out this stream of words voicing their own frustration but not guiding the pets at all “You’re driving me crazy why do you keep doing that, etc., etc., etc.” How about a simple “NO!”?