The Name of the Game: How to Talk So Dogs Will Listen
What do you expect your dog to do when you say their name? photo: AdobeStock
On a typical day, you probably utter your dog's name at least 10 or 20 times, maybe more. Sometimes you use your dog's name because you want them to come to you, sometimes you want them to stop doing something naughty, and sometimes you just want to gaze lovingly into their eyes while whispering sweet nothings.
But while your dog may be able to decipher your intention by the tone and pitch of your voice, overusing their name without explicit communication of what you expect is a sure way to confuse them or teach them to tune out.
Your Dog's Name Should Cue a Behavior
What do you expect your dog to do when you say their name? Ideally, when your dog hears their name, they should look at you. Getting your dog’s attention is asking for the specific behavior of "turn and look at me." Your dog’s name is the verbal cue that tells your dog to look at you. Once you have their focus, you can then ask for a behavior you've already trained, like sit or down or come. For instance, “Sammy, down” means, “Look at me, I’m talking to you, and this is what I am asking you to do next.” (If you’re wondering about the difference between a cue and a command, read this).
We actually don't know whether dogs have a sense of self and if they understand that their name refers to their identity. Does your dog know you are talking about him, or does he respond to his name because something relevant happens when he hears that sound? Either way, if you want your dog to respond when you say their name, you must teach them that their name is always followed by something fabulous.
Try this home experiment: Count how many times you say your dog's name in a day. Then keep track of what they do when you say their name. Do they look at you? Twitch an ear? Ignore you? Glance in your direction and then go back to whatever they were doing?
Create a Positive Association
You always want your dog to associate their name with good things. Your dog's name should not mean "No!" or stop barking or spit that out. Yes, it can be challenging to break the habit of calling or shouting their name in exasperation or annoyance. But when you say your dog's name, you want him to snap his head toward you in happy anticipation.
Repeatedly using your dog’s name in an angry or exasperated tone will not lead to a better-behaved dog (parents of human teenagers know exactly what I’m talking about). While shouting their name may temporarily interrupt unwanted behavior, you have not communicated what you want them to do. So if your dog is barking out the window, instead of shouting “Sammy!” try “Sammy, come” and treat your dog for coming to you. It's a hard habit to break, but practice biting your tongue when you want to use your dog's name in admonishment.
Even though I know better, I still overuse my dog's name. In those instances, I'll toss a treat or quickly prompt "come" or "touch" and then reward with a treat or toy. Occasionally my dog will overhear me talking about her to another person and turn her head or walk over. I'll toss a treat in that case, too. Behavior that is reinforced will be repeated, and I want my dogs to continue to respond to the sound of their name.
How to Teach Name Recognition
If you have a puppy or a newly adopted dog, name recognition is one of the first things to teach. You can also use these steps to re-teach or condition your dog to have a positive association with their name.
Say your dog's name and immediately (within 1-2 seconds) feed a treat or place a treat on the ground near them. Initially, your dog will not respond, as they have not formed an association with the sound of their name. Do this repeatedly until your dog turns their head when they hear their name.
Say your dog's name and wait for eye contact. Once your dog gives eye contact, use a verbal marker ("yes" or "good") or a clicker and treat for eye contact. If they do not make eye contact within three seconds, make a noise (like a tongue click or a kissy sound) to get their attention.
Practice name recognition in different environments and various positions and distances: you standing, you sitting, your dog sitting, your dog lying down, your dog standing, you standing right next to them, you standing across the room, etc.
Should You Use Your Dog's Name When Asking for a Behavior?
It’s common to hear people include their dog's name when asking for a behavior. ("Sammy, sit," "Sammy, down”). But is this helpful or necessary?
One study found that "[t]he use of the name before the command without a pause had no significant effect on performance." If the dog's name was used and followed by a pause of more than two seconds, the dog's responsiveness was significantly reduced. Responsiveness also decreased when the handler added unrelated words (like "ready" or any other novel word) before the cue. So if your dog is already looking at you, there is no reason to say their name before prompting a behavior.
Of course, if you have multiple dogs or your dog isn't already focused on you, then saying their name before the cue makes sense. You need their attention first before asking for a behavior.
By not overusing your dog's name - and making sure that something fantastic happens when you do use it - you’re on your way to better focus and communication between you and your pup. And by any name, that should smell pretty darn sweet to both of you.