60 Second Training Tip: When to Repeat the Command, and When to Say No

Ok, so here’s our take on when we repeat commands vs using a “no”, and why. If we’re looking to get a dog to complete an activity, we’ve found that repeating the command with e-collar stim, so the dog stays in motion, and completes what we’ve asked, creates more fluidity and clarity. Conversely, if your dog doesn’t complete a command, and you say “no” with e-collar stim, you’ll almost always get a freeze in motion, and possibly some confusion. Instead of completing the action, you’ll get the freeze and uncertainty, and then have to repeat the command anyway. That said, “no” is super important, and using it at the right time yields great results. We use “no” as “stop, and go back to where you were”. If the dog is already in the command (sit, down, place), and breaks, you can say “no”, and if you’re timing is good, the dog will freeze, and go back to their position. (If the dog freezes and doesn’t go back, then we’d repeat the command to help the dog succeed.) As for recall, which is a command that’s all about motion, we have a bit of a grey area. With this command, for small deviations from the desired course (a slight veering off or distraction), we repeat the command with stim. This keeps the dog moving and adjusts the motion and focus. But, if the dog is in a major blowing off mindset, meaning, he’s committed and has serious intent to do other than the command (running the wrong way or towards something we don’t want), we say “no” to freeze the dog. We want the “no” in these more intense mindset states, because it typically has more mental value and stopping power. After the dog stops, we then repeat the command, and ensure the dog completes the recall. Of course, there’s many ways to go about this, and many ways that work. I just wanted to share our philosophy and approach to this sometimes confusing training concept.