Accidental command

[alice's mommy]

While walking Arthur today, I noticed that he has learned a command from me that I hadn't been aware I'd taught him! Whenever I walk on ice (and we have a ton of the stuff on the sidewalks right now) I start baby-stepping and say, "careful". I'm not sure if it's the word that I use, or the physical change of my walking, but Arthur instantly slows down his walking and watches me like a hawk. After noticing this, I've started telling him, "okay" when we're on safer footing so that he can relax his walk a bit more.

Anyone else taught their dog a command unintentionally? :)

[GypsysMom]

NOt on accident but when we heel I say "slow" and Gypsy and Cash will walk real slow, until I said ok lets go and we walk at a normal pace, Its kind of nice when you need him to walk slow along with you.

[felicityjay]

I accidentally taught fern to lick her lips every time i put my hand in my pocket if that counts???!!!

[Shelby427]

I accidentally taught Hudson to "wait" - he was a rescue who was not fed, watered or anything. The foster family helped him with some manners...but he still ATTACKED his food each and every time we fed him. I started to say "wait" each time I fed him and one day I realized that I didn't have to hold him in a sit anymore, that he was just sitting and waiting on his own.

I have since been using "wait" as a command for a lot of things. I make him "wait" before exiting a door, before getting a treat, I can put a treat down right in front of him and he'll "wait" until I release. It's pretty funny since he'll put his nose almost in his food bowl but not touch it until I release him.

[Maxxx]

For Max it was "easy". Also on ice. Darn Canadian winters!

[jlaack]

TONS! But I think you pointed out something important. How keen and teachable dogs are! They can pick up on a lot which is important to remember when training. For us the list is truly endless and to me includes more than just 'commands'. If I am in the kitchen and I say 'oh sh**t' both dogs come running. Translation to dog, I dropped something edible on the floor. Whether or not I allow them to eat the droppings hasn't been determined but they rush over on the off chance they get to help clean up the mess. I can have the same verbal reaction in any other locale and it has zero impact on them nor produces any behavior.

[Canula2000]

Originally Posted by jlaack

If I am in the kitchen and I say 'oh sh**t' both dogs come running. Translation to dog, I dropped something edible on the floor.

Same thing happens in my house. I also accidently taught them the hungry word. Usually before I feed the dogs I ask, are you hungry? then I feed them. Now I can ask, are you hungry? anywhere in the house and they run to their food bin.

[wamack]

I accidentally taught Shiva "in your crate" because I would always say "it's time to get in your crate" before I put her in there. One day a few years ago I said it and she jumped in there and looked back at me wagging her butt all proud. Now I can be putting my shoes on across the house and say it and she runs in there and waits.

[Lola B Marie]

If I tell Lola, "It's raining, she goes to the window to see if i'm telling the truth. She likes to go out and sit on the deck. When I tell her no, she cries. If I say no, it's raining, she runs to the big living room window to see for her self and does not cry. I never taught her this.

[lostsouls59]

In the mornings all I have to tell Luke is "it's that time again" and he goes straight in his crate.

[stale]

well, for truly useless commands, my wife managed to teach Oz to respond to "find your penis for a dollar" (quote from southpark or something, i think)

when we rescued him, i'm guessing she'd just seen the show, and whenever he licked himself, she'd quote at him.

seems now this works the other way around, we can tell him to FHPFAD and he will. not sure if i'll ever find a practical use for this...

"in your puppy box" "hey, it's bedtime" both = crate
"you have your own bed, stupid" = off the furniture

when walking "i don't care, ozzy..." = stop doing whatever, and look at me.

and of course the ever present "take a puppy-pee/dump" always startles friends that he actually will, when told to.

makes me wonder what else i've told him constantly that he views as instructions?

[bolt94]

A jar of peanut butter sends Hunter straight to his crate (he only gets peanut butter when we crate him). Our little foster dog caught onto that pretty quickly as well.

My husband putting his work boots on in the morning also sends Hunter to his crate -- he knows the peanut butter will soon follow. :)

[Weily4Life]

"Share" sends Fozzy and Greta to our feet after dinner, even if they are asleep. It doesn't matter where in the sentence share is located, they know that they get to lick the plates.

[cerulean]

We thought we were being really smart, by hanging a string of bells on the door so that Mango could ring them when she wanted to go out.... Hahaha, it didn't take long for her to realize that "ringing the bells" means that "deanna and rich" will jump up from whatever they are doing and run to the door grabbing coats and treats, and running outside, and lots of praise and attention. What fun for the puppy !!!

Fortunately, that mellowed out when we stopped giving treats just for ringing the bell, and only when she actually pee'd once outside in the appropriate spot. It's working pretty well now !!!

[Wolftrax]

In our house "OK - time for bed" will send 2 dogs madly rushing upstairs. I have to admit I have used that during the day when I want to mop the downstairs floors!

Also the sound of car keys will have 3 dogs doing the "happy dance" at the back door. It does not matter if I am actually going anywhere - I can just move the keys and it will get that reaction.

Dogs are amazingly perceptive. I am just so thankful that they can't talk! A friend of mine was telling me about her African Grey Parrot who will mimic things it hears said in the house. I think it is hysterical that her bird will call the dog by name and tell him to "sit"! I say way too many bad words to have anything mimic me.

Karen