Your Very Own Language with Your Best Friend

Learning something new can be a fun hobby, especially when you get to do it with your best friend or as you develop a friendship through the shared activity. 

Did you know that when you commit to training your dog, you're also signing up to learn a brand new language with that dog?

​A language that will be the basis of your relationship, will create a reliable connection for listening & learning between the two of you, and that will make it possible for your team to do other activities together such as going on relaxing walks, competing in agility, working a job, and more. It's a language that may look very similar to other dog-owner teams, but every teams has their own unique aspects that make it like a secret language between BFFs. After all, haven't you always wanted to be able to talk to your dog, have them understand, & be able to understand them as well?

This new language between you and your dog has a lot of pieces involved, but they all work together towards a common goal: being able to communicate easily with your dog all the time. 

Your part in the new language involves, 

• Learning how dogs already communicate in general, so you're better equipped to know what your dog is asking for 
• Deciding what words you want to use with your dog & what they should mean - Finally! The chance to write your very own dictionary and all the definitions! 
• Deciding what nonverbal cues you want your dog to learn, understand, and how you want them to respond. For instance, a person who falls often may want their dog to learn to recognize that when they fall or are on the ground, that the dog should immediately come over and try to help them get up. Or, another person may decide they want their dog to learn hand signals to go along with every word cue so they can communicate without words. 
• Learning how to combine your dog's existing language of body position, facial cues, noises, and actions with your brand new dictionary of words so that you can create a new language together that makes sense for everyone. You won't be able to make much process teaching your dog your words for things if their body language is desperately telling you they're overwhelmed or confused, for instance. You need to be able to recognize when their minds are open for learning and seize those moments. 

Your dog has a part in this too.

They'll let you know when something isn't working or they don't understand what you're asking for by running through several other actions until they get it right or you take a step back and guide them through what you're teaching to help them understand. Not unlike a teacher phrasing a math problem a different way until the student understands the concept.

Other times, they'll suggest things to add to your secret language. There may be things you're not even aware of that you're telling your dog, but they know and they come up with a response. My dog, Robbie, learned to watch how I was walking, and learned how to tell when I was about to fall before it happened. On walks, if he suddenly stopped and leaned slightly against me, he was telling me that I was at risk. At first, I didn't understand, but every time he did this behavior, my legs buckled a few seconds later, and enough times, I realized what he was communicating to me. I had taught him how to brace, part of our language and needs, but this was all him, seeing the problem and telling me what needed to be done. 

Your language with them may even evolve over time and take on a life of it's own. Other people can learn how to use your dictionary with your dog if you want them to, but no one will be able to communicate with your dog on the same level as you can if you the put in the work. Robbie and I genuinely do have our own language that not even my husband can replicate. Robbie was my 1st service dog, and we've been through a lot together. His 2nd year with me, I couldn't talk or use my jaw properly for 4 months, and we both had to learn to adapt to that change. It made our communication stronger, if you can believe it! 

It never would have been possible, if we hadn't taken the time to teach & learn a base language for our team, though. ​

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So, if you're ready to jump into a new adventure with your dog or are planning to adopt soon and want to start off on the right page with your new companion, sign up for a training course with me! I'll help you learn to read your dog's existing language, and help you write a dictionary for your team, and teach you to be able to confidently say, Why, Yes, I can talk to my dog and they do understand me!