How to Speak Like a Dog

Flora, my 4-year-old dog, sniffed at her food, looked at me, and walked away.

"Sorry, kid, no breakfast for you," I said.

She'd get another chance to eat at 4 p.m., but now I put her bowl of raw ground beef, brown rice, and a smashed-up hardboiled egg (shell and all) in the fridge. Flora, well-behaved now, wasn't always a good dog. She came to us from the U.S. Virgin Islands as a puppy four years ago. After binge-watching Cesar Millan train difficult dogs on YouTube, I wanted a puppy to train. The foundation of Cesar's training is that dogs need a leader. And if you're not his leader, then your dog will be the leader—uncontrolled barking, jumping, counter surfing, and nipping are your dog's version of leadership, and it's lousy leadership.

The question is, "How do I become my dog's leader?"

The answer is, "By thinking like a dog."

The First Rule of Dog Speak

Have you yelled when your dog barks uncontrollably? That doesn't work because yelling sounds like barking to a dog. You yell, and he yells back.

I learned a better response from New Zealand dog trainer Doggy Dan. He keeps it low-key. When your dog jumps on the couch and barks at the window, he probably wants to tell you a scary lady is walking a strange dog or something like that. Rather than yelling at him, try this. Say "Thank you," and continue what you were doing before he barked. If he keeps barking, walk to the window, peer out, and say "Thank you," even if you don't see the lady with the dog. Then, walk away without looking at or touching your dog. Ignore him. If the barking continues, put him in a "time out" crate or bathroom for just a few minutes. If he starts barking after you let him out, repeat the process. Don't yell at your dog. He'll think you're joining in his annoying barkfest.

Second Rule

Another type of dog-speak worked with Flora when she was a hyperactive puppy. On occasion, she'd dash at me, jumping and biting. When that happened, I would drop her on her side and gently hold her down until she was quiet. When I let her up, she'd be calm for a bit until her puppy's overactive brain took over again. Sometimes, I'd do this three or four times in an hour, but with patience, her acting out stopped. It worked because dogs do the same thing. A mother dog will often sit on a puppy that is too rambunctious. While on the ground, the restrained puppy might struggle but eventually will calm down. Watch dogs play in a dog park, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Third Rule

Food is more valuable than gold to your dog. And it's the leader who controls the food. If your dog doesn't finish his meal immediately, remove the bowl and offer it again at the next feeding. Why does your dog need you if you leave food out all day? He's the leader because he has unlimited access to food. And while you're at it, collect any bones you might have hanging around. Bones are food to dogs, and you need to control all food.

Some dogs resent a human taking control of their food and might refuse to eat. Don't worry. Your dog will not starve himself. Don't give in even if he refuses to eat for two or three days. Eventually, his stomach will speak, and he'll eat. If your dog has a medical condition, talk with your vet. But for most dogs, this is you effectively "speaking dog."

As for Flora's picky eating, when I presented her dinner in the late afternoon, she gobbled it down.

Next time, I'll explain why your dog doesn't come when called. It's all about leadership.

For those of you wondering about my cows, yes, I still have a small herd of delightful Scottish Highland bovines. Our farm store is closed, but this spring, along with dog training sessions, I'm once again offering cow classes for youngsters ages 8 to 14 at Miles Smith Farm.

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Carole Soule is the owner of SouleCoaching.com. Carole trains cows, and now she also trains dogs and their owners. She can be reached at carole@soulecoaching.com. Click here to appointment with Carole.