The answer to whether your dog understands what you’re saying is both yes and no. While dogs don't intrinsically understand our language, they are able to learn the meaning behind our words through consistent pairing.

Imagine hearing a "ding" sound when you receive a text message. You know what that sound means, but how did you learn that? It’s because you’ve paired the sound with the outcome: a new text notification. Similarly, when a dog hears a specific sound or word, they can start associating it with a particular outcome.

This concept is based on classical conditioning, famously studied by Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov. In his experiment, Pavlov rang a bell before giving a dog food. After several repetitions, the dog started to salivate just at the sound of the bell, even when food wasn’t presented. This is a classically conditioned response (CCR), where a sound triggers a reaction because the dog has learned to associate it with something positive (like food).

As trainers, we use this concept to help dogs understand us. By pairing our words or “markers” (like the word “Yes!”) with a primary reinforcer, such as food or a toy, we can teach dogs to associate specific words with rewards.

For example, when you say "Yes!" and give your dog a treat every time they make a good choice, they begin to learn that "Yes" equals a reward. Over time, the dog understands that when they hear “Yes,” it’s because they’ve done something right. Similarly, if they hear “No,” they know it means they didn’t make the right choice and won't get rewarded.

By consistently marking good behavior with "Yes" and rewarding the dog, they begin to offer more of the behaviors that earn them a positive outcome. This method builds clear communication between you and your dog, where the dog learns what’s expected of them.

 

Once this foundation is established, you can start to give verbal cues like "Sit," "Stay," "Come," and more. The dog knows exactly what you mean because they’ve already learned the connection between your words and the reward.

So, does your dog understand you? The answer is yes! With consistent training and clear communication, your dog can understand and respond to the cues you give. All they need is a little guidance, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly they start transforming their behavior.

Remember, your dog wants to be a good boy or girl; they just need the right tools to understand what you want from them!

Want to learn more? Steve Hill is offering a free into class for you and your pups!