The Language of Dog Training: It’s Not Just Semantics
by Louise Stapleton-Frappell Originally published in BARKS from the Guild (Stapleton-Frappell, 2015). Updated and expanded for 2026 with current perspectives from DogNostics Education. Why Do Semantics Matter? The language we use shapes ethics, learning, and relationships in modern force-free training. According to the Britannica Dictionary, semantics is “the study of the meanings of words and phrases in language, and how those meanings shift depending on context.” In dog training, semantics matter because the words we choose don’t just describe what we do; they reveal how we think about and relate… Continued
How We Talk About Dogs: What Does Our Language Reveal?
by Louise Stapleton-Frappell Language shapes how we think, how we teach, and how we relate to the world — and that includes our dogs. This isn’t “just semantics.” The way we talk about dogs reflects the ethics, empathy, and science behind how we teach them skills to live successfully in our human world. Commands vs. Cues – More Than Just Words You don’t need to bark “commands” at your dog to train them. You don’t need to be a “pack leader,” issue “orders,” or demand submission. You don’t need to… Continued
Dog Training Game Changer: Avoid This Common Mistake!
One of the most common training mistakes I see—by both new trainers and well-meaning pet guardians—is using a cue word or gesture too early. When Should You Add a Cue to Your Dog’s Behavior? You might be eager to name a behavior as soon as your dog does something close to what you’re teaching. But here’s the golden rule: Only add a cue when the behavior is clean, reliable, and repeatable. Why? Because the cue becomes associated with whatever the dog is doing at that exact moment. If the behavior… Continued
Dogs Are Food Motivated – They Need It for Survival
It’s our role to figure out what rewards work best in different situations! At DogNostics, we hold a two-day Pet Care Professional Certification workshop where a question that we often hear is, “How can I train a dog who isn’t food motivated?” At The DogSmith, we also encounter clients who say that their dogs are not motivated by food, so we thought that a blog regarding this topic would be useful for pet guardians. Is There a Health Concern? There are many reasons why a dog may sometimes not wish… Continued
Is Your Dog Feeling Fearful, Anxious, or Stressed?
I highly recommend that we all try to identify the signs and causes of stress in our lives, and our pets’ lives, so that we can begin to eliminate or reduce the stressors that may be adversely affecting our mental and physical well-being, and that of our pets. Dogs show many signs when they are fearful, anxious, or stressed. Here are some of the canine body language signals indicating fear, anxiety, or stress that you could learn to recognize: Identifying the triggers – those stimuli such as smells, sounds, or… Continued
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