23/07/2025
Proofing your dog’s commands is so important, it ensures they actually understand what you’re asking them to do rather than getting used to your tone of voice, body language or environmental cues. Proofing your commands with your dog matters! * It helps avoid any misunderstandings. Dogs are great at understanding context, rather than human words. For example, if you give your dog a wait command at the front door, but then suddenly ask them to do it while on a walk, they are unlikely to understand, which in turn can set them up to fail, which we never want to do. Proofing ensures they understand regardless of the environment or situation. * It prepares your dog for real life scenarios. You need your dog to listen when it counts, it comes down to safety! * If your dog has proofed commands in different environments and contexts, it reduces frustration for both you and them, which leads to a better relationship and bond. * Improved reliability = more experiences for your dogs! By practising in different environments, around different contexts, around different people, by saying other words before giving your dog the real command helps build reliable obedience, which in turn means your dog gets to experience more with you! In this video, you can see this boys muscles twitching as he hears what I’m saying, then as soon as he hears his actual break command, he moves, this is all part of proofing the behaviour and ensuring he is actually listening to me, rather than paying attention to patterns surrounding the behaviour.
