Dog commands can be in any language, but German, Dutch, French, and Czech are popular choices for professional and sport training because these short, distinct words are easy for dogs to differentiate and learn, often stemming from European working dog traditions. While English commands work fine, using a foreign language helps prevent confusion and adds clarity, especially in busy environments or with other handlers.
Now as to why it's often German (and some other languages as well) is probably historical : a lot of dog training heritage comes from europe, especially germany, so it's very likely that the initial dogs and trainers were either german or trained in germany or by german trainers.
The reason that most police agencies train their dogs using German commands is actually quite simple. There is a significantly reduced risk of the K9 officer confusing a command if it is in another language than the primary language of his handler.
Yes, dogs can understand other languages, but it requires time and training. They aren't born knowing any particular human language. Instead, dogs learn through repeated exposure and positive reinforcement. If a dog is exposed to English commands, they'll learn those words.
Platz is a German command for dogs, translating to "down" or "lie down" in English. It is a common cue in dog training, instructing the dog to lower its body and remain in a lying position until given further direction.
The "3-second rule" for dogs refers to two main techniques: limiting initial greetings to three seconds to prevent escalation and using three-second intervals for petting to gauge consent and comfort, pausing to see if the dog seeks more interaction, building trust, and avoiding overstimulation. It's a quick way to manage dog introductions and assess comfort, helping avoid conflict by disengaging before tension rises.
The hardest "commandment" (command) to teach a dog is often considered Recall ("Come"), due to powerful natural instincts to explore or play, followed by impulse control commands like "Leave It/Drop It", and complex obedience actions like the "Finish" (positioning at the handler's side) or "Heel", requiring intense focus and self-control, especially with distractions like other dogs or interesting sights/smells.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for new owners, especially for rescues, showing a dog's typical adjustment phases: 3 Days (overwhelmed, decompression), 3 Weeks (settling in, learning routine, showing personality), and 3 Months (feeling at home, building trust, fully integrated). It's a framework to set expectations, reminding owners to be patient and provide structure, as every dog's timeline varies.
An hour for a dog feels much longer than an hour for a human because dogs perceive time more slowly due to their faster metabolism and heightened awareness of routines, so a 10-minute wait can feel like 70 minutes to them, and your hour-long absence feels like an eternity, though they don't grasp clock time but rather the intervals between events like meals, walks, and your return.
Barking and whining are officially restricted, too, by local noise ordinances. Dogs must remain quiet at night between 10 pm and 6 am, and during the afternoon from 1 pm to 3 pm. Noise cannot last longer than 10 minutes at other times. In Germany, you are wholly and legally responsible for your pet's actions.
The "3 C's of dog training" often refer to Clarity, Consistency, and Consequence (or Compensation), emphasizing clear communication, repetitive practice, and meaningful rewards for desired behaviors, though some trainers focus on Calmness, Clarity, and Consistency or even Connect, Commit, Cue for agility, all aiming to build understanding and a strong bond with your dog through structured, patient training.
The breeds most used as police dogs are Belgian Malinois (pronounced MAL-IN-WAH) or Dutch Shepard. The reason to use these breeds is they are highly driven, are not fearful, and are very trainable. They are smaller than German Shepherds, so they can fit in tighter spaces when doing searches.
To say "I love you" in dog language, use soft eye contact, raise your eyebrows, give gentle massages (especially ears), lean into them, and engage in play or shared activities like walks, which build trust and affection through shared experiences and physical connection, releasing oxytocin for both of you.
A German dog-commands dictionary
What does Zook in German Mean? Zook is the English pronunciation for the German command: Such. Such means to search or track. It is a common German dog training command for K9 police dogs.
Dogs say "sorry" through submissive body language like tucking their tail, lowering their head, making "puppy eyes," licking, and rolling onto their backs to show they're not a threat, which are appeasement signals to diffuse tension after a conflict or misbehavior, often combined with whining or approaching and retreating. They recognize when their human (or another dog) is upset and use these signs to seek forgiveness, though it's more about reducing stress than human-like guilt.
Dogs say "I love you" through actions like leaning on you, making soft eye contact (releasing oxytocin), following you around, bringing you toys, licking, gentle tail wags, and cuddling, all signs of trust, affection, and bonding that show they feel safe and happy in your presence.
Eaten from at least 7 different containers • Been held and petted by at least 7 different people • Taken at least 7 one-mile car rides • Been in a crate at least 7 times • Played with at least 7 different kinds of toys • Walked on at least 7 different substrates (grass, gravel, concrete, etc.)
The most commonly surrendered dog type is the "pit bull type" (including mixes), often due to negative stereotypes, breed-specific legislation, and high energy levels, followed by other popular breeds like German Shepherds, Huskies, and Labrador Retrievers that may not fit owner lifestyles. Breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers (especially mixes) also top surrender lists in some regions like Australia.
It's summer and Texas is HOT. We love this tip for testing the pavement when walking your dogs, courtesy of the Moon Valley Canine Training Center in Sonoma, Calif. Place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you can't keep it there for five seconds, it's too hot to walk your dog.
I like to do a mix of " parlour tricks " and tricks that have value in real world applications.
The "10 10 10 rule" for dogs refers to two main concepts: a potty training method for puppies (10 mins outside, 10 ft space, 10 mins supervision/reward) and the 80/10/10 guideline for raw feeding (80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organ), both offering structure for training or diet. Another interpretation is the 10% rule for treats, limiting them to 10% of daily calories to maintain a balanced diet, ensuring most nutrition comes from complete dog food.
10 Dog Breeds That Can Be Difficult to Train