TONAL INFLECTIONS
Speaking So Your Dog Understands
Regardless of age, size or gender, canines
communicate with each other in ways that are profoundly meaningful
and effective to them.
Much of their communication is displayed through postures, but they
also communicate through a variety of tones, barks and howls.
The tonal language of the canid is staccato in nature. The
word ‘staccato’ is a musical term and is defined as a series of
tones being expressed in a brief, pointed manner, lacking perfect
rhythm. In contrast to
‘legato’ which is defined as a series of successive tones being
produced in a closely connected, smoothly gliding manner.
The tones I use with dogs originate primarily from
the dog's own tonal language.
There are five tones used, but only four actually emulate
those found in the dogs’ natural communication.
Allow me to list them.
The Praise Tone
The Praise Tone is high and effusive and ranges
from high to low. This tone starts out on a higher note and
rapidly falls to a lower one as if you were effusively saying “What
a great job!” or “That was a great game!” Dogs respond readily and
naturally to the Praise tone.
It bears mentioning that praise, in and of itself, is not a
reward. I often hear
that some dogs want only praise.
Agree or not, praise is a motivator, it is not the reward.
Clarity and understanding are the reward.
But this is another article unto itself.
The
Enticement Tone
The Enticement Tone goes from low to high and it
sounds like a question. "Where is it?" Or "Where did he go?"
The dog will instinctively perk up the ears, perhaps tilt the head,
and display a naturally inquisitive response. This tone is
used most often in search work, but has the same effect on dogs
simply looking for their ball.
Between the dogs’ natural response to the tones and the
conditioned response to try harder to find whatever it is we sent
him to find, the Enticement Tone is very effective in search work.
The Correction Tone
The Correction Tone sounds very similar to the
warning sound when one dog warns another. For example, imagine
a younger dog approaching an elder's food. The low, guttural
tone emitted by the older dog is effective in warning the
subordinate off the approach. To a Purely Positive trainer,
this might be called "negative reinforcement", but to the younger
dog, it's
just called "effective". The language of the canid is
universal and is understood by every breed of every age and gender.
We can create a Correction Tone by dropping our voice an octave or
two while allowing a back-gravel to resonate in our throat.
The Battle Tone
Dogs produce the Battle Tone when they are engaged
or about to engage in a fight.
It is a breathy, hissing sound that is usually accompanied by
facial displays such as the gape or the threat gape. An
audible inhaling and exhaling sound is heard before and after
gravely vocal tones are emitted. In our patrol dog training,
we use this tone to prepare the dog for battle with a human. A
patrol dog is taught from the earliest days (by careful design) that
he will probably never lose a fight with a human.
This builds his confidence to an essential degree considering
what we will eventually be requiring him to do.
By using the Battle Tone when dogs are about to engage a
subject (decoy or civil) in conjunction with appropriate body
postures, we can elevate the dogs inclination to do battle.
Command
Tone
Finally, the Command Tone stands alone as the only
tone that sounds NOTHING like anything found in the dog's natural
communication tones. The Command Tone is monotone in nature
and sounds flat and emotionless. This tone does not sound
angry nor does it sound like a request. The Command tone is
simply flat and distinct. The fact that the Command Tone is
unique to both dogs AND people (people almost never speak in a total
monotone except math teachers) greatly helps dogs discern when they
are being addressed.
Another point worth making in communication
with the dog when using both the Command Tone and the Correction
tone is the emphasis upon the consonants and not the vowels.
For example, "Sit" would sound like "SSiTTT", very crisp and
clipped, versus "Siiiiiit?" which is mostly "I" and sounds like a
whole lot of asking. This is another picture of the staccato
nature of their language and employing it makes a huge difference to
the dog.
The art of canine communication extends well
beyond the use of the Tones alone, but as trainers, handlers, and
lovers of dogs becoming fluent in their language goes far in
reducing confusion and facilitating clearer and faster learning.
By caring enough to learn what is significant to the dog and
by applying the correct tones at the appropriate times, you’ll see
dogs respond with more clarity than ever before.
By Behesha H. Doan
Owner/Chief Trainer
Extreme K-9
www.extremek-9.com
Copyright © 2003 by Behesha H. Doan. All rights
reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form
or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright
owner.
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