When dogs are trained, especially for professional purposes such as SAR, and support dogs, it is not uncommon for the commands to be taught in languages other than English. There are several reasons for this, which we will be discussing. German and Russian are two of the most popular foreign languages to teach dog commands. Today, we will be going over the top 10 Russian dog commands.
Sit – Sidet
Sit, being one of the most common commands taught, can also be one of the most confusing when taught in English. This is because the sound of the word is simple, one-syllabled, and not as crisp sounding as its Russian counterpart. ‘Sidet’, the Russian word for sit, is clearly distinguishable.
Heel – Ryadom
‘Heel’ is another command that is much more discernable in the Russian language. ‘Ryadom’ is a much stronger sounding command, not easily mistaken.
Jump – Preghet
Jump is considered a performance command, which means it is not super important but is still easier to distinguish in its Russian form.
Lay – Lee-Zhet
‘Lay’, which is again a simple command of one syllable, is often better responded to in the Russian version of ‘lee-zhet’. ‘Lee-zhet’ as a command is both sharper and more to the point.
Stay – Myjesto
Although ‘stay’ is clearer than some of the other English versions of the commands, ‘myjesto’, the Russian word for stay comes across stronger.
Come – Komne
Come is obviously an important command but it is also quite common. So, if you are at the dog park then your dog could be confused by other pet owners commands. Using the Russian alternative ‘komne’ will help him differentiate who is doing the commanding. This is also an excellent option for an emergency command.
Good Boy – Molodets
Again, the ‘good boy’ command is a common one and can be confusing in social, dog-friendly circumstances. Therefore training to understand the Russian variation could very well be helpful in distinguishing who is supposed to be the actual good boy (or girl).
Outside – Gutyat
Telling your dog to go outside using the word outside would be sufficient but it is much more fun to say ‘gutyat’ which is the Russian version.
Fetch – Aport
This is a fun one, and although not super important, can be helpful when around other pet families. Telling your dog to fetch in a place with other, minimally trained dogs, could get confusing.
Attack – Fas
An attack command is a very serious one and one that all pups should know. However, in the types of situations that the command is needed, using the actual English word for ‘attack’ could be an issue. Training your dog to attack using the Russian command will not alert any bad guys and is safer with regards to accidental commands.
The Benefits of Teaching Your Dog Russian Commands
In addition to the benefits already mentioned, training your dog to obey Russian commands can also help avoid confusion. When your precious dog hears a Russian command he will know exactly where it is coming from. Leaving any English commands to people other than the owner (that’d be you), will help the dog know who is giving the command and exactly how important it is to obey it. Plus, commands in Russian will make you, and your dog, a hit at the local dog parks.
English? Russian? How About Both
A dog that is trained to be multilingual has a wide variety of benefits. Russian commands tend to be more distinct sounding for your dog, getting his attention quicker. However, teaching your dog English commands as well is also beneficial. Not everyone knows Russian commands which can put your dog in a difficult situation. If someone else needs your dog to obey, he is not going to understand them.
Why Tone Matters So Much
The significance of the tone that you use to call the commands is a big one. Most commands should be sharp, distinctive, short, and loud enough to be heard clearly. For regular, every day commands you should be using a firm but even tone. If you are using the same tone for all commands, it is going to be harder for your dog to understand the gravity of the situation. In serious and life-threatening situations, your dog must be able to obey you without hesitation, this is especially crucial when he is off-leash. Changing the inflection of your voice will alert the dog that that command needs to be obeyed immediately.
Using a foreign language to train your dog can make differentiating the commands much easier. Dogs are more likely to understand Russian better than English. This is because dogs tend to focus on the sound of the word rather than the command itself. The sound and sharpness of Russian commands are going to have better results as far as the dog actually obeying the commands. The tone of these commands is far crisper than those in English. Not to mention being not only more challenging (for you and your dog) which ultimately makes them more rewarding.
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