How critical is the use of voice tone when marking a good/bad behaviour? I'm one of those blokes who can't get into a squeeky/high pitched tone. But it hasn't stopped me training dogs to achieve whatis required.

Using our voice for reinforcement means we have a wide range of reinforcements to utilise. A simple "Good" can be upped to "Good boy" then "Goooood boyy!" etc., etc.

Marking bad behaviour can be used likewise. However, instead of issuing usual guffaws like "No, no, no" or "Ah-ah" I rather issue a command, perhaps in a more urgent tone depending on the context.

I struggle to get the deep growly voice that tells my two that I expect them to stop doing whatever naughty thing they are doing RIGHT NOW, however when I really mean it they do listen so there must be some element of my tone of voice that means business.

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gsds (Henrick and Bella), the cats (Syd, Lilly, Elvis and Dizzy), the gerbils (Honey, Lisa, crusty, Millhouse, Flanders, Bart and Homer), the rats (Valentine, Flower, Petal, Blossom, Koda, Cava, George), the mice (Minnie, Pop, Seudag, Caraid, Silver, Trouble, Athena, Pandora, Aphrodite, Meep, and Springtime)

I'd say very, when Tummels not responding i lower my voice and he instantly knows i'm being serious. When i'm praising i wouldn't say my voice goes all high pitched, just slightly higher i don't tend to go OTT with praise as it frightens Tummel

Tone is relative, same true of volume; but moderating pitch helps the dog succeed (higher for exciting behaviours, lower for calmer ones).

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For eager & reliable recall, be fun for the dog to come back to! Then often send them off right away to do what they wanted!
DT&B - Glossary of acronyms & jargon terms.
Encouraging good behaviours, whilst consistently avoiding practise of bad alternatives leads to extinction of the bad. So if dog sits 6/10 times it doesn't sit 4/10 times, encouraging with the right rewards (positively-reinforcing) enough for 9/10 times means it now fails to sit only 1/10 times, sit 10/10 means...

Well I don't tend mark bad behaviour as you descibe (e.g. "ah ah!" No!" etc) so I can't tell you about that...

I'd rather teach my dog how to behave rather than how not to behave. Makes for a happier, responsive dog and avoids confusion, frustration and damage to handler-dog relationship IMO.

So... how important is voice to mark good behaviours?

Depends on the dog IMO.
With my working collie you only have to so much as whisper the word "Yes" and he spins round ready for reinforcement and action. He is clicker trained also and so responds with immense enthusiasm when clicked, knowing that he got it right
He is very operant and willing to offer lots of behaviours.

My show-bred bitch (a recent addition) on the other hand, needs more dynamic voice markers, partly due to the the fact that she isn't as familiar with the clicker/marker training (she's picking it up quick mind) and largely due to her personality, breeding etc. She isn't a "drivey" worker like my lad at all.

The differences between the two are most noticeable when I run/work them in agility or otherwise. With my lad, you can mark a behaviour and reward with a toy, which he then brings to tug with you (I pretrained this though) or play chase etc. No real need to make a huge song and dance about it. The activity alone, the behaviour being marked (in intial stages) and the reward is reinforcing enough. Whereas with her, in order to really make it super fun and reinforcing, I have to use my voice to really enthusiastically mark and in addition reward (with other food/toy/ functional rewards) behaviours and behaviour chains.

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Did that work at events to? I know if I'm nervous my pitch rises and they are pretty noisy, with for example tannoy's blaring during runs. Everyone seems to say that really the dogs tend to go by handler position and body language more than the commands.

It's definitely a "problem" I've had in park when playing, with the dog at times knowing what I want before I do! Despite attempts to avoid A, B, C type predictable sequences, but have options and trying not to be telegraphing things before verbal cues.

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For eager & reliable recall, be fun for the dog to come back to! Then often send them off right away to do what they wanted!
DT&B - Glossary of acronyms & jargon terms.
Encouraging good behaviours, whilst consistently avoiding practise of bad alternatives leads to extinction of the bad. So if dog sits 6/10 times it doesn't sit 4/10 times, encouraging with the right rewards (positively-reinforcing) enough for 9/10 times means it now fails to sit only 1/10 times, sit 10/10 means...

there was a global survey done a few years back, which Trish McConnell wrote about - like babyese used by mothers,
there is a consistent pattern world-wide among animal handlers of all sorts in the ways they talk to their animals
[or any animals they interact with, strays, client's animals they show, a rented horse on a trail ride, or other].


the language is immaterial, it is the delivery that matters:
pitch is used to convey emotional tone: praise is higher, reproof is lower, convos are neutral.

speed is used to convey urgency or elicit excitement for speed, or to calm for stationary behaviors:
"weave, weave weave, weave..." to a dog in agility, versus "who-o-o-oa...." to a nervy horse.

repetition is also used to convey urgency or urge speed, or conversely to slow & calm,
as in "come, come, come, come..." vs [i]"Ssta-a-ay..."

volume changes to emphasize the seriousness of a cue, or to soothe or relax or cue a nearby animal:
Hup! for a distant sit when re-directing a fetching dog, so the dog sits facing the handler for new instruction,
vs "shhhh... shhhhh..." to an animal in sharp pain.

Consonants especially to start a word and / or as terminals are used to get attention or for remote cues,
and also to 'end' motion or cue stationary behaviors: "Come!" to a distant dog,
"Halt" to 'stand' a dog out of motion while heeling, as the handler moves on at the same pace.

Sibilants are used to calm a fearful animal; to get attention when we want to be very quiet; to quiet
a noisy animal; to help milk let-down in dairy animals; to talk to or call cats, who have an innate sensitivity
and strong selective-attention to sibilants, so reminiscent of the rustle & squeak of rodents or birds' feathers.
"shhhht, shhht, shhhht..." to a water-buffalo as the milker nestles their head against the cow's flank,
"hushhhh..." to a dog when we're hunting & about to shoot, "puss, puss, puss!" to call a pet-cat.

combinations of the above give us a huge vocabulary of emotional content, ways to add speed or slow-down,
to underline urgency or calm an anxious animal, to reassure... or to get the attention of a housecat.

F or S or Sh or St are used worldwide to talk to cats.
a closed-jaw rapid breathy "psss-pss-psss...", almost a whistle thru the teeth, is a traditional Irish
or Welsh or Scottish way to call a kitty in for a meal, or bring Puss home at night.

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terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007