Noise -> Sound that is loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance
Yes we do talk to our dogs, it is part of how we communicate. But at what point is your communication becoming noise?
Commands should be short and clear. Use a tone that is appropriate for the command. You may use a sharp tone for a gee or haw, a stern tone for a leave it and softer for easy.
You don’t need to flood your dog with excessive repetition of your commands. If she didn’t understand the first time she won’t understand the second, third and fourth time in a row. All you will achieve is increase your dog’s stress, likely making it more hesitant.
Make everything you say meaningful!!
Cheering is most often confusing for your dog.
The meaningless cheery sounds coming out of your mouth are just noise. If not every sound you direct at your dog has a meaning, you are not only asking your dog understands your requests but also that it recognizes when the sounds are actual requests.
Running requires a lot of physical energy. You also shouldn’t underestimate how mentally demanding it also is for your pal to focus on the trail, ignore distractions and maintain his attention for your directions. By adding unnecessary, meaningless sound you are asking an extra effort from your dog. You are adding this expectation he will tunes out your noise and reacts only to your commands.
Some dogs can take a bit of reassuring, or need a good boy, weld done, yessss… every once in a while. Give those in a soft, almost quiet reassuring tone; your dog will hear it but the calming tone will make it clear that there is no urgent request, and understand you are saying all is good.
Those same words in the same dry, loud tone you use for commands will carry the same sense of urgency and once more confuse your dog rather then reassure.
Too much verbal action will cause two probable issues. At best, the more confident dogs will start ignoring all that noise, including your commands. The dog is entirely tuning you out, you become white noise.
If your dog is less confident, it will become more hesitant, look back a lot in hopes of different (non verbal) cues, possibly even move back as it becomes uneasy ahead of you. Your dog is tuning into everything you say but can’t understand what you expect.
If your dog is willing to put up with you and your constant noise, others may not. If you can’t hold back constant commands and cheering, you can assume other people (and there dogs) running with or around you will get annoyed. In races, you surely will be told.
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Here’s a few situations based on true story.
Jimmy’s dog, Duke is awesome! They just started and Jimmy feels they are in for a lot of exhilarating fun. In fact, Duke is a natural in harness he loves pulling, loves to please Jimmy and in harness he can do both.
Duke started figuring out he’s not just randomly running ahead but that Jimmy is also giving him directions. Since Duke likes to please Jimmy so much, he’s paying attention and learning.
Jimmy and Duke are ripping the trail! Wow!
Jimmy is exhilarating and starts loudly cheering his companion.
“That’s awesome Duke!! What a good by!! Go go!!”
Jimmy is screaming, Duke has quick look back. All looks good, Jimmy seems happy. Duke slowed a little as he was peaking back and Jimmy is now quiet.
They get back in the grove, Duke is flowing through the trail. This is so much fun.
Jimmy starts cheering again…. Those high pitch sounds, is Jimmy scared? Duke isn’t sure, he doesn’t want to do anything wrong. Duke slows down. The cheering stops.
Had Jimmy just gone with the flow and enjoyed, Duke would have kept running with joy, everything was fine and he felt happy.
He knows Jimmy will tell him if something is wrong, that is clear when he pees on the carpet, jumps up on guests or runs off with self served treats…. What was Jimmy trying to tell him? It was best to play it safe.
This happens a lot. Natural harness pullers, willing to please but that become hesitant and stop pulling.
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“But my dog does speed up when I cheer!”
I do hear that a lot. Indeed, some dogs (usually less natural pullers) may initially react to cheering, but when the human keeps cheering on and on, the effect eventually fades off. You are much better to use other motivators and short, well timed words of approval.