You may have heard someone mention your tone of voice can have an effect on your dog. While this is true, did you know the tone you use with your dog can also have an impact on your own mood? Think about it. If someone says “Have a nice day” with a smile on their face, it likely makes your day go better, but if the same phrase is uttered by someone in an irritated tone, it comes off as sarcastic and can sour your mood. The following will explore how tone of voice affects you and your beloved pet.

Your Tone Can Affect Your Perception of Your Dog

Even though you’re likely to use an irritated or angry tone when you’re unhappy with your dog, using it can create a visual image in your mind that negatively portrays your canine friend. This image can persist if you end up using this type of tone more frequently. Conversely, when you address your dog in a more upbeat manner, you will develop positive images of your pet in your mind. This is a much healthier attitude for both of you. This isn’t to say you won’t ever be annoyed or angry with your dog, but making an effort to use a positive tone can go a long way toward improving bad behaviors and changing the way you perceive your pet overall.

Your Tone Has an Impact on Your Dog’s Emotions

While no one can say for sure what a dog is feeling, if you pay attention to how your dog reacts to certain tones of voice, you will clearly see a change in their behavior. For instance, when you use a happy, upbeat tone, your dog will perk up its ears, wag its tail and focus its eyes on you. These are all positive behaviors. However, if you use an angry tone, you will notice much different behaviors, such as drooping head and tail, ears pulled back, fidgeting, whining and more. These behaviors indicate fear and sadness. It’s important to observe your dog’s behavior carefully so you can learn the best ways to talk to them to get the results you want.

Pay Attention to Body Language Too

Just as your dog exhibits different body language when you use varying tones of voice, your body language can have an affect on how your dog reacts to you. Leaning over your dog as you speak to it can be intimidating and may lead to aggressive behaviors. In general, dogs prefer to be addressed in much the same way humans would. This is why it’s important to think about what kinds of body language make you feel uncomfortable and work to remove these actions from your own interactions with your dog. You will find you have much more positive interactions as a result.

Training a dog can be difficult, but it’s well worth it when you see the end results. Taking care to keep your tone of voice even and your posture non-threatening can help your dog feel more at ease and ensure any training is absorbed more easily. After all, the goal is to have a positive relationship with your dog.