Comments on: Command Vs Cue: In Puppy Training What Is The Difference?

By: Jen Gates

Jen Gates — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 04:56:46 +0000

Here’s how I see the difference: I take my cues from someone I admire and am therefore inspired to do my best. When I am commanded to do something, I will do so but only in that specific context as much as required, grudgingly and no more. My older dog was trained to leave food alone on the counter by being scolded when he violated his command… now he waits until our backs are turned and sneaks it. Our younger dog who is trained based on the newer approach, won’t go near it. He has “leave it” engrained in a way that is broader based and more effective even when we aren’t looking. My understanding is this is true for outdoor distractions like chasing wildlife etc. Our newest addition is being 100% cue/clicker trained for eventual service work. He is still very young but his training is coming along brilliantly.

By: Colby

Colby — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 21:24:59 +0000

In reply to Rakhi. We use the words commands and cues fairly interchangeably on this site. The big difference to me is a command is more telling your dog to do something where as a cue is more of a guiding suggestion. Basically something like SIT! (command) vs sit (cue). I'm not sure that makes sense, but hopefully it helps.

By: Rakhi

Rakhi — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 14:26:15 +0000

Can you give me an example between command and cue? Is cue just means that you are using the clicker instead of saying a command?

By: Olga

Olga — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 19:15:18 +0000

Command says the dog must do what you say. Cue means the dog does what you say if he decides, at that moment, that the reward you give is worth it. Chicken or squirrel chase? So I ask you, who do you want to be in charge, you or your dog? Treats are great for teaching new behavior, but once learned, the dog needs to do what you say, just because you are in charge.

By: Colby

Colby — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:38:50 +0000

In reply to Shantanu Sinha. Hi Shantanu, Archer is our first dog that we are exclusively trying to use cues. Everything is going well as we are 2 weeks into our third class. :)

By: Colby

Colby — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:35:04 +0000

In reply to Stephanie Taunton. We've been teaching Archer cues and so far so good!

By: Colby

Colby — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:21:35 +0000

In reply to Kimberly Gauthier.

The difference between a command and a cue that I’ve noticed in the dog training is that with a command you force your dog to do something while associating a word at the same time. For instance, pushing down your dogs butt and saying “sit” On the other hand a cue is not associated with the action until your dog has learned the behavior. For instance, when teaching our dog touch we stick our two fingers out in front of our dogs nose. If our dog touches our two fingers with his nose then we click/treat. After he’s consistently touching his nose to our two fingers (the rule of thumb in our class is 8-10x in a minute) then we introduce the cue “touch” when our dogs are touching our finger.

In the end whether you call the word a cue or a command the word means the same thing: “Sit” means put your butt to the ground and “Touch” means put your nose on my two fingers.

By: Shantanu Sinha

Shantanu Sinha — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 07:00:35 +0000

Hello Colby,

This something very interesting thing to find today.
Command vs Cue something totally different from each other.
Learned here that these are opposite to each other.

I would choose to go with the word cue, as it is more decent
and the dog would also not be threat against us.
Yeah I could not have a dog trainer for some reason, so what if
we train our dogs, with the help of these commands by our self.

Thanks for the important share.
Shantanu sinha

By: Stephanie Taunton

Stephanie Taunton — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 12:40:59 +0000

Its very interesting cue is better and with good training it will work.

By: Kimberly Gauthier

Kimberly Gauthier — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 20:25:24 +0000

I think I use cues with our dogs. I never pushed our dogs butts down; our trainer taught us how to hold the treats so our dogs naturally sat down on their own.

At the moment, I’m training the dogs not to race towards the trail next to our house when a cyclists passes by, not to race to our neighbor’s property when he’s outside, and not to visit the chickens next door. (no fence)

What I did was use the word “bicycle” which they know to signify that it’s time for a treat -after doing this for a short time, the dogs began coming to me when they saw a bicycle. Rodrigo will sit and watch for one, then come to me for his treat.

I have had to physically move our dogs; when Scout wouldn’t come to me because he was mesmerized by a rooster, I grabbed him by the scruff and turned him towards our property. After a couple times, he understood that it was time to go home.

I don’t think I understand the difference between commands and cues. Sit is sit, I thought.