Family-Disaster-Dogs: Training a Dog versus Teaching a Dog

To train a dog is to have a dog physically doing something.

In comparison, teaching a dog is showing a dog what you mean.

Training a dog is the physical part of teamwork.

While teaching a dog is the mental part of teamwork.

Example

When we teach a dog to fetch;

First we teach the dog what the ball is, by showing the dog the ball and naming it.

Therefore, we are focusing on mental education. The dog is watching and learning without doing anything physical.

Even if the dog is jumping up and down or sitting watching us. We are Teaching the dog.

Compare that to this….

Next, we train the dog to move and do what we ask.

We toss the ball and tell the dog to go fetch. We and the dog are focusing on the physical education.

We toss the ball. We are using a physical movement.

The dog runs after the ball, a physical movement.

To train a dog is to have a dog physically doing something.

In comparison, teaching a dog is showing a dog what you mean.

Training a dog is the physical part of teamwork and teaching is the mental aspect.

Amber

Founder and author

Family Disaster Dogs

Toby in memory of my husband Rick