“Sit!”, “Stay!” and more...
Animal commands around the world

• “Down!” is “Platz!” in German and “Echado!” in Spanish.
• “Come!” is “Viens!” in French and “Gyere!” in Hungarian.
• We would say “Drop it!” or “Leave it!” in English and the translation would be “Aus!” in German.

The words and commands may vary, but you would generally expect most dogs – and other pets and working animals – to pick up the language used by their owners. That might seem obvious, but it’s actually not always the case. In fact, it might even be the opposite of what’s required when training dogs in certain professional settings.

Guide dogs and police dogs – (language) professionals at work

Some dogs have a job to do. They might work for the police or help people with disabilities go about their day. Guide dogs for blind and visually impaired people in Switzerland are trained by organisations such as the Foundation Swiss School for Guide Dogs for the Blind Allschwil. There are equivalent institutions in other countries around the world. The training is often delivered in Italian in Switzerland – regardless of where in the country the dogs will actually be working. And there’s good reason for this. Italian commands end in vowels, which gives them a nice, clear sound structure that dogs have no trouble hearing and identifying. Commands like “Avanti!” (forward) or “Fermo!” (stay) are onomatopoeic and not commonly used in everyday language, so they’re ideal for assistance dog training. In other words, some people might need to learn a new language before they can start relying on a trained assistance dog.

• Home and origin: Lots of service dogs come from countries like Czechia and Belgium, so that’s where they will have received their basic training (including commands).
• Precision and clarity: The commands used in these languages are short, onomatopoeic and clear. They’re not common words you hear every day and dogs can easily identify them.
• Tactics and strategy: If only the police team understands the commands, they can instruct their dogs more strategically and safely – without giving anything away unintentionally.

Language is deeper than words – all around the world

But does it all come down to the specific words and language used? Absolutely not! You could have an Irish shepherd and a Scottish sheepdog that have learnt the same commands in English – including “Come by” as an instruction to move in a clockwise direction around a flock of sheep – but that doesn’t automatically mean they can communicate effectively.

You see, when it comes to working with animals, there’s more to the instructions than the words used. Think tone, pitch and rhythm. Shepherds often use whistle commands without words too. Animals respond sensitively to signals like this – and to the body language, behaviour and even the voice of the person giving them commands. This might leave room for interpretation, but it also opens the door to effective teamwork and deep mutual understanding. Sometimes a look is all it takes to tell a dog what to do.

Speaking your own pet’s language

The same is certainly true at home too. Commands tend to be personal and unique to each household. It’s up to you how you call your “ball of fluff” or “good boy/girl” over or whether you talk about their “spot” or their “bed”. This is even more evident when you’re talking to other animals that aren’t dogs. Cats love to communicate but aren’t too bothered about responding to commands. Maybe that’s because they like to think they’re the ones calling the shots? It varies from household to household and from cat to cat.

Horses require a multilingual approach too. Depending on the riding style, discipline and country of origin, they’re trained in German, English or Spanish – or silently with body language. So animals don’t struggle with multiple languages – as long as tone, timing and trust are all spot on.

What can we learn from animals for effective corporate communications?

Multilingualism and diversity are so important – above and beyond the context of animal commands. We can apply the lessons we’ve learned about interacting with dogs, horses and elephants to corporate communications. The keys to success are clarity, sensitivity and tone.

Transferable tips – from the animal kingdom to the business world

• Clarity is key: The clearer your message, the more chance you have of people understanding it.
• Leave no doubt: If your message is vague, you risk people misunderstanding you.
• Consistency builds trust: Be consistent in your choice of words – that’s important whether you’re on walkies or at work.
• Use your intuition: Shepherds and translators alike know how to read between the lines. It’s so important to pay close attention – and don’t forget to factor in the tone and context.
• Keep it snappy: Focus on the core message and you’ll have a better chance of being heard (and understood).

Any last tips on communicating with your pets at home? If your dog doesn’t come when called or your cat strolls arrogantly across the dinner table, take a deep breath and try, try, try again. Or maybe try speaking to them in another language?