Cue
A verbal or hand signal that asks the dog for a specific behaviour ("sit", "down", "go to your place").
A Cue is a prompt, not a demand. The dog performs it when the behaviour is well learned and worth performing.
Key rule: only add a Cue once the dog is offering the behaviour on their own, without any word. Adding a cue too early ("down!" to a dog who doesn't yet know how to lie down on signal) teaches the dog to ignore the word.
A dog can have several types of Cues:
- Verbal cue — "sit", "down", "go to your place"
- Hand Cue — pointing a finger, a hand movement
- Contextual signal — the doorbell, opening the cabinet with the leash