Obedience training
What does it mean to poison a cue in dog training?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A poisoned cue is a command a dog has learned to associate with something unpleasant, being scolded, grabbed by the collar, or having a fun activity end, so the word itself now triggers hesitation or avoidance instead of a clean response. Come is the most commonly poisoned cue, often because it got used to call a dog over for a bath, nail trim, or the end of a park visit.
How a cue becomes poisoned
A dog called with come and then immediately put in a crate, scolded for something unrelated, or given an unpleasant nail trim starts pairing that specific word with a bad outcome, and after only a handful of repeats the dog begins visibly hesitating or looking away when the word is said.
Recognizing the signs
A dog that used to come running now approaches slowly, with a low body and flattened ears, or stops partway and needs several repeats to actually arrive, is showing classic signs the cue has picked up a negative association rather than simply forgetting its meaning.
Rebuilding a poisoned cue with a fresh word
Retiring the poisoned word entirely and building a brand new cue from scratch, paired only with genuinely good outcomes like treats, play or being let outside, tends to work far faster than trying to rehabilitate the old, tainted word.
Other cues that commonly get poisoned
Beyond come, a name used mainly to scold, or a sit cue used right before an unpleasant nail trim, can pick up the same negative association, so the same principle, protecting a command's reputation by pairing it mostly with good outcomes, applies well beyond just recall. Any word used almost exclusively before something the dog dislikes is worth reviewing for this same risk, even if it seems minor or unrelated to formal training, since dogs form these links quickly and quietly.
Key takeaways
- A poisoned cue is a command the dog has learned to associate with something unpleasant.
- Come is commonly poisoned by being used to call a dog for baths or nail trims.
- Hesitation, a lowered body, or slow approach are signs a cue has become poisoned.
- Building a fresh replacement cue, paired only with good outcomes, is usually faster than repairing an old one.