The Power of the Dog Whisperer's "Tsch!" Sound

So many people have watched the Dog Whisperer and seen how he can change a dog's behavior simply by going tsch! (a sound that I actually enjoy using myself when training dogs). But have you ever wondered why such a simple sound could elicit quick obedience in the worst dog cases? Here's how:
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1.  "Tsch" (sounds like air coming out of a tire) is a naturally annoying sound to dogs that has a better chance of breaking their mental momentum than an actual word. 
2. Cesar Millan creates a conditioned response to the sound when he first begins to correct a dog. Often times he will make his patented tsch! sound simultaenously with a leash correction or with a phyiscal touch allowing the dog to quickly learn that the sound is often paired with something else that is unpleasant. In dog training, we call this a secondary punisher. If you are familiar with clicker training, it is the same concept, but the other side of the spectrum. You are simply pairing a sound with something unpleasant in the dog's mind.  
3. The sound or word is not all that important if the right energy and body language is being used. Old dog training books might suggest exclaiming bah! And it would have the same effect. If you are a martial artist, you may be able to relate to the idea of expelling air or breathing at the same time as a strike - using breath (like the tsch! sound) is a natural way to project strong energy out of your body. If you use any sound, but do so weakly or half-heartedly, you won't get the same effect as the Dog Whisperer. 
4. The most important reason - words are foreign to dogs. When people get frustrated and want to correct a dog, they often fall back on the communication mode that is comfortable for people - words and yelling. This rarely will teach your dog anything unless your dog is smart and happens to accidentally figure out what you want when you are yelling in anger. Using a calm demeanor will help you find the best way to communicate with your dog. Cesar Millan merely uses the sound to create an opening in the dog's brain to start communicating with body language.  

If you want to truly understand the tsch! sound, watch Cesar train these two celebrity TV show hosts' dogs (watch carefully now that you know why it works and you will see it all in action). The dog handling starts at about the 3 minute mark in both videos: 

The tsch! sound is not a miracle, but it can work and now you know why! How do you elevate your communication with your dogs?