What are cue's/commands?

• A. Commands are signals that tell the MWD when a particular response rule is in effect.
• B. Commands are cues that tell the MWD when a particular response rule is in effect.
• C. Cues are signals that indicate acceptable behavior during training, but not linked to any rule.
• D. Cues are automatic and do not involve training.

Answer: (B)

In MWD training, a command is a signal that activates a specific response rule. Dogs learn multiple rules for different tasks, and the handler’s cue tells the dog which rule to apply in the current situation. So a command isn’t just a random prompt; it carries information about which rule governs the expected behavior at that moment. For example, a verbal cue might tell the dog to apply the search rule or the alert rule, guiding the exact action the dog should perform.

That’s why this option is the best: it frames commands as cues that tell the MWD when a particular response rule is in effect, capturing how training ties signals to specific behaviors. Other ideas that suggest cues are merely acceptable training signals without a linked rule, or that cues are automatic and not trained, miss the essential link between the cue, the rule, and the trained behavior.