OH! The command would definitely be a soft almost imperceptible, “Hmmm”. I’ve had dogs for most of my life and while “No” and “Stop” work, I have realized the value of the under-the-breath, “Hmmm”. It’s less effort, is almost imperceptible, and your pets always can hear and follow.
Let me elaborate on the instances where this really works, and trust me, I have had a few of these situations myself and would’ve loved my pets to have understood that command.
You hear rustling outside the house, your dogs are on edge, you look out the magic-eye, but nothing is visible or obvious. You just want the dogs to stop their growling so you can figure out what’s happening. The “hmmm” will alert your pet to keep quiet and stand still but will not be heard by the intruder, and hence help you plan something.
You live on an estate. You are out on a walk. You run into a wild elephant or a snake. The “Hmmm” here will warn your pet to stand by you and not attack. Hackles on end, just standing by, is a lot better than a crazy barking dog that will agitate the elephant to attack or the snake to bite.
You are walking in the city and your pet steps off the pavement and almost onto oncoming traffic. Here, before she takes another step, your “hmmm” may make her stop and reconsider. Of course, if she’s charged off, then even a bellowing “hmmm” is not going to help. Get those runners out, cos now you both are going to play ‘Catch me if you can’ through traffic.
Typically, usually, your pet, if you have spent sufficient time around them, understands your emotions without even you opening your mouth or issuing commands. But then there are those instances when they are guided by their instincts and that’s when this command may come in handy.
I don’t have a pet today, just kids, and they are tuned to that “hmmm”. The pets I pet-sit are tuned to the “Hmmm”. I just feel that more pet owners should train using imperceptible commands because that would help keep panic levels down in dog parks and common play areas shared by pets and children / senior citizens.
Just a little more 