Common dog training mistakes – what are they? Most mistakes are not critical, but can slow down the training process. Here is a list of some common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them.
Training for Too Long
Overtraining or training for long periods of time will not produce better results. Dogs can become bored or tired if not provided ample breaks. Owners can become tired and lose focus. Long sessions can be tiresome for both the owners and dogs. Short, fun, and fully engaged sessions are more effective because you can maintain your dog’s attention better during this time.
Not Practicing Regularly
If you are not routinely maintaining your dog’s training, his/her obedience and behavior will be impacted. To maintain good overall obedience, practice commands consistently. Set aside time and follow through. This will benefit both you and your dog.
Training at the Same Area
People often make the mistake of training their dogs in the same place, which is often their homes. Dogs do not generalize easily, so you should try training them at different spots, so they can understand their commands better in a wide variety of settings.
Not Proactive
Dog training takes time, technique and stamina. Be patient and remain consistent. People often lack insight and only react to the situation. Instead, you need to remain proactive, and train your dog regularly, to instill those good habits in your pet. There is NO replacement for repetition. Be proactive in training your dog for situations that you know they will find themselves in (distracted by other dogs, distracted by people, noises, objects, etc). It’s better to work on these things in a training environment so they are much easier to deal with in a real world environment. We always try to train the dogs for harder scenarios than they will actually deal with in a real world environment.
Always Give the Dog 100%
Remember, the dog you are training does not care what you have going on in your life (a break-up, tired, stressed, etc). As I tell my trainers, “You chose to train the dog, the dog did not choose to work with you; therefore, YOU owe the dog everything and they owe you nothing.” Always make a conscious effort to be motivated, up-beat, and fun! If you find yourself (or the dog) getting frustrated, it’s time to take a break! Give the dog 100%!
You are Not Consistent
Consistency is KEY! There is no replacement for consistency. If you give the dog a command, it is imperative that you follow through 100% of the time. If the dog believes there is a loophole in your training system, they will certainly find it. If I tell the dog down, and they break the command five times, I will put them back six times. Only letting them up when “I” give them the release word. If you are training inconsistently, you should expect inconsistent results.
Apply What Training Works Best For the Dog In Front of You
A lot of people forget that the most important dog in the world is the one that’s right in front of them! Adjust your training, style, and methodology to whatever works best for the dog that is in front of you!
Ask, Ask, and Ask!
Lastly, if you are ever unsure about a specific dog, behavior, or issue, ASK! Our world is filled with incredibly knowledgeable trainers, ask one or two of them for their advice! To see the transformations, check out our YouTube Page.
