Dogs have been companions for humans for many thousands of years. You’d think we’d have the process of training them down pat, but alas most people make some fundamental errors in their efforts to teach their pup how to be a good citizen. This can cause cracks in the bond between dog and owner, as well as cause you a lot of frustration and irritation.
Here are some basic mistakes and how to correct them.
Too Much Time Between Sessions
Training is not a simple matter of “set it and forget it”. Even after you’ve gotten your pooch to learn basic good behavior and maybe a few tricks like shake and sit, you can’t just let the whole thing go. Use commands, praise, and rewards consistently and regularly in order to keep your dog’s memory sharp and his behavior in line. Once in a while change it up, teaching something new, to keep him alert and motivated.
Using Emotion as a Training Tool
Just as with human children, it’s a bad idea to react strongly and emotionally to your pup messing up. Anger, yelling, and outbursts will not work to teach your dog how to behave properly, if anything they make matters worse by scaring him. Use a calm, neutral demeanor, and if he’s not getting the command right away, then just back up and repeat it until he does. Be confident and in charge, but not bullying. The same goes for praise – calm, positive reinforcement is more effective than over-the-top freaking out when he does something right.
Inconsistency
If you let your beloved pet sit on the couch with you one day but not the next, he will become confused and have no idea what the heck you actually want from him. Likewise, when teaching commands, you need to stick to one training method and use that technique, in the proper order, every time you work with him. Make your reactions calm and predictable so that he knows what to expect, rather than being unsure of whether you’re going to fly off the handle one day and stay quiet the next when he doesn’t obey.
Repeating Commands
We’ve all done it – our sweet little Fido won’t sit the first couple times we tell her to, so we say it 3…or 10…times more, thinking surely it will get through to her. This is a mistake, and can actually reinforce lazy behavior where the dog thinks it’s perfectly fine to take her time in obeying the command. If the first time doesn’t do it, go back to the basics and work on proper training again for that command.
Relying too Heavily upon Treats
Treats should be an initial training tool but not a long-term crutch. Focus more on praise and positive reaction on your part, and make it a goal to move away from the use of treats once the dog has begun to respond consistently to a command. Treat overuse can actually break the animal’s focus and cause them to lose sight of the desired behavior.
Not Training to the Specific Dog
While breed is partially responsible for how your dog reacts to training, your success also depends upon their individual personality. You might have a pooch that can handle the distraction of other humans, or an extraordinarily timid little guy who needs a lot of patience and repetition. Customizing your training to the dog’s characteristics will maximize both of your experiences.
Use these simple tips and your training journey is sure to be filled with rewarding results and a stronger bond than ever.
