The Three Dog Training Mistakes You Should Avoid
When it comes to dog training, there are may different ways to go about doing it. Most techniques used today however, are based upon the idea that positive reinforcement is most likely going to give you the best results. Almost every truly successful dog training system is developed out of positive reinforcement thinking.
No matter which specific training program you as a dog owner choose to use, there are three common mistakes that should be avoided. Some dog owners, without realizing it, are liable to make three serious errors which if avoided will make dog training a far more enjoyable and effective experience.
The three most common mistakes are:
Being Inconstant With Training
Dogs thrive on predictability. A dog is likely to respond best to a system in which regular actions produce regular results. For example; if your dog succeeds in performing a certain action that the you the owner is pleased with and you rewards her, after a few times of this the dog will come to expect a reward for performing the same act. This is how the dog learns. If you start to reward sometimes and not other times for the same act before the dog has a chance to learn the act then the dog becomes confused and you wont get the results you are looking for from your dog.
One of the keys to successful training is to remain consistent each and every time.
Dont become impatient
Training your dog can be frustrating at times. Tasks we believe our dogs should be able to learn easily and quickly often end up taking more time to master then we thought or sometimes it seems they just dont get it at all. Dog training is an extended process that can require a great deal of patience from the trainer.
Being impatient often results in the trainer becoming unpredictable in how they handle the dog and what they are requesting from them. They might hastily stop a training session or worse, forget to use positive reinforcement that their dog has come to expect in hopes of finding a shortcut to the desired result.
The other key to successful training is youre going to have to a patient outlook through out the entire process of dog training.
Not Treating Your Dog as a Training Partner
Dog training needs two participants; the dog and you the owner. To often, some dog owners tend to look at the process as being just about them. They worry over their strategies and training techniques without taking their training partner, the dog, into consideration.
Dog training should be fun. In fact, it should be like a play session. When the dog is looked upon as a subject for experimenting with, you lose that all important dog/owner bond that has built up between you. Training then becomes a real chore rather than a joint activity that neither of you is getting any enjoyment out of.
Dogs get very attuned to their owners attitude quite quickly and are less likely to learn if theyre treated like a subject instead of a valued companion. If you fail to see your dogs unique personality during training you will be unable to pick up on subtle clues that could improve your training techniques and thus give you quicker results.
By avoiding these three common mistakes when dog training, youre more likely to be able to create a training strategy that produces great results. In addition to this, the training experience will be more enjoyable for both you and your dog.
Jane K is a lifelong dog enthusiast with a family of four beloved dogs of her own which provide the inspiration for this site. To learn more about how to care for your own beloved dog visit her at http://www.simply-dog-care-and-more.com Or sign up for K9 Care News at http://www.simply-dog-care-and-more.com/news-letter.html to receive more tips and info on caring for your dog delivered right to your inbox.
Written By: Jane Kraynyk
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