Dogtime - 8 Common Mistakes Pet Parents Make When Training Their Dogs

Posted on 25 February, 2022

Photo by Kara Kupfer on Unsplash

Written by Mike Clark for Dogtime

You’ve got a new furry addition to the family, and you can’t wait to start training your pup to do all kinds of tricks. You’re going to have the most well-behaved, happy, friendly dog on the block! But hold on before you jump into it.

There are lots of mistakes that pet parents make when training their pups. Before you begin your own training routine, make sure you know what not to do.

Here are eight common mistakes you should avoid when teaching your pup new behaviours and tricks.

Correction-Based Instead Of Positive Reinforcement

Focusing on the negative is not nearly as effective of a training method as using positive reinforcement. Using punishment and dominance can lead to a lot of other problematic behaviour for your pup in the future.

Additionally, if you mix positive and negative reinforcement, it makes it more difficult for your dog to determine whether they're going to be rewarded or punished.

Learn to anticipate your dog's behaviour. If your dog is about to do something they're not supposed to -- bark, for example -- distract them with another command that they can respond to, and reward them accordingly. This takes practice on both your parts.

Training For Too Long

Your training sessions should stop after you see positive results and continue at a later time.

If you train for too long, your dog may get bored and no longer be interested in learning the new behaviour that you're trying to teach. Or your pup can feel overloaded with new information and not retain what they've learned.

You don't need to keep hammering home the lesson all in one day. Training is a process, and it will take time.

Staying In The Same Place

You'll probably be doing quite a bit of training in your home, as that's where you and your dog live. But don't confine your training to one place. Your dog will learn to behave in the house, but as soon as you get outside, they'll have a much harder time paying attention.

Try training outside, at other homes you visit, or even at the dog park where there are new and different distractions. This way your dog will learn to keep behaviour consistent, no matter where they are or what's going on around them.

Too Much Clicking

Clicker training is getting pretty popular, and it's an effective training tool when used properly. But make sure you learn how to use it before you start clicking away.

Your dog should associate the click with a reward, and if you stop rewarding your dog, the clicker becomes meaningless.

You should also stay consistent with only one click per desired behaviour. If you click too much while your dog is doing something, they'll have no idea exactly what behaviour you are rewarding. Communication is key.

Relying Too Much On Treats

Treats are great if your pup is food-motivated, and they're especially effective when starting out. But be sure to also vary your rewards with praise, toys, or play.

If you rely too much on treats, your dog may only perform your desired behaviours when you have food with you. Chances are good that you won't always be walking around with a pocket full of dog food, so make sure your pooch can respond to praise and associate your approval with rewards.

Not Adjusting For Your Dog's Individuality

Dogs are individuals, and not every method of training or reward will work for every dog.

Some breeds are more motivated by play than food, and some have a natural need to please. Other breeds are known to be just plain stubborn.

Get to know what motivates your dog and how they learn best. Try changing the environment or the way you deliver commands.

If one training method isn't working, it's not necessarily because your pup can't learn. You may just need to tweak your technique and experiment to find what works. Be patient.

Repeating Commands

This is especially common among people new to training dogs. They'll give a command like, "Sit," and when the dog doesn't sit, they repeat the command over and over until the dog sits out of boredom.

The stalling can become a learned behaviour, and the dog might come to expect that they're only supposed to sit after the command has been repeated.

If your dog doesn't respond, don't repeat the command. Take them somewhere else and try again. If you still don't get a response, it's time to retrain and relearn the behaviour.

Not Practicing

Your dog may be a quick learner, but that's all for nothing if you don't practice. Like you, your dog can't be expected to remember everything they've learned if they never practice.

Make sure that you keep up with training, and not just during the puppy phase. You should be practicing with your dog for the rest of their life, and they'll appreciate the mental stimulation well into old age.

What other mistakes have you seen people make when training their dogs? Do you have any dog training tips for beginners? Let Mike Clark and Dogtime know in their comment section on the original article - https://dogtime.com/reference/dog-training/43777-common-mistakes#1

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