However, the exact method of reaching the above ideals is where many people differ. Some people don’t believe that dog training is ever necessary. Others believe that training through fear and punishment is the only way to go. Still another group feels that it is necessary to understand how a dog thinks in order to have the best results in reaching these training goals.
One thing is certain, however, the overwhelming number of training philosophies has caused much confusion for the average dog owner. In an effort to cut through some of this confusion, here is a list of some common dog training mistakes:
DON’T: Assume that dogs are just hairy versions of human children that only need to be mothered into maturity in order to behave.
Understand that even though many dogs have the equivalent mental capacity of a 2 year old human child, this doesn’t mean they have the same needs or even the same way of thinking. One example of this difference is in the fact that dogs are pack animals. Their world tends to make more sense if you behave towards them as their leader and not their mother.
DON’T: Yell and hit when Rover misbehaves because you assume he will then automatically know that he should change to better behavior.
Realize that punishment instills fear and anxiety. With this approach, Your dog will learn to hate training. He will also be less relaxed and therefore poorly focused. Negative reinforcement, which is different from punishment, is necessary to help your dog identify which behavior is undesirable. This reinforcement can take on the form of withdrawing affection and treats. Never use negative reinforcements that provoke fear. Besides the obvious ethical issue, dogs really cannot make a mental connection between fear and their behavior anyway.
DON’T: Train in a busy place like a crowed park because you believe that if your dog can learn to concentrate in a distracting environment he can learn anything anywhere at anytime.
Create a distraction free training environment that helps the dog to focus only on what is being taught and he will learn faster and with better retention.
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DON’T: Train for many commands all at once so rover won’t become board and loose focus.
Teach one thing at a time, make sure your little student performs it well before moving on. This cements one command before he can become confused by learning the next one. Teach the most important basic commands first. Some trainers prefer to start with the word “NO”. This can save lots of time because it is so helpful to identify incorrect behavior on subsequent commands.
DON’T: Train for hours or until your dog is exhausted.
Work with your dog for only 3 to 5 minutes at a time. Depending on individual personalities and breed, this about as long as she will be able concentrate. Beyond that point she will just tune you out.
DON’T: Let every member of your family inject their own style and preferred training method into the mix. This will encourage your dog to learn to obey based on a variety of human personalities.
Train consistently in every way. If possible, train at the same time every day for the same amount of time with the same method. Each deviation from a strict training regimen has the potential to confuse and slow down the learning process. Teach each member of your family how to consistently support these efforts.
DON’T: Express your irritation if training is going poorly. Since most dogs really want to please their masters, they often pick up on your frustration and will adjust their behavior to make you happy.
Always be calm and confident. This will help your dog-in-training to be relaxed and focused during training. Keep the sessions warm and friendly as possible and your dog will look forward to training as a favorite activity.
DON’T: Using treats and affection will just spoil your puppy. He needs to learn to obey your commands whether or not you have treats or feel like petting him.
Use positive reinforcements to clearly identify which behavior is correct.
DON’T: Forget coddling your trainee. He needs to learn that you are the boss and he will not eat or sleep until training is complete.
Make sure that your dog is healthy, fed and rested before training. After all, how well do you work when sick, tired or hungry?
The guiding ideals for all dog training should include:
- non-punishing negative reinforcements to identify undesirable behavior
- positive reinforcements to identify and reinforce desirable behavior
- short, consistent and frequent training sessions in distraction free settings that help your dog focus
Do these things and trust will grow between you and your furry friend. When trust develops dog training has the opportunity to be successful.
