Dog Training Mistakes to Avoid

Training your dog can seem to be a daunting task; it certainly isn’t a job for the faint of heart! If you choose to train your own dog at home, instead of taking them to training classes at your local pet store or the pet place, you will need to do the proper research and have a plan before you embark on your training adventure; otherwise, you and your dog will both have a more difficult time as you go through the training process.

So, as you read various training books, articles, and how-to’s, and maybe watch a few training videos, you will not only need to be conscious of what you should do, but also what you should not do. So, here are three mistakes that people commonly make as they attempt to train their dogs.

The first mistake is simple: many people start by treating their dog as an issue that needs to be worked on, rather than helping or teaching a friend. Though it may sound a little silly, this is your time to establish a good relationship with your pet. Though your dog does need to know who is boss (and it needs to be solidly established from the start of training), they also need to know that you are their friend and you want to help them and care for them. This is best shown simply through your actions and tone of voice with your pet.

Another common mistake in dog training is inconsistency. This most often occurs when people are ill-prepared and do not have a plan before they begin training their dog. If people are either not sure of how they want to train their dog, or what they want to train their dog in first, it becomes very easy for them to be inconsistent. Choose one area (such as chewing, jumping, excessive barking, or begging) to work on first, and then move on to other things. It helps if the owner is consistent and does not simply ask their dog to do too many different things at once.

The last addressed common mistake dog owners make as they begin to train their dogs is that they are simply too impatient. Please remember, change takes time! Just as it takes you, your spouse, or your child a little while to change, know that your dog is no different. Change will happen and progress will be made; it truly is simply a matter of time.

As you embark on this training adventure, remember to keep these tips in the back of your mind. It is normally pretty easy to remember what you should do, but it is sometimes harder to remember what not to do. Good luck as you begin to train your new puppy! They will appreciate it, and so will you.