Three Common Mistakes People Make ...
When it comes to dog training, there are many 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.
Please keep in the back of your mind that 'praise' comes in several forms, two that I've found used most often are: -
- Verbal Praise; Consist of voice and hands and is as simple as saying "You're a good dog!" in a happy and joyful voice while giving the dog a pat on the head or a rub on the chest.
- Food Rewards; Same as above method but include a reward (Kibble) as well as the voice praise.
It's up to you as the dog owner to decide what's best for you! The three most common mistakes are:
- Don't be Inconsistent with Your Training Methods
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 you the owner is pleased with and you reward the dog, 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 no other times for the same act before the dog has a chance to learn the act then the dog becomes confused and you won't 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.
- Don't 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 “don’t 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 you’re going to have to a patient outlook throughout the entire process of dog training.
- Don't Forgetting to Treat Your Dog as a Training Partner
Dog training needs two participants; the dog and you the owner. Too 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 owner's attitude quite quickly and are less likely to learn if they’re treated like a subject instead of a valued companion. If you fail to see your dog's 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, you’re 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