Dog Training Basics – Avoid These Five Common Mistakes

Dog training mistakes are always human mistakes. Surprised? Don’t be. Many pet owners get frustrated when puppies “have accidents” or grown dogs bark like crazy at the doorbell, while, in fact, these and other problems cannot be faulted on the animal. If people don’t know what they want their dog to do instead, like sitting instead of jumping, going to their bed (when the door opens) instead of bolting out the door, dig in a sandbox instead of the garden, chewing appropriate objects, etc., the dog can’t figure it out either. Mistake #1: Not Socializing a Dog Properly Proper socialization is one of the kindest acts people can provide for their dogs. Natural by-products of proper socialization are activity, time with your dog, mental and physical stimulation. A dog that has been taught to socialize properly can adapt to changes in the environment and should be able to deal with a variety of situations. Lack of socialization early on in the life of an animal can lead to fear, anxiety, and aggression. The better adapted a dog is to his environment, the less likely he is to engage in unpleasant behavior. Mistake #2: Giving Up Too Soon Being impatient is one of the major problems owners face. Although it’s unrealistic to expect a puppy to be completely housetrained in a few weeks, many owners anticipate just that. It takes time and patience for a dog to understand the basic concept of sitting or staying; it takes even more time to change previous behaviors (such as jumping on the counter) or control urges (barking, digging in the garden, etc). Dogs get the short end of the stick in many situations. People think they should learn things very quickly, but do not always spend the time teaching them. The first step is to be calm and patience when teaching dog training basics. If you’re calm and enjoying the process, your dog will too. Don’t make the training a chore. If you feel yourself getting frustrated or angry, walk away and come back to it later. Mistake #3: Making Training a Chore Owners are not the only ones that get frustrated during training. Long or repetitive sessions can also be tedious for the dog. A bored dog usually stops paying attention and will have a harder time learning. Keeping the training sessions short, from 15 seconds up to five minutes a session. Practicing many of these sessions throughout the day is much better than doing one or two long sessions everyday. If you focus on making the session a fun activity instead of a chore, dogs will pick up on tricks faster. Some breeds are more prone to boredom than others, but to be safe, concentrate on making the training session as dynamic as possible. Mistake #4: Being Ambivalent Consistency is very important in training. If, at the beginning, of teaching a new cue, sometimes you say “Come” and other times you say “Come over here” you can cause confusion. On the other hand, dogs can understand the meaning of numerous physical and verbal cues to mean the same thing. It is important to teach one cue and then add more later. Confusing your dog will lead to failure. When you stick to a specific command or word, your dog is likely to grasp the concept better. It all has to do with the memory process. Repetition forms a “grove” of sorts in our brain which allows information to flow and connect. The deeper the groove, so to speak, the easier it is for the information we’ve stored through repetition to be accessed. Mistake #5: Using Physical Punishment Do do use physical violence ever on your dog! Treat dogs with the same consideration and respect that you would treat your children, grandparents and themselves. Positive reinforcement is the key to success. Training your dog out of fear is wrong! Nonviolent animal training is also more effective than earlier techniques. You can change behaviors such as destructiveness and excessive barking by finding what your dog is doing right and praising him for it. When your dog engages in negative behavior, you can choose to ignore him and hold back praise. Dogs usually pick up on it really fast. Nonviolent dog training allows you to create a partnership with your dog using gentle persuasion based in kindness, respect, and compassion. People who are too busy or too lazy should reconsider getting a dog or any other pet in the first place. Getting a dog that’s too difficult to handle, either because of breed or size. Some breeds are easier to train than others; some breeds are naturally more submissive. Getting upset and screaming are not appropriate. The last thing you want is an animal that’s scared of being around you. Joining a class and then giving up after the first lesson because you didn’t like the trainer. Not every trainer is a good fit for everybody. Some trainers are better with smaller dogs while others are experts at managing larger animals. Before signing up, ask to observe a class, see how the animals interact, the trainer’s attitude, etc. I believe nonviolence fosters nonviolence. Because of the link between dog and human behavior, positive dog training contributes to helping build a world of peace for humans and dogs. When people, especially children, are successful using nonviolent methods with animals, they feel good about themselves and they are encouraged to have a kinder, more positive attitude with their friends, family, and the environment.

The Five Easy Methods of Successful Puppy Training. You Can Easily Train Your Puppy Before it is Three Months Old

It used to be the case that dog training courses didn’t begin until a dog was 6 months of age. Twelve months, as believed by some trainers, was soon enough. Most people now believe that the first few months of a puppies life are the most valuable and important time to start training.
• Puppies are always learning new things.
• Puppies are learning each and every day.
• They will learn whether we formally train them or not.
• Puppies learn quickly since they have no prior experience in any situation.
• Because puppies are so open-minded, they can be molded into wonderful, obedient pets.
Though there are several training methods, I prefer the one kindest to the dogs.
We can’t cover everything in one short article but here is the big picture.
One: Opportunity Training – This type of training introduces the puppy to training without him realizing it.
Two: Attention Training – When introducing a brand new command, I wait until the puppy is doing that command before I give it. I introduce the command “Watch” as the puppy is awaiting his reward. Because the dog has a very short attention span, you must praise him immediately.
Three: The Sit – Kneel on the ground and get the puppy’s attention by allowing him to sniff the treat in your hand. Place your hand above the puppy’s head. Because it is easier to look up at the treat while sitting, it will naturally go into the sitting position. Only when the pup sits can you use the sit command and give praise. Repeat this about 9 or 10 times.
Four: The Down – This begins in much the same way as the sit. However, this time your open hand is used to cup over the treats. The puppy will use different methods to try and get the food. He can smell the food but he cannot see it. He will attempt to move your hand out of the way using his nose. Then, he will realize it is much easier to simply lay down. Reward him and give the command “down” as soon as he lays down, while his is still in the down position.
Five: The Recall – The recall or “come” command is crucial for the behavior and safety of the dog. This command can be taught at the same time as down, sit, and stay. Have someone kneel on the ground and hold the dog. Kneel or sit a short distance from the puppy. Get the dog to look at you by placing both hands in front of you. Immediately give the “come” command. After your have the dog’s attention, ask the helper to release him. Speaking the command, “come” with lots of excitement and praise as the dog runs toward you. Give him a tidbit in reward and praise upon his arrival. Do not try to make the puppy sit or lay at the same time. Until he understands the one exercise, repeat it again and again.
Remember that even young puppies can be taught quite a bit. The little ones can learn quite quickly when good technique and a great attitude are present. Keep in mind that the idea behind training is to build confidence and a bond between owner and dog. Training exercises should be done in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. This will encourage the puppy to want to learn.