Top Dog Training Mistakes To Avoid ( Part 1)
20/07/2015 - Blog
Dog training isn’t exactly always a walk in the park, and we’re all guilty of making a few honest mistakes along the way. But this can be a recipe for frustration for both you and your dog!
As leading providers of dog training in Kingston if there’s one thing we know, its dogs. So to give you a helping hand here weve put together a quick guide to some of the most common dog training mistakes and how to avoid them.
Repeating Yourself!
You say sit and they... look at you with a completely blank expression - its a familiar situation faced by many dog owners.
When this happens it can be all too tempting to simply keep repeating yourself - until your dogs face has turned to one of complete boredom and you’re left sounding like a broken record!
But this can be a big mistake. Its important to avoid repeating a command over and over again as you will simply be teaching your dog that they do not have to respond to your first command!
If you’re sure that you dog knows how to do a trick but they ignore your first command, then chances are youve either taught them the trick wrong or your dog is simply trying out a little rebellion – don’t let those puppy eyes fool you!
Ask once again - in a quiet place - and if your dog is still not playing ball then its probably time to go back to basics and teach them the trick again!
Being Inconsistent
Only training your dog when you feel like it can be a mistake. A big mistake!
When putting your pooch through their paces, consistency is key. That’s because a lack of consistency from you could ultimately lead to a lack of responsiveness from your dog.
With this in mind It’s important to be consistent with the rules you set for your dog. For example, don’t reward your dog for jumping up one day because you are glad to see them, but then tell them off the next for the same behaviour, as this will only lead to one thing – a case of canine confusion!
Not Being Clear With Your Commands
Dogs are pretty smart. But that said, they’re not mind readers, and if they don’t understand what it is you want, then they cannot be expected to respond.
With this in mind, make sure to keep your commands clear and concise. The easiest way to ensure this is to choose command words that are short and easy to differentiate between. Follow this simple tip and you should be able to avoid your directions from becoming lost in translation.
Repeating Yourself!
You say sit and they... look at you with a completely blank expression - its a familiar situation faced by many dog owners.
When this happens it can be all too tempting to simply keep repeating yourself - until your dogs face has turned to one of complete boredom and you’re left sounding like a broken record!
But this can be a big mistake. Its important to avoid repeating a command over and over again as you will simply be teaching your dog that they do not have to respond to your first command!
If you’re sure that you dog knows how to do a trick but they ignore your first command, then chances are youve either taught them the trick wrong or your dog is simply trying out a little rebellion – don’t let those puppy eyes fool you!
Ask once again - in a quiet place - and if your dog is still not playing ball then its probably time to go back to basics and teach them the trick again!
Being Inconsistent
Only training your dog when you feel like it can be a mistake. A big mistake!
When putting your pooch through their paces, consistency is key. That’s because a lack of consistency from you could ultimately lead to a lack of responsiveness from your dog.
With this in mind It’s important to be consistent with the rules you set for your dog. For example, don’t reward your dog for jumping up one day because you are glad to see them, but then tell them off the next for the same behaviour, as this will only lead to one thing – a case of canine confusion!
Not Being Clear With Your Commands
Dogs are pretty smart. But that said, they’re not mind readers, and if they don’t understand what it is you want, then they cannot be expected to respond.
With this in mind, make sure to keep your commands clear and concise. The easiest way to ensure this is to choose command words that are short and easy to differentiate between. Follow this simple tip and you should be able to avoid your directions from becoming lost in translation.
Copyright © 2024 CK9 Training
Copyright © 2024 CK9 Training