Are You Making These Dog Training Mistakes?
Training your dog is an important aspect of responsible ownership. Having a well behaved dog has benefits for owners and other people and pets in society. Training with your dog creates a stronger bond and provides him, or her, with essential mental stimulation and enrichment. However, dog training can be a minefield at times. Read our Holidays4Dogs article to find out if you are making these dog training mistakes.
But do we always get it right? We all know that, even the best laid plans, don’t always turn out how we expected. Dog training isn’t necessarily hard if you have a little knowledge and a good deal of patience. However, there are a few common mistakes which are easily made and can hamper progress when training your dog.
Bribery.
This is one of the most common dog training mistakes. Training with food is one of the best ways to train new behaviours with your dog. What’s more, this is scientifically proven as a primary reinforcer for dogs – meaning they learn faster.
However, using food as bribery, rather than a reward, is an easy mistake to make. There is a distinct difference.
Bribery is an attempt to get your dog to do something, almost by deceit. For example, offering your dog a treat because they won’t come in from the garden. A reward, however, tells your dog, “Yes! – You just did a really good job”.
Time and Patience.
It essential to put aside time to train your dog on a regular basis. Think about what you want to achieve before you begin, so that you understand the training procedure needed. One of the biggest dog training mistakes is not giving things enough time.
Some more challenging training projects, such as teaching your dog intricate obedience exercises will take time. Likewise, discouraging your dog from chasing the neighbour’s cat, could take months to achieve, using classical conditioning techniques.
Therefore, patience is key. Dog training does not generally involve ‘quick fixes’ – avoid trainers who believe this to be so. Of course, some behaviours like sit, down, paw – can be taught in a matter of minutes. However, more complex behaviours will take time.
Always end training sessions on a good note and if you feel you are not getting anywhere, stop and try again another time. It’s a mistake to allow yourself to become angry with your dog for their apparent lack of understanding. Think about how you might be confusing your dog and begin again another day.
Anticipation and Timing.
Another one of those pesky dog training mistakes, is not observing dogs well enough. Learning to anticipate your dog’s next move is a skill you need to try and develop in dog training.
In doing so, you will get faster results. Rather than react to your dog after the event, try and begin to read their body language. Anticipating what they might do next, makes your training more effective.
For example, rather than correcting your dog for non-stop barking at the door, try and watch their behaviour and react to signals before they start the full blown behaviour.
For example, at the point when the dog is just thinking about it charging for the door. They may jump up, twitch their ears, or growl – all these signs could be interrupted, before they get to the stage of throwing themselves at the front door!
In such scenarios, you will find it so much more difficult to control the behaviour and training may be more challenging as a result. Once your dog is already over-aroused, or in full flight, you might be tempted to shout, or grab. However, this is quite likely to increase the intensity of the response. Try and intervene positively before the dog reaches that stage.
If you have difficulty with timing your rewards, get started with clicker training – it’s ideal for novice handlers and dogs. The clicker tells the dog the exact moment he has done the correct behaviour and that a treat is coming. Its easy to learn and results are fast – especially good for all the basic cues, as well as more complex behaviour issues.
Generalising Training too soon.
One of the most frequent laments from owners attending training classes, – (usually as their dog bolts round the training hall with deaf ears! ) – is, “but he does it at home”.
Training your dog to sit, stay, or come when called at home, might be successful. However, this does not mean they will do the same in a different environment, or under distraction. Yes, it is really important to begin training new behaviours in a quiet and familiar environment. However, once they understand in this environment – slowly introduce distractions and move to different locations.
Eventually, you can be reasonably sure your dog will do as you ask, in all sorts of situations. But always make sure you gradually increase distractions. Once your dog is reliably coming back when called at home, don’t jump to trying it while your dog is playing with others in the park – grade distractions up slowly. Trying to run before you can walk, is another one of those classic dog training mistakes – one which even seasoned dog trainers don’t always get right.
Repeating Requests.
One of the more common mistakes made by trainers is constantly repeating commands (cues). If you have to ask your dog to, “sit, sit, sit, sit, SIT!!” and they only sit on the fifth command you are effectively teaching them to stall his response.
In the beginning, you can lure your dog. Hold a treat above their head. As soon as their bottom touches the floor say “sit” and then praise.
If your dog ignores you when you ask them to do something, they either don’t understand the command, or they are too distracted.
By nagging your dog, you are ultimately teaching them to be unreliable and to ‘zone out’ of your incessant requests!
Consistency.
Try to be consistent towards your dog. Remember which cue words you want to use and stick to them. If you are able to stay patient one day, but then lose your cool the next, your dog may become unsettled by your unpredictability. They may start to feel nervous about how to behave around you. Keep cool, calm and consistent at all times.
Blaming the dog.
It is very easy to blame the dog for any lack of progress when it comes to training. However, try to remember you are the human teacher and they a dog. Try and see things from their point of view.
Dogs are not stupid, or naughty – they are, in fact, very good at learning very complex behaviours. It’s always humans who tend to make mistakes when it comes to dog training and behaviour 🙂
There are specific and scientific ways to train dogs too. It is crucial that any training methods are reward based and positive. Aversive, harsh treatment will almost certainly destroy your chances of successfully training your dog.
Always remember to give your dog a break and cut them some slack from time to time. Dogs will be dogs – and will naturally behave in species appropriate ways – (even if that doesn’t always fit our agenda). With this in mind, you will forge a much better understanding and relationship with your loyal friend.
If you need further help with your dog’s behaviour, contact your vet for referral to a behaviourist – or sign up to one of our pet courses. For training clubs, contact the Kennel Club.
