3 Common Dog Training Mistakes

Do you make any of these common mistakes?

Although there are plenty of strategies that have been formed to train dogs, many people agree that there are a few principles to follow in almost every case. As our awareness of dogs and their behavior expands, these principles are reinforced, but we also learn some of the wrong ways to train dogs. Because dogs simply don't respond to some types of training, it's important for you to know these so that you don't make the same kind of mistakes.

Mistake #1: Taking out your frustration on the dog.

Dogs respond intuitively to human behavior. Having been bred alongside humans for thousands of years, many dog breeds are simply wired to work well with humans, giving them the title of "man's best friend." But because dogs have this kind of intuition, we expect too much from them. Remember: your dog doesn't speak English. Although a few key words - like the dog's name - will be picked up over time, you simply can't let yourself get frustrated because a dog doesn't respond to you.

Frustration leads to many more dog training mistakes, so nip it in the bud. Have some patience and understand that the dog might even be trying the best that it can.

Mistake #2: Treating the dog like a human friend.

Dog's might be "man's best friend," but that doesn't mean a dog should be your best friend. Sure, many people get dogs because they like their loyalty, friendship, and the bond that forms. But it ends there. A dog cannot replace a human being in your life, and you shouldn't treat a dog like a person.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't treat your dog with respect. It simply means you treat it as it is: your dog. Respect your dog as a dog, and the clearly-defined roles in the house will be much healthier for you and your pets.

Mistake #3: Lack of persistence.

Ask yourself one question: is it easy for you to pick up a new habit right away? No? Then why should you expect that a dog will?

Dogs need conditioning, just like people, in order to change their habits. If you want to instill your dog with a good habit, then tackle that habit with persistence on a daily basis. The dogs will eventually know when it's "time to walk," for example, and will eventually respond much more attentively.

If you avoid these three mistakes, you'll be well on your way to understanding how to train your dog. Just remember to be patient and persistent when you try to teach your dog how to behave and you should do absolutely fine.

Photo Credits: MoonSoleil

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