The Top 10 Dog Training Mistakes

Folks who are new to training their dogs generally love their pets but make some well-meaning mistakes.  Here are the top ten dog training mistakes that we've all probably made.

#1 - Expecting Too Much from Your Dog

Just because your neighbor's dog will sit, stay, catch or otherwise behave obedient and well trained, your dog will not automatically behave the same way.  It takes years to have a perfectly trained dog.

 #2 - Giving Up on Your Dog's Training

Generally, those of us who expect too much give up when nothing seems to happen.  It takes a great deal of patience and commitment to train your dog to the level that you expect.

#3 - Being Inconsistent with Your Dog Training

If you tell your dog not to jump on you when you are in your business suit and expect him to mind, don’t let him jump on you when you are wearing your sweatpants, either. Dogs don't know the difference.  Consistent training is important if you want a well-trained dog.

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#4 - Forgetting the Treats

Your dog will need a great deal of positive reinforcement for doing well.  Rewards need to be consistent, just like the training. An animal that receives correction but no rewards will begin to do the wrong behavior just to get some type of attention.

#5 - Giving Too Much Discipline

Constantly watching for your dog to make mistakes and then giving too much negative reinforcement or correction is self-defeating. With effective dog training, discipline needs to be balanced with rewards.

#6 - Your Dog Can't Multi-task

Trying to teach a dog to do something it was never meant to do will never work. This problem is more prevalent with dog owners who want a 'sport' dog to go hunting with them. They try to make a general purpose, multitasking animal and end up with a confused and agitated dog.  Some dogs just were not meant for some jobs. You can’t ask a Dachshund to be a fox hound and you wouldn’t ask a Great Dane to go into a rabbit den.

#7 - Following Through with Your Dog's Training Lessons

Mistake number seven is not following through with the training routine until your dog has learned the lesson.  Dogs love to learn and will learn by repetition. However, these lessons must be followed consistently to their conclusion.  If you spend an all day session on a Monday training your pet, but then do not do any training for the next two weeks, your dog will have most likely forgot the initial lesson.

#8 - Too Many Dog Training Techniques

While it's important to learn from other trainers' experiences, using everything you hear can be detrimental. Each trainer has different ideas of how things should be done and trying to incorporate all of them will frustrate both you and your pet. Choose a method that works for you, be consistent, and you will see much better results.

#9 - Apathy Defeats Dog Training 

All too often a pet owner says, "I hate this about my dog but it’s just too difficu lt to change him."  Frustrated, the dog training becomes half hearted and inconsistent. Changes can be made and, if your dog sees that changes bring rewards, he will respond much quicker to a direct and firm approach.

#10 - Dog Training is Never Complete

The final major mistake we all make is thinking that the dog training is over. Training is a learning process and it is never complete. Your dog may learn a behavior and know it well. So why stop there? Your dog loves to learn and you are a good trainer. Encourage your dog to be the best that it can be!

More Dog Training Resources

The above dog training errors are common and we all make them.  The key to being able to stick with a dog training program is to have fun with it!  Your dog loves to play and if the dog training becomes fun, he'll enjoy learning new things. Take a look at some dog training books if you're looking for specific advice and tips.

"The Top 10 Dog Training Mistakes," contributed by Carl Johnnsen