There are so many dog training methods on the market right now that it is nearly impossible to know which will work best. And when it comes to training your dog there are so many mistakes that are simple to make but can have long lasting effects. Avoid these seven common mistakes when training your dog.
Don’t Nag
Just like your husband, asking your dog a million times to do a certain command won’t work. Your dog will not get it after the fiftieth time. Try recreating your method of teaching your dog the command. Along with that, when it comes to basic commands, telling your dog to sit a thousand times won’t make them do it. What it takes is time and practice to get your dog on the right path. The Dog Trainer Houston always says, practice makes perfect.
Raising Your Voice
Your dog will not respond well to you raising your voice. There is no value in getting upset or yelling. It only adds more confusion to the whole situation. If you are feeling frustrated or raising your voice then take a break. Your dog will only get scared and not know how to respond. If you find yourself frustrated, check out how to do positive reinforcement training. Positive Reinforcement is always a better working method.
Not Enough Breaks
Just like humans, dogs need a little time to process the instructions they are being given. So if your dog is continuously not getting a command, it may be time to give your dog a mental break. This will give your dog a few moments or overnight to process the experience.
Not Enough Information
If your dog is continuously acting confused or not getting the command right then consider that you are not giving him enough information. Confusion is the number one reason a dog will fail a command. Most dogs are looking for you to be happy with them. So consider trying a different tactic to teach the same command if your dog seems to just not be getting it.
Getting Mad
Getting frustrated with your dog really only worsens the problem. A dog doesn’t try to make you angry and when you act angry toward your dog it scares them. Similar to a scared child, it is hard to learn when you are in constant fear of your owner.
Abusing the Clicker or Shocker
A clicker or shocker is there to let your dog know that they are doing the wrong thing. But if you use it too much then it loses its value. The dog doesn’t know what it means anymore or it doesn’t have the same effect.
Not Getting a Professional Involved
When you decide to get a dog or puppy, it is a huge time and monetary commitment. Some people just don’t want to spend the money on training. But by the time the dog is older and has habits ingrained it is kind of too late. It is harder to train those habits out. So the guys and gals at Dog Trainer Houston beg you to get your dog in dog training classes the minute that you have him. There are many classes available from sitting and basic commands to training to do tricks. Get a professional involved.
Conclusion
A dog is a big investment. Owners can become frustrated when they are trying to train their dog to be well behaved. Instead of being frustrated get a trainer involved to help you. They can help you train out behaviors or just to train basic commands. A dog is an investment. Invest wisely.