Dog Training Mistakes

Has your dog been thoroughly trained yet? If not, we would strongly advise that you see to this as soon as possible. Proper training isn’t just about teaching Fido good manners. It’s actually crucial to his safety, as well as the safety of any people or pets he interacts with. While you don’t need to be a professional to teach your furry friend basics such as Sit and Stay, it is important to approach training seriously and to use proper techniques. Read on as a local Louisa, VA vet lists some of the most common dog training mistakes.

Being Inconsistent

Teaching Fido his commands isn’t the only aspect of his training. You’ll also need to teach him some basic petiquette as well. This could mean anything from staying off the couch to not jumping on your brother when he comes over. Whatever you choose, always be consistent. Don’t let your canine companion sleep in your bed one night, then reprimand him for it the next. That will just teach your pup that it doesn’t matter whether he obeys you or not. That’s definitely not the mindset you are going for! 

Not Using Positive Reinforcement

There are many different techniques for training dogs. We always always always encourage people to avoid ones that use negative reinforcement. Using fear or pain as motivation will backfire in the long run, and may make your canine buddy frightened of you. Focus on rewarding your cute pet for getting things right, rather than fixating on his mistakes.

This is also important for your canine pal’s perception of training. You want Fido to think of ‘school’ as fun!

Boring Your Dog

Dogs don’t have very long attention spans … except, of course, when they are watching their humans cook burgers or other yummy foods. Fido probably will start to lose interest in training after about ten or fifteen minutes. Some pups may not even make it that long! That’s fine. You can break up your pet’s training curriculum into multiple short sessions.

If you go to a class, that will likely take longer. However, Fido probably won’t be in the spotlight the whole time. He’ll also get lots of breaks.

Improper Class Curriculum

Man’s Best Friend is capable of learning all sorts of tricks and commands, including some very precise and complex ones. However, not all dogs need to know how to fetch mail or turn lights off and on.

There are a few basic orders that your canine pal absolutely should know, though. The fundamental dog obedience commands include Sit, Stay Down, Heel, and Lay Down. Drop It and Leave it are also very useful. Work on these first before moving on to complex commands or cute tricks.

Confusing Your Dog

Did you know that dogs can learn over 165 words? That’s quite a lot. However, that doesn’t mean that they understand our actual language. To Fido, ‘Sit’ doesn’t mean the same thing as ‘Fido, go sit down right now!’ as he doesn’t have the ability to put context to it using other words.

Always use the same words or phrases when talking to your pet.

Not Testing Fido

It’s important for you to make sure that your dog is actually obeying commands, and not just doing whatever he thinks is going to get him a treat. Test your pet out by putting him through his paces in different scenarios. For instance, have a friend with a dog come over, and see if Fido will still obey with his buddy around.

Overfeeding

We mentioned earlier about the importance of using positive reinforcement. Praise and pets are of course big parts of that. However, treats will really seal the deal. You want your furry friend to form a positive connection between performing the task or command you instruct him to and his reward.

However, you’ll have to be careful here. You don’t want to use large treats, as then you may end up overfeeding your adorable student. Training snacks are ideal. After all, they are made for this. You can also use thin slices of hot dogs or bits of shredded deli meat. Just stick with safe options. Ask your vet for more information. 

Not Having Fun

Training Fido is important for both his safety and the safety of all people and animals around him. That means it is pretty serious business. However, that old adage about all work and no play applies to our canine companions, too! It’s important to make training fun for both of you. Be cheerful, and incorporate lots of praise and cuddles. 

Our canine friends are extremely perceptive, and they can definitely pick up on our moods. You should only work with your furry pal when you’re feeling cheerful. If you’re stressed, sad, or angry, your pooch will quickly sense it.

Of course, hanging out with your dog is a great mood boost if you are having a bad day. Many pups will try to comfort their humans if they sense something is wrong. That’s fine! Fido’s unconditional love is one of the reasons he is such a precious gift. 

Time It Right

You want to work with your pet at around the same time every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Ideally, you’ll want to pick a time when your furry buddy still has some energy but isn’t full of zoomies. If Fido is raring to go for a walk, he probably won’t pay too much attention. You also won’t have much luck getting through to your adorable student if he falls asleep halfway through class.

Distractions

Choose a place where your furry friend won’t have much to focus on, other than you. If there’s a cat, squirrel, or cheeseburger in the vicinity, you may have a hard time getting your pup to focus on his schoolwork.

Giving Up

Our canine friends are all different, and some do pick things up more quickly than others. If you get stumped, don’t throw in the towel. That isn’t going to help either you or your dog. In fact, in the long run, you could end up with a pooch with behavioral issues. If you feel that you’ve hit a wall, reach out to a professional behaviorist.

Not Refreshing

Even after your canine pal has finished his basic obedience commands, have him run through his repertoire now and then. This is great for your dog’s self-confidence. It’s also a good way for you to make sure that the training has stuck.

Stopping Training

Who says you have to stop once your pup has learned the basics? Show Fido some cute tricks, or try advanced commands.

Make An Appointment At Our Veterinary Clinic

Do you need to bring your canine companion in? Is Fido due for an exam, vaccinations, or parasite control? Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if ever we can be of assistance. As your local pet clinic, we are here to help!