Every competent puppy or dog trainer follows clear principles to make their training effective. However, some do not succeed in training their puppy. The most common mistakes people make when training their puppy will now be discussed.
1. They don’t set themselves up as the leader of the pack.
One effective method of dog training is based on our knowledge of the instinctive way dogs behave within a pack. Dominance is a principle the pack adheres to. The alpha pair are at the top of the hierachy within the pack.
They are the first to eat, they lead the hunt and when they sleep, they take the higher ground.
To be successful in dog training, we need to position ourselves as the leader of the dog pack. This can be done by not allowing your puppy onto higher ground such as beds and sofas. Also make sure you eat a small amount of food before you give your puppy his food. This is to allow him clearly to see you eat first.
A calm and assertive manner is important for successful training. As leader of the pack you must not be anxious or indecisive.
2. They don’t understand and use the concept of positive reinforcement.
We must clearly understand that we must reinforce wanted behaviors in our dog by giving treats or praising the instant our dog does the behavior. We can associate a verbal command with the behavior as it occurs and give a reward immediately after it.
Negative reinforcement such as shouting at a dog or punishing him in some way is nevertheless giving the dog attention and since he wants attention, the attention can act as a positive reinforcement rather than a negative one. It has been found to be ineffective. What is effective is to ignore the dog when it engages in an unwanted behavior. We may need to physically intervene if we need to stop some destruction going on, but we should keep the same calm and assertive manner and not give any more attention than we have to.
3. They make dog obedience training sessions too long.
Sessions are best kept brief so that your puppy’s energy and attention are good. It is best for puppy to learn in short bouts. We should make the sessions only ten minutes for young puppies and up to twenty minutes for older ones.
4. They do not fully understand the amount of time and energy required to train a puppy.
Puppy training requires a commitment of time and energy in order to be successful. The owner will need to have great patience and to be persistent. He will also need to be very consistent.
5. They think that training only occurs during an organized training session.
Training is an ongoing process, not only in training sessions but all the time. The owner needs to ensure that everyone who comes into contact with the puppy always behave in a consistent manner i.e. to always reinforce positive behaviors and ignore undesired behaviors.
It is important to keep training sessions fun and enjoyable for your puppy. They should never become a chore.
Posted under dog training, puppies
This post was written by admin on February 5, 2009
