Some Common Mistakes In Training Your Dog

Probably any dog owner can tell you that training your dog isn't always as easy as it seems it should be. Most owners assume that after a few days or sessions of rehearsing commands and actions then the dog should just pick up on basic skills and that should be it.

And you may well discover that the training, which you thought would be a quick and easy task, actually takes you much longer than you had expected. But this is not always the fault of the dog, most often the fault lies with the owner.

For one thing, it's good to remember that training your dog should be a positive experience for you and your dog. It's too easy for owners to get caught up in every little "mistake" that a dog makes and concentrates on punishing these mistakes rather than concentrating on rewarding a dog when she obeys or does something right

It's a very common mistake when training your dog to forget how much dogs crave that attention and approval from the owner and will do just about anything to get it. Concentrating on that, rather than on punishment, is going to be much more effective.

And another common mistake that a lot of owners make is in thinking that your dog understands English. They don't, all they can do is to associate a few words with certain actions.

Its no good yelling at them if they do something wrong, as they will probably not connect your yelling with their mistake. Just show kindness, and patience.

Don't make the mistake when training your dog of getting upset if she doesn't understand you or continues to make the same mistake if you're not catching her right then and there. Punishing her after the fact is pointless and ineffective.

And the final mistake which a lot of people make is in getting mad at your dog when they do not make the progress which you expect of them. Having too high an expectation is not a good thing when dog training, as it can only lead to anger and frustration. If you find yourself heading this way, then its time to call in a professional trainer.

A professional trainer may be able to identify any problem straight away, and, more importantly, may know just how to fix it.