Five Reasons Your Dog Training May Not Be Going So Well

Stumped in dog training? Don't be discouraged. It happens. Training your dog is a process that takes a lot out of you -- a lot of time, a lot of effort, maybe even a lot of emotion. It's easy to become discouraged over your training, especially when your efforts seem to be fruitless. Here are a few suggestions as to why your training process may have experienced a decline.

1. You have no clue what you're doing. You may have gone into your training process thinking, "Hey, this is simple! I know how to do this! It's going to be a snap!" Now, it's not so snappy, simple, or easy. Maybe it's time to do some Internet searches, read some books, or attend some classes. Arm yourself with lots of knowledge about canine training, which, as it turns out, is kind of complicated.

2. You aren't consistent. Teach with consistency. If you give your dog a treat for the right behavior, reward her again.Proper training is built on the principal of conditioning. If you lack consistency in your training technique, you will not see results. Consistency in training will produce consistent results.

3. You aren't training with regularity. In order to be effective, you must regularly train your dog. Make it your goal to train twice daily -- once in the morning, and once in the late afternoon or evening. Soon, your dog will come to expect and enjoy these regular sessions together.

4. You aren't using reinforcement. Dogs are not purely verbal learners. They need reinforcement. Purchase a big bag of mouth-watering treats, and you're in possession of your best training tool.Treats, the primary reinforcement in training, are essential. You may also wish to purchase a clicker as a conditioned reinforcement. The clicker provides an immediate feedback cue that signals to your dog that he or she has done something right at a specific moment in time.

5. You aren't repeating things, and repeating them again, and again, and again. If treats are the primary reinforcement in training your dog, then repetition is a close second. A dog won't learn obedience the first time, or the second time, or probably even the third. In order to learn, the dog must experience repeated lessons. You may get bored of the same lesson, but this repetition is crucial for your dog's successful training.

Finally, training takes time -- a lot of it. It's a test of endurance. Sometimes, quite frankly, it can be tiring. Don't give up. You're going to see success. It may just take a while. Your dog training may not be going well right now, but give it a few months. Take the long-term perspective, and enjoy the journey. The destination is worth it.

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