| Over the years I have seen my clients commit | | | | You have to understand that that your rate of |
| numerous dog training atrocities. Okay, I too have | | | | teaching your dog should be slow and steady. |
| committed my fair share. So let me share the benefit | | | | • Don’t get frustrated. There will surely be |
| of having seen some dog training mistakes that I | | | | times in your dog behavior training that you |
| have seen time and time again so that you can avoid | | | | aren’t going to like how things are going. If this |
| them. Here are some dog training don’ts. | | | | happens, stop the training session right away. Your |
| • Don’t yell at your dog. Too many dog | | | | frustration can cause you to want to force the issue |
| owners seem to feel that the degree in which a | | | | and end up taking two steps backward with your |
| voice is raised is directly in proportion to the level of | | | | progress. |
| dog obedience. This is not true. In fact it is my | | | | • Don’t forget to praise your dog. Dog |
| experience that the opposite is true. The more you | | | | training should be fun for both you and your dog. |
| raise your voice at your dog the more you condition | | | | Give your dog plenty of praise for performing |
| your dog to listen only when you are yelling. What | | | | correct behaviors. Dog training by nature is |
| happens then when you aren’t yelling? Better to | | | | oppressive; you are asking your dog to submit his will |
| never get in the habit. | | | | to yours. This can create stress. Praise is a great |
| • Don’t forget what you have learned. Apply | | | | way to alleviate that stress. A stress-free dog learns |
| dog training principles across the board. Too many | | | | quicker and has more fun. |
| times a dog owner will learn a new technique for a | | | | • Don’t be lazy. How many times have I been |
| dog training behavior and will apply it dutifully during | | | | to a client’s home after a weeks absence only |
| ‘training time’. But after training time, during | | | | to hear, “After that first day we really didn’t |
| ‘TV time’ or ‘cooking in the kitchen | | | | work on his training too much.” Owning a dog is |
| time’ that same principle gets swept under the | | | | a big time responsibility with dog training being one of |
| rug. What does your dog learn? He learns that he | | | | those major commitments. If you are going to own a |
| needs to be obedient only during ‘training | | | | dog, invest time in training. |
| time’ and every other time is open season. | | | | • Finally, don’t be too hard on yourself. With |
| • Don’t go too fast. Good dog training is | | | | dog training you will fail and you will succeed. Focus |
| done at the speed of dog. It takes a dog much | | | | more on your successes and less on your failures to |
| longer to form an association than it does a human. | | | | be able to have repeated and lasting success. |