Let me ask you a few questions. Are you dragging your dog down the street on walks? Is your puppy running away and refusing to listen? Do you struggle with a badly behaved dog, who has no manners?
Well, what do you do in such a scenario? Do you change your training method or do you continue with what you have been doing?
Let’s be honest, having an untrained dog is an absolute nightmare. Even worse if you have no idea how to train your puppy.
And the most important part to remember here is the following. It is not your dog’s fault he is behaving badly. Your puppy doesn’t know any better. And this can make life difficult for you and your canine companion. Not to mention, impossible to live with.
Today, we will talk about a few reasons why you fail in dog training and how you can fix it.
Reason No.1 – Consistence
This is one of the main reasons why people fail in dog training. We call it consistency and consistence. It is the same way with babies. The good cop and bad cop routine works only for so much. You cannot have mom said this, but dad said this. What is the rule is the rule, no matter if mom said it or dad said it.
It is the same way with your puppy. You have to set boundaries and make all family members stick to them and respect your boundaries.
Let’s mention one example, begging for food. If you do not let your puppy beg for food, nobody should. If your dog learns that he can beg out food from your other half, or from your parents (grandparents are the worst, right?), it is game over. Your pet doesn’t understand that begging doesn’t work in one house but works in another. He thinks it works everywhere.
Consistency is very important in raising a well-trained puppy. Dogs do not understand the difference between your table and your parent’s table. Or between your couch and someone else’s couch. The table is the table and the couch is the couch.
So, to make sure you have a well-trained and well-behaved puppy, sit down with your family members and explain them the boundaries. And when your friends come over, tell them what they can and cannot do with your dog.
If not, you are setting up your dog to fail. You create misunderstanding and confusion in your pooch.
Reason No.2 – Not fully committed to your puppy
I am probably not the first person to tell you this, but your dog can read you like a book. The moment he reads your energy and how you feel about them, they act in that way.
So, for example, if you are not truly committed to solving a training problem, you cannot fix the problem. The professional term is “conditional acceptance”.
Don’t say things like, “If this doesn’t get fixed, he is out of there”. Truly commit to solving a problem. Any behavior can be changed. That is, as long as you are committed to solving the problem.
Let me give you an example. Milo had a problem when he was little understanding he should not chase cats. It was his instinct, but we have worked on it for so long. I didn’t want him to chase cats, for starters, it is not safe. A cat might turn around and grab him. So, we desensitize every time we pass a cat, and now he just passes by them.
Reason No.3 – Not Understanding your dog
People think all dogs are the same. Wrong. There are different breeds and different instincts. For example, herding dogs love to herd, be it people, toys, or anything else. Hound dogs love to sniff and search. Retriever breeds love to retrieve.
If you do not understand your dog’s breed and its instincts, you cannot train your puppy. The best way to train a puppy is to use its instinct to your advantage.
Sadly, many people get a dog without reading anything about that breed. And nowadays, there are so many articles where you can read about a different breed. Just understand your dog’s history, instincts, and behavior, and you will have a higher chance of succeeding in your dog training.
Why should you put the effort into training?
Obviously, you want a well-trained dog. But that is a broad term we use. Do you know what all the benefits of having a well-mannered puppy are? Let me give you a quick summary.
- You create a closer bond with your puppy
- You can easily manage your dog when outside
- Getting more pleasure from dog ownership
- Working regularly with your puppy helps you understand its needs
- Training your dog is a great exercise for you
- A well-trained puppy can go anywhere with you
- It increases the safety of your dog
- Allows your dog to be more sociable
- Obedience is fun, and you should make it fun
- Pet ownership takes less time, energy, and resources to be pleasant and joyful
- You can take your puppy to the dog park, where you can socialize with other owners and grow your community
