Dog Training Techniques: The 18 DON’T Rules to Successful Dog Training
Dog training entails a lot of hard work and discipline in your part. As the leader of the pack, you should spare some time to teach your dog how to behave well and refrain from doing anything destructive that might cost you a lot of money (or even your patience!).
Still, we cannot escape from the fact that dog training is serious, stressful work that will take a lot mental and emotional toll. At some point, we become frustrated to the extent of doing something drastic to teach our dog basic concepts such as taking a leak or avoiding the urge to bark during the night.
In any case, you might want to keep your cool and avoid doing anything that will hurt your dog and even yourself.
Here are the 18 Don’t’s of dog training that can help you achieve better outcomes.
- Do not kick or shove your dog. Control yourself or your dog will have the right reasons to take a bite out of your shin.
- Do not hurt your dog with any training aid.
- Do not grab your dog from behind. This will only indicate a sense of danger in which your dog may consider fighting back.
- When teaching your dog to come, just keep your cool. Do not, in any situation, chase after your dog just to teach him this trick!
- Do not, in any way, call your dog and punish him with a leash. He will lose trust in you and will not hesitate to bite you back.
- Do not taunt your dog, or even calling him names because he is “incapable of showing any emotion.” This assumption is wrong and every way and it will only show how bad a dog trainer you are.
- Do not press on your dog’s paws, twist his ears, and pinch his face. It’s inhumane.
- Do not grab your dog to the point that it will cause him to distrust his master.
- Do not shout at your dog. Seriously, it does nothing but turn your dog against you.
- Do not compliment your dog for a good job and later punishing him for doing the same. As much as possible, be consistent. Teach him only the right things and not the things that will only invite punishment.
- Do not start a training session when your dog has just finished eating.
- Do not kick or throw a puppy no matter how frustrating it is. Never lift a puppy by the neck and the head, or even the leg.
- Do not train your dog tricks that require a lot from him. Wait until he has gained the much needed strength, and only then can you train him to do these.
- Do not deprive your dog of rest and play. Training can become stressful, so give them some measure of time to relax and unwind.
- Do not let anyone teach your dog to follow their commands. Your relationship with your dog trumps anyone’s and you should assert your role as the master and the leader of the pack.
- Do not focus solely on tricks. Focus also on teaching your dog to behave.
- Do not assume that dog training will take your weeks. Actually, it’s a long term process that involves a lot of hard work on your part.
- Do not believe that your dog is stupid. He is capable of following and of thinking on how own. Just give him time and help him figure things out.
Remember these rules and you and your dog will be well on your way towards achieving success!
