Dog Training Miscues to Avoid
No dog owner wants to see his pet end up caged or permanently exiled to the backyard. Dogs are social in nature and best characterized by their necessity for attention. They become devoted to their owners; the need to please their masters is inherent in dogs. As pack animals, dogs gain a sense of completeness and fulfillment when they have pleased their pack master. You, as the owner, are exactly that — the leader. This esteemed position is accompanied by a responsibility to train them.
Many dog owners make the mistake of yelling at their dogs or chastising them in a fashion that can upset them. As an owner, you must first realize that hurting your pet will not result in the training response you desire. Dogs are capable of resentment and this should be kept in mind. Do away with sanction-based and behavior modification training.
Training your dog should begin when the dog is still a puppy. Postponing dog training, believing your puppy is beyond comprehension of your teachings, is a mistake that will result in unwanted behaviors. It won't take long for you to realize your puppy has developed habits it stubbornly refuses to quit. The puppy won't cooperate, and its behavior (which you've reinforced through your laxness) will become a horrible experience for the entire household.
Attention is paramount at this stage of a dog's development. If you witness your dog devouring an article of clothing or gnawing at a piece of furniture, it must immediately be reprimanded and informed of its wrongdoing. Tolerance, as with humans, is the predecessor to acceptance — an indication that destructive behavior is the norm and not unwanted. Assuming the dog will later understand what you expect of it — in terms of right and wrong — is totally false. Like children, to impress upon a dog your true disapproval of their actions, confrontation is best served at the very onset of the inappropriate action or behavior.
We already know that dogs aim to please and you must utilize this desire to your advantage. When training your dog if he exhibits a preferable behavior, you must associate that behavior with positive feedback. Many dog owners and trainers do this by offering treats of some sort. This is highly recommended since dogs enjoy food to the point of near gluttony. In the absence of food you can reward your canine friend with praise of many kinds. Dogs enjoy high-pitched voices, being patted, or cuddled (hugs are the cheapest gift). Following an acceptable act by the dog in question, show your praise immediately. Whatever method used to express your appreciation, the dog will then associate its actions with a positive reward.
Don't neglect good behavior. When dogs behave appropriately and are left unrewarded, you are simply inviting them to act otherwise. This ideal is especially important when training puppies. They can hardly distinguish right from wrong, and in the early stages of development they are especially impressionable in this regard. Take advantage of this and the majority of your training progress should be made here. Young dogs, like young minds, are much more malleable than their counterparts.
Wrongfully rewarding a dog is another mistake many owners make. Overlooking your four-legged friend's smiling muzzle — even when it's unacceptably begging at the dinner table — is harder for some than others. Many give in, only to offer the scraps as desired by their diligent companion. This is a mistake, and you end up reinforcing your pup's negative actions. Begging to them becomes an acceptable behavior without undesired consequences. Do you want your dog hovering at the dinner table when guests are present?
Many behaviors went unmentioned in this article, but dogs are often as imaginative as people and can develop any number of annoying and potentially destructive habits. If your home has multiple occupants, whether familial or college roomies, all must be made aware of what it is you expect of your dog. Dog training is a collaborative effort that can easily be foiled by one individual. The ultimate goal, an obedient and well-mannered animal, must be shared by the family or home's occupants if success is expected.
Have a great "dog training" day,
Dr. Alfonso
