Mistakes made by humans who train us

I had to share this, cuz, that is what humans do, they train us and so often they make mistakes doing so. I know my human mum is forever training me, never  giving up, and she has learned along the way. i am not the easiest pup to train. I think i am too smart as it is, and that can be to a disadvantage to mum who is trying to have the….leader role!

The following is a guest post, by Caroline Casey.

Dog owners who attempt to train their dogs themselves may fall into common mistakes due to the fact that they fail to comprehend that dogs are social animals that rely on their humans (or pack leaders) to show them how to behave.

okay, i am ready to be trained!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   What now?

Failing to understand this fundamental aspect of dog psychology makes many dog owners fail in their dog training methods. Here are the top five training mistakes dog owners generally make:

Inconsistency: It is very important to be consistent while training a dog. The same commands and criteria should be used consistently if the dog is to understand what is required of him. Inconsistency only serves to confuse the dog which not only leads to poor training; it can also cause the dog a lot of stress as well. Being consistent while housetraining a puppy or teaching basic commands is vital.

[ mum knows to say “come kaley” and mean for me to come, to her, and not come after five more, “come kaleys”  … mum learned early on, if i do not come the first time, she  calls, she goes to get me and then makes me come, with hand in collar.  She then lets go and tells me to come and expects me to come on my own.  Sometimes i have attitude, and i  test mum!]

Impatience: Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to dog training. Some owners lose their tempers with their dogs and this only serves to confuse the dog further. Dogs respond to positive reinforcement better than harsh training methods. Rewarding a dog for good behavior is far more productive than constantly punishing him for unwanted behavior. Plus, focusing on the negative behavior can reinforce the undesired behavior because the dog interprets the attention as a good thing.

[small steps, small steps,  mum knows to  do things in small steps, and be  consistent.  It does no good to teach and expect the certain good behavior and other times to let me slide on it…..]

Timing: Believe it or not, timing is an important factor in dog training. Many people wait a too long to begin training their puppy. The fact is, you can start molding puppy behavior about the same time you bring him across your threshold. Puppy training is an art in itself but attention span and willingness will deviate from puppy to puppy, and all efforts should be short and fun.

[timing is also important to tell us we are good….if i do a good thing, she tells me i am good immediately, not  ten seconds later………………………..mum wishes she trained me earlier as pup for better recall and to not wander.  i was given so much pup freedom, since we lived in the woods, far from city streets…. Mum can not stress enough, training pup at very early age the rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Food Rewards: Some dog owners rely on treats to get behavior. Most dogs love treats, and many will do everything they possibly can to get the reward. However, giving your dog too many treats is not only bad for them but can create problems. Rewarding your dog during training requires consistency and clear goals. Gradually decrease treat giving and only offer treats for a job exceptionally well done. Keeping the dog in anticipation makes him sharper and more engaged in the training session. Additionally, there are numerous things that can be use as rewards besides food. Try gentle stroking, rubbing the belly, play, or use verbal praise as variations.

lil bags of my kibble… that is plenty of reward for me to do anything mum wants!

[i love food, you can disregard this hint…. hehehe…..actually mum gives me small treats so i not get fat,  sometimes the nicer treats…sometimes my food kibble…..  sometimes the nicer treats for the hard  behavior training……but all the time, i am told i am…’good kaley’.

Punishment on Recall: This is one of the most common mistakes many dog owners do when training their dog. Never, ever, under any circumstances call your dog to punish or scold him. This will only make him more reluctant to come when called. When you punish a dog after you call him, he learns to avoid coming to you because he gets punished for doing so.

did i hear a…”kaley come!”?

[Mum knows this all so well…even when i run off and she finds me…….she never scolds me…she tells me to come and tells me how good i am to come….. she does not stress on the fact, i ran off, or was gone for a long time or across the street or…….she  just tells me what a good girl i am to come to her.]

kaley corgi kisses!!!… training is so part of my everyday life, it is good to know the proper way…makes so i understand mum easier!…good luck in understanding, all the training your humans do with you.

full story here