Dog School

Probably any dog owner can tell you that training your dog isn’t always as easy as it seems it should be. Most owners assume that after a few days or sessions of rehearsing commands and actions then the dog should just pick up on basic skills and that should be it. Many owners are surprised to find out that training your dog can take literally months depending on the dog, the owner, and what exactly is being taught. However sometimes there are common mistakes that dog owners make that are causing the process to take much longer and be much more difficult than it needs to be.

For one thing, it’s good to remember that training your dog should be a positive experience for you and your dog. It’s too easy for owners to get caught up in every little “mistake” that a dog makes and concentrates on punishing these mistakes rather than concentrating on rewarding a dog when she obeys or does something right. It’s a very common mistake when training your dog to forget how much dogs crave that attention and approval from the owner and will do just about anything to get it. Concentrating on that, rather than on punishment, is going to be much more effective.

Another common mistake that you may be making when training your dog is thinking that you dog understands a word you’re saying! Too many owners fail to realize that dogs have no memory and no grasp of language except to associate a few words with certain actions. If a dog has made a mess and you start yelling at her, she won’t be able to connect your yelling with her mess. You need to actually catch a dog in the act of doing something wrong in order to properly correct her as she just cannot connect your words now with something she’s done five hours ago or even five minutes ago. Don’t make the mistake when training your dog of getting upset if she doesn’t understand you or continues to make the same mistake if you’re not catching her right then and there. Punishing her after the fact is pointless and ineffective.

And the last mistake you may be making when training your dog is getting excessively angry at her when she doesn’t make the progress you think she should be making. Dogs are not spiteful and don’t do things purposely to make you mad, so if she’s not progressing as you think she should, either your expectations are unreasonable, you are making some other mistakes in training, or it’s time to see a professional trainer. There’s nothing wrong with asking a professional to help with training your dog and a pro may be able to show you some other mistakes you’re making or help to readjust your expectations. Either way, by asking for this help in training your dog you’re sure to not only be more successful but to also have a happier and calmer dog as well.

Virtually every pet owner will need to have their dog stay in a crate at one time or another. This might be for transportation purposes or for small periods of time when no one will be home to look after her. Dog crate training can be difficult at times but can be made worse by the owner that doesn’t take the right approach to it either. On the other hand, if done right, dog crate training can be very manageable for even the most stubborn of dogs. Here are some quick tips on how to do this right.

First of all, make sure your crate is the right size for your dog. Most dogs like crates because they want to sleep in something small; this makes them feel secure, the way most humans like a blanket or sheet over them when they sleep. But a crate that’s too small is dangerous and painful. The dog should be able to walk all the way around the crate with ease and should not need to dip her head while in the crate. All the effort put into dog crate training will be wasted if the crate itself is so small that the dog hates being there. And of course they won’t feel secure in a crate that’s too big, so don’t go overboard in the other direction either. Most pet stores these days allow you to bring your dog inside and this can be helpful when choosing a crate; the salesperson can typically assist in recommending a size for your dog.

Be sure to make dog crate training something that isn’t very traumatizing to your dog, especially at first. Simply forcing her inside and locking the door won’t do anything to help her feel comfortable in the crate. When dog crate training be sure to prepare the crate with a comfortable bed or blanket and some toys. Many trainers also recommend you put in one of your shirts that hasn’t been washed; this way the dog has your scent with her while she’s in the crate. You can also sit with her while training; this means she won’t associate the crate with being alone or abandoned.

Another good tip is to wear out your dog during the day when dog crate training. Give her a long walk or take her to the park and play with her for as long as possible. If she’s very tired at night she won’t be as likely to whine or cry when put into her crate. This way too she’ll associate the crate with a good night’s sleep and won’t be so hesitant to use it.

Dog crate training need not be difficult for dogs or owners; it’s actually much like getting a child to stay in bed. There may be some crying and resistance at first, but if you approach dog crate training with a positive attitude and make it as comfortable for the dog as possible it should go much smoother.