Mistakes are synonymous among new trainers especially in their techniques and training process. This article will be focusing on the various conspicuous ones. Applying this knowledge can go a long way in eradicating stress in training your dog.

1. Don’t expect too much, too soon

Most of the time we start from the very top of the ladder in our admiration, we never considered that the climber started from the very first stair way. It is no magic, what is good takes time to build. So if you walk the park with your dog and you see other people’ dogs behave nicely and you wonder why yours behave carelessly, don’t be bewildered. They have taken their time and money to train their dogs to do so. You can also achieve this with time if you would move up the ladder one step at a time. Never expect too much from your dog; take the training patiently and in all firmness, you would certainly get him there.

2. Don’t Give Up

This is most common among genuine dog lovers; they are not tenacious enough to get the desired goal they aimed for. There are people that believe that a dog should learn a command within specific hour and if not, he will never successfully learn it. They lack the patience or commitment to achieve what they want from their dogs.

3. Be consistent

If you are going to be consistent, you need to be firm in your decision making; for instance, if you intend that your dog should not jump on you while wearing a particular suit, you stand your ground that he does not jump on you while wearing any type of clothes including casuals like jogging clothes. 

4. Encourage positive reinforcement

Make adequate and conscious effort to positively reinforce you pets with lot of good words, nice treats and nice outing rewards. Pets that are generously reinforced positively will also want to reward their masters with good obedience and good behavior. Be consistent in your reward mechanism. An animal that only receives corrections without rewards will begin to do such negative behaviors to attract attention.

5. Refrain from using negative reinforcement

As much as you can, refrain from using negative reinforcement; this does not build a healthy behavior in your pet, especially when you don’t have reason to use negative reinforcement. A trainer that is always looking for fault will definitely get many to discourage him. Not all misbehavior requires negative reinforcement.

6. Don’t make your dog a general purpose creature

This is frequently found among amateur trainers. They are want their dogs to be jack of all trade and the master of none. Always consider the species of the animal before embarking on a training program. All dogs are not meant to exhibit the same traits, so don’t expect it. Train your dog to function in the way he is meant to function. Dogs like Dachshund don’t search out fox, so don’t expect it to do so, you would be expecting too much. Your dog is not a general purpose multitasking animal, don’t try to create one.

7. Engage constant reiteration

Dogs learn best through constant reiteration. Be consistent in your training process, if you teach something today be consistent to reiterate it often so that the dog does not forget the training.

8. Choose a minimum amount of techniques 

Not all dogs respond to same training the same way. So while you glean so many techniques from different trainers, know that they may not work with your dog at all. You need to know which ones your dog will positively adhere to. Rather than engage in different trail and error, use few techniques at a time and watch your dog’s response. Don’t frustrate yourself and your dog, keep to few techniques.

9. It can always be changed

Constantly know that no matter what misbehavior your pet exhibits, it can always be changed. Using consistency and reward, your dog can definitely change. So if there is anything you hate in your pet, be assured it can be changed.

10. It’s never over

Don’t think because you have gotten the desired goal that it is all over. Your dog may have learnt a particular behavior well but don’t stop there; know that learning is a process, if it stops then life it self has stopped. Make sure you train your dog until he is the best he can be.