Dog Trainer Lists the Biggest Mistake People Make When Training Pups
Before I had a dog of my own, I assumed that owners spent a few months training their dogs until they were well-behaved and in sync with their humans. Now that I've had a dog for over a decade, though, I know that the training never truly stops. True, it's essential to teach dogs obedience commands like "sit" and "stay," but the learning you and your dog will do together goes far beyond that.
And sometimes, it doesn't hurt to go back to basics. Many dogs have a behavior or two they can improve upon, and one UK dog trainer gives her viewers the perfect example. The expert from Train Up Pup demonstrates one of the most common training mistakes that owners make when correcting their dog's behavior, and it makes so much sense. As an owner of a dog who could use some training in this area, I'm going to try this!
Why did I never think of that? This is a great example of why @trainuppupofficial is an actual dog trainer while I just explain new topics to pet parents. We all have our strengths, and mine certainly aren't in the correction and discipline areas. Then again, this dog trainer has spent lots of time studying these behavioral strategies, so this must feel as normal and natural to her as petting a dog.
Related: Dog Trainer Explains Why Verbally 'Scolding' a Dog Does Absolutely Nothing
For other pet parents, though, behavior correction, including ignoring, isn't so easy! It can feel mean to purposefully ignore a dog, but it could be a quick and effective solution that teaches your pup what is and isn't acceptable. In just a few seconds, you'll be back to petting your dog like nothing even happened!
Positive Reinforcement is an Essential Strategy for Dog Training
Even though this trainer's technique for discouraging your dog from jumping on people looks like you're punishing them for jumping, you're actually rewarding them for not jumping! Instead of offering attention by correcting the behavior when they do jump (which can encourage them to repeat the behavior), you can turn your back to them and wait until they are not jumping. Then, turn around and offer attention while all four paws are on the floor. This teaches your dog that they will get attention when they're not jumping.
You can apply this positive reinforcement to any aspect of dog training, too! For food-motivated dogs, treats make great rewards to reinforce new, positive behaviors--and they can be great distractions for new or stressful situations, as well. Keeping training positive will make sure your dog is as engaged and interested as can be, even if you're teaching something new like not jumping on people as a greeting.
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