Dog Training Mistakes Provide Valuable Information

When teaching dogs new behaviors, mistakes will happen. It’s part of the learning process. During a dog training session, either the pet owner (teacher) or dog (learner) will make a mistake. While identifying and overcoming mistakes seems complicated, it really is super easy with a few tips. When mistakes happen, remind yourself that they provide valuable information you can learn from.

Human Mistakes

It’s important to remember the dog is always right. Teaching is challenging, so reward your dog, especially when she picks up on a behavior quickly and easily. As the pet owner, it’s important to set your dog up for success by following these few easy steps.

1. Always choose a distraction-free environment to begin training your dog a new behavior.
2. Split the behavior into easy-to-understand sections.
3. Encourage your dog by generously rewarding steps forward.
4. Keep dog training sessions short (1 minute long).
5. If progress stops, identify the issue and stop the training session immediately, then resume with an updated plan.

Here’s an example of setting a dog up for success when teaching her to lie down on the floor.

1. Practice in your home with minimal distractions.
2. Teach your dog to sit first. Once she sits reliably, lure her front half down with a treat. Click when elbows touch the ground and reward generously.
3. Reward each step forward.
4. Stop the session after 1 minute.
5. If your dog won’t lie down, step back and figure out why. Maybe try teaching your dog with a mat under her elbows or slowing down your luring hand.

Dog Mistakes

When pet owners teach their dogs new behaviors, they are building a bond of trust between them as well as learning how to communicate effectively. Remember, dogs are considered learners during training sessions, so they can’t make mistakes. Dogs (learners) are always right even when they’re confused.

Pet owners (teachers) should remember that dogs are not choosing to be stubborn; dogs are genuinely confused in those situations. If this happens, end the training session and re-evaluate your training plan. If you find yourself frustrated because progress has come to a halt, seek advice from a positive reinforcement dog trainer.

Think about it this way: If you become confused while learning how to ski, then your ski instructor has not communicated how to ski properly. As a dog trainer, if my students become confused and make mistakes, that means I didn’t communicate how to do a behavior effectively—and I own it

Identifying Mistakes

This is the hardest part. Most pet owners immediately blame their dog when training sessions become confusing. Humans have huge egos. The best way to identify dog training mistakes is to record a training session on a smartphone.

Set up the phone, so both you and your dog are easily viewable, such as propped up on top of a table. Hit the record button, walk over and teach a 1-minute training session covering a difficult behavior. End the session, then watch the video to identify the issue.

About 90% of the time, pet owners immediately identify their mistake and adjust during their next training session. If you do this and are still stumped, send the video to a professional positive reinforcement dog trainer for advice.

Learn From Mistakes

Each mistake provides valuable information. When you learn what caused the mistake, you’re less likely to repeat it. Once mistakes are identified and changes are made, dog training success progresses quickly.