5 Common Dog Training Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them!)

I've made these mistakes, so you don't have to!

After years of training dogs (and their humans!), I've made my fair share of mistakes. And guess what? I still see the very same ones popping up in our classes every week.

From enthusiastic but badly timed praise to desperately digging around in pockets for a treat, we've all been there!

So I thought I'd share five of the most common training mistakes to help you avoid a few frustrations, make training easier and, most importantly, have more fun with your dog.

Let's get started!

1. Timing is everything! one of the most common dog training mistakes.

Your dog does exactly what you asked. Brilliant!

And you enthusiastically tell them, "Oh, you're such a very good girl!"

Lovely, but by the time you've finished your sentence, your dog has come back, sat down, jumped up and is probably already planning their next adventure.

So... which behaviour did you actually mark?

Think of your marker word as taking a photograph of the exact moment your dog gets something right. It tells them, "Yes! That's what I wanted!"

That's why a short, clear marker, like "Yes!" or "Good!", is much more useful than a whole speech about how wonderful your dog is.

And don't forget the timing! If your dog sits and you say "Yes!" when their bottom is already off the floor, you've missed your moment.

Top tip: Keep your marker short and practise your timing. You can tell your dog how wonderful they are afterwards!

2. Where on earth are those treats?

Your dog has just performed a beautiful recall. Fantastic!

Now you're trying to open a plastic bag, digging into the smallest pocket known to humanity or wrestling with a treat pouch that refuses to cooperate.

Meanwhile, your dog has gone off to investigate something far more interesting.

Sound familiar?

We spend so much time thinking about what treats to use that sometimes we forget about how we're going to get hold of them!

Big pockets or a training pouch with a wide opening that you can comfortably wear around your waist are your friends.

Even if you've marked the correct behaviour, you don't want your dog waiting forever while you go on a treasure hunt for their reward.

Top tip: Get your treats ready and make sure you can reach them easily. Training is much smoother when you're not fighting with your pockets!

3. Skipping the foundations

Ah, the temptation to get to the fancy stuff!

Your dog has learnt Sit, so naturally you're already imagining a perfect recall, beautiful loose lead walking and perhaps a few impressive tricks to show your friends.

I know. I've been there too!

But here's the thing: all those lovely advanced skills are built on good foundations.

If we rush through the basics, those little gaps in our training have a habit of coming back to haunt us later.

And then we end up going back to the beginning anyway!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with practising the basics. In fact, some of the best training sessions are the ones where we go back and strengthen what our dogs already know.

Top tip: Don't rush. Make the foundations solid, fun and reliable before moving on.

Remember: Slow is fast, and fast is slow.

4. From the living room to... chaos!

Your dog can Sit, Stay and Recall beautifully in your living room.

Excellent! Time to show the world!

So off you go to the park on a sunny Sunday afternoon, where there are dogs playing, children running, families having picnics, footballs flying around and about a million fascinating smells.

You ask your dog to Sit.

Nothing.

Recall?

Not a chance!

Has your dog suddenly forgotten everything?

Of course not! You've just gone from the easiest possible environment to the doggy equivalent of a theme park on a bank holiday.

Dogs need to learn that the skills they practise at home also apply in other places, and we need to teach them that gradually.

Start somewhere quiet, add a little distraction, then a little more. Give your dog plenty of opportunities to succeed before making things harder.

Top tip: If your dog is struggling, make the exercise easier. Move further away from distractions, lower your expectations and help them get it right.

Set your dog up for success!

5. But I thought you'd LOVE this reward!

You've bought a fantastic new toy. It was expensive, it's colourful, it squeaks and the packaging practically promises your dog will love it.

Your dog sniffs it once and walks away.

How ungrateful!

Or perhaps you're offering a piece of everyday kibble while your dog is busy investigating the most amazing smell they've ever encountered.

And you're wondering why they're not interested.

Well, here's the thing: your dog chooses what's rewarding, not you!

Some dogs would sell their soul for a piece of chicken. Others live for a tennis ball, a game of tug or the opportunity to have a really good sniff.

And their preferences can change depending on where they are and what they're doing.

So experiment! Try different foods, toys, games and activities. Watch your dog and discover what really gets them excited.

Top tip: Don't assume you know what your dog loves. Let them tell you! The better you understand what motivates your dog, the more enjoyable and effective your training will be.

And finally... HAVE FUN WITH YOUR DOG!

This is probably the most important bit.

Training shouldn't feel like homework, and it certainly shouldn't be boring!

Play games, laugh when things go wrong, celebrate the little successes and don't be afraid to take a break when things aren't working.

Your dog doesn't care about perfect performances or fancy certificates. They care about spending time with you, having fun and doing things they enjoy.

And that's what training should be about: learning together, building a great relationship and enjoying the journey.

Happy training!

Alessia Cardiff Dog Training Academy