The Truth About Your Dog's Training Progress | Pupford
28 Comments Filed under pup parenting+ training
Dog training isn't always ups and "forward progression"... it actually usually consists of a LOT of setbacks, challenges, and "dips" in behavior. But truthfully, that is to be expected!
Remember that not every technique will work for your dog, and that sometimes your dog may just be having an off day when we ask for a behavior.
In fact, sometimes training will look more like this:
But there are things that we can do to improve your pup's behavior over time to experience more peaks than valleys.
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5 POWERFUL TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PUP'S BEHAVIOR
TIP #1- SET GOALS
Most things worth accomplishing in life take a lot of hard work. In my life, I've seen the most success with my dog's behavior when I've set goals.
I don't typically like focusing goals on 'behavior growth' necessarily, but more on how often you'll train, how long you'll train, and what behaviors you will work on.
If you set SMART goals (look that up if you aren't familiar with it 😃), you'll find that you'll become more consistent with training. And in my experience, staying consistent (more on that later) is one of the most vital ways to help your dog's behavior see more growth than setbacks!
Related Reading: 21 Dog Training Mistakes
TIP #2- TRACK PROGRESS
Part of setting goals is keeping track of progress. Plus, keeping track of your dog's progress can help you visualize the growth that is occurring.
In the Pupford App, you can rate your dog's behaviors so that you have a snapshot of where your dog stands with different behaviors like recall, leash walking, and more!
Again, tracking progress will help you understand more thoroughly how your dog is actually progressing!
TIP #3- VIEW BEHAVIOR AS A WHOLE
If you're feeling down about a specific behavior your dog is struggling with, remember to look at your dog's behavior as a whole.
While your dog may be struggling with jumping, for example, find the good things your dog is doing and focus on those. And what you'll realize is that your dog's "behavior" is likely better than you're giving your dog credit for!
TIP #4- STAY CONSISTENT
The key to pushing through your dog's behavior setbacks is consistency.
Training takes a lot of effort over an extended period of time. And it can't just be for a few days or weeks... it takes consistent effort! Even if you only train for 5-10 minutes per day, that's better than nothing!
Plus, the more consistent you are with training your dog the more quickly you will be able to overcome the setbacks and 'dips' in progression.
TIP #5- BE PATIENT
Even more important than consistency is patience! Staying patient with your puppy is vital.
Often as pup parents, we put timelines in our head as to how quickly our dog should learn a certain behavior... that is a mistake.
Not only do you need to be patient with your dog's progress, but you need to be patient with yourself. Raising a dog can be hard work, so remember to cut yourself some slack and be patient with results!
What else has helped you overcome setbacks in your dog's behavior and training? Let me know in the comments!
28 comments
Leave a CommentThank you Dawn! Training a puppy is so much work, I love what you said about your expectations and having patience for your dog, it makes all the difference!
This is so true. Most of the time my shepherd is pretty good. We still have a lot of things we need to work on. But there are those days when I will look at her and say “Where is Marley and what have you done with her?”
Thank you for the comment!
Treats are nice to have nearby, since any opportunity to reinforce good behavior is helpful! Check out the SMART x50 Method: https://pupford.com/smart-x-50-dog-training/
I have a Golden retriever. He is 7 months and so stubborn. Very food focused. He will go outside just to eat the grass, leaves and dirt. Am I supposed to carry treats all the time? He goes to do his business sometimes without eating stuff off the ground, but there are those times. I don’t want to not believe him when he goes to the door. He does love people too and is over excited. He is fine just me as and my Mom.