Mistakes Potential Dog Owners Make

If you constantly change commands during training when you want the dog to down and use Down, Lie Down, Lay, whatever as opposed to picking one command and using it, this greatly slows the learning of the dog and adds to confusion. Or, teaching a puppy by paper training that it is OK to potty in the house and NOW you do not want him to potty inside, this greatly slows house training. Confusion and the subsequent building of anxiety does nothing to help the dog learn and can lead to issues later.

Failure to train and socialize.

For safety, formal classes should not be started before a puppy has completed his third set of puppy boosters. Also, leaving the yard before this time can be risky as well. Any place that dogs frequent can harbor diseases for months (like Parvo Virus) that the pup is not able to fight off yet. But it is vital to begin training and socializing at home as soon as the pup comes into the home. Puppies can start leash training and learn basic cues like sit and down.

They can be exposed to walking on different surfaces like boards, bubble wrap, wire mesh. They can be exposed to different sounds and smells and hats, uniforms, etc. Get creative and if your pup can encounter it outside the house, try to mimic it on your property! This will get you a jump on other puppies in class when the pup is old enough to start formal lesson. Even adult dogs needs to start training and socializing as soon as adopted or bought. Failing to do so ends up with a dog who is socially retarded and this can lead to big problems later on.

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