04/30/2026
As discussed in previous posts, combining positive reinforcement with mild, appropriate corrections helps your dog learn effectively and at the same time creating a confident companion. Below are some of the most common mistakes I see people make when training their dogs.
Structure
Many owners don’t set clear expectations. I see it often—dogs walking their owners, stopping whenever they want to sniff, eating on their own schedule, or even helping themselves to treats.
From the beginning, it’s important to establish clear and consistent boundaries. Reward acceptable behavior and correct what isn’t. For example, when using the command “leave it,” it should apply to something the dog can never have. This keeps the command clear and reliable. If you use “leave it” for something they can’t have right now but may have later, it creates confusion. The dog may either avoid the item entirely or fail to completely understand the command.
Timing
Timing is crucial in training. Many owners reward or correct their dog after the behavior has already passed. You have about one second to reinforce or correct a behavior. Miss that window, and you risk rewarding unwanted actions or correcting behaviors you actually want.
For example, my dog is trained as a service dog and must ignore people and distractions in public. Once, she calmly ignored someone with a cart. As I reached for a treat to reward her, another person passed by and she sniffed them. If I had given the treat then, I would have been rewarding the sniffing—the exact behavior I don’t want.
This is why marker words and tools like clickers are so important—they allow you to mark the correct behavior instantly. I’ll go into more detail about marker words and clickers in a future post.
Gradual Exposure
Some owners believe pushing their dog harder will speed up learning. Forcing a dog into uncomfortable situations often leads to frustration and resistance. Dogs begin to associate the task with negative feelings- making them less willing to learn.
Training takes time and patience. Introduce new experiences and environments gradually—never all at once. For example, when teaching my dog loose leash walking, I started inside the house with minimal distractions. Once she mastered that, we moved to the backyard, then the driveway, and eventually short walks where she could encounter other people and dogs. Now, she can walk calmly off-leash, even in a busy parking lot.
Corrections
Corrections, when done properly, are an important part of training. If my dog leaves my side, I correct her by putting the leash back on or I give a firm “no” and stop walking. Giving a firm "no" is all she needs-she quickly returns because she values her freedom and wants to keep it.
Many people hesitate to correct their dog, but without appropriate corrections, dogs may never fully learn desired behaviors. Think of it like raising a child-without guidance and consequences, boundaries aren’t learned. Similarly, if a dog is never corrected, unwanted behaviors are likely to continue.
By combining positive reinforcement with thoughtful, consistent corrections, you can effectively address behavior issues and create a rewarding training experience. Every dog is different and will face unique challenges, and training can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, using a balanced approach allows you to work through those challenges in a calm and effective way.
