07/29/2026
10 Things You Should Do… and 10 Things You Should Never Do When Training a Dog
By Simon Chapman
Whether you’re a first-time dog owner, an experienced handler or a professional dog trainer, there are certain principles that stand the test of time.
Training methods may evolve. New equipment comes onto the market. Social media influencers appear overnight claiming they’ve discovered the latest miracle technique.
Yet the fundamentals remain exactly the same.
Dogs haven’t changed nearly as much as people like to believe.
Successful training isn’t about finding a magic wand.
It’s about understanding the dog in front of you.
So here are my 10 Do’s and 10 Don’ts that I believe every dog owner, handler and trainer should keep in mind.
✅ 10 Things You SHOULD Do
1. Build the Relationship Before Expecting Results
Every great dog begins with trust.
A dog that enjoys working with you will always outperform one that simply obeys because it’s worried about the consequences.
Spend time together.
Play.
Walk.
Train.
Rest together.
Create value in yourself.
Remember…
Dogs don’t follow titles.
They follow leaders.
2. Be Consistent
Dogs don’t understand:
“Sit means sit on Mondays… but not when Grandma visits.”
If one family member allows jumping up while another tells the dog off for it, guess who becomes confused?
The dog.
Consistency creates clarity.
Clarity creates confidence.
3. Reward Good Decisions
Dogs repeat behaviours that work.
That reward might be:
* Food
* A toy
* Praise
* Freedom
* Access to something they want
Reinforcement isn’t bribery.
It’s communication.
Catch your dog making good choices.
You’ll be amazed how quickly those choices become habits.
4. Keep Training Sessions Short
The best sessions often last just a few minutes.
Five minutes of focused training is worth far more than forty-five minutes of repetition until everyone is bored.
Always finish while your dog still wants more.
Leave them thinking,
“That was brilliant! Can we do it again?”
5. Train in Different Environments
A dog that sits perfectly in the kitchen hasn’t necessarily learnt to sit.
It has learnt to sit…
…in the kitchen.
Generalisation doesn’t happen automatically.
Practise in:
* The garden
* The park
* The high street
* Woodland
* Car parks
* Outside cafés
Real-life dogs need real-life training.
6. Be Clear
Dogs don’t speak English.
They read:
* Timing
* Body language
* Tone
* Movement
* Patterns
Keep your cues simple.
Avoid giving five commands when one will do.
If your dog looks confused…
Ask yourself whether you’ve been clear.
7. Allow Your Dog to Think
Don’t micromanage every step.
Give the dog opportunities to solve problems.
Confidence grows when dogs discover answers for themselves.
Training isn’t simply teaching behaviour.
It’s developing thinkers.
8. Be Patient
Learning isn’t linear.
Some days everything clicks.
Other days it feels as though your dog has forgotten its own name.
Progress often looks like this:
Two steps forward…
One step back…
Then suddenly five steps forward.
Patience nearly always wins.
9. Finish on a Success
Never underestimate the power of ending well.
Even if the original exercise isn’t going to plan, make the final repetition something your dog can achieve.
Success builds confidence.
Confidence builds future success.
10. Train the Dog in Front of You
Perhaps the most important lesson of all.
Don’t train:
* Your neighbour’s Labrador.
* The dog you saw on YouTube.
* The police dog on television.
* The world champion’s Malinois.
Train your dog.
Every dog has different:
* Genetics
* Motivation
* Confidence
* Experience
* Learning speed
The best trainers adapt.
❌ 10 Things You SHOULD NEVER Do
1. Don’t Compare Your Dog to Others
Comparison steals enjoyment.
Every dog develops at its own pace.
Some mature quickly.
Some take years.
Your journey is your own.
2. Don’t Repeat Commands
“Sit.”
“Sit.”
“SIT.”
“SIT!”
Congratulations…
You’ve just taught your dog that the first three requests are optional.
Say it once.
Help the dog understand.
Reward success.
3. Don’t Train When You’re Angry
Dogs don’t understand bad days at work.
If you’re frustrated, stop.
Have a cup of tea.
Reset.
Come back later.
Training should improve relationships, not damage them.
4. Don’t Expect Perfection Overnight
Social media has created unrealistic expectations.
Many videos show the finished product.
They rarely show the hundreds of mistakes that happened beforehand.
Progress beats perfection.
Every single time.
5. Don’t Ignore Genetics
Training matters enormously.
So do genetics.
A Border Collie may naturally notice movement.
A Beagle is likely to use its nose.
A Labrador often enjoys carrying things.
Good training works with genetics rather than pretending they don’t exist.
6. Don’t Be Inconsistent with Rules
Today’s “No.”
Tomorrow’s “Maybe.”
Next week’s “Go on then…”
Dogs love predictable rules.
Humans are often the unpredictable bit.
7. Don’t Forget to Reward Yourself
Seriously.
Training dogs takes effort.
Celebrate the small wins.
Every improvement matters.
You deserve a biscuit too.
(Tea is also acceptable.)
8. Don’t Assume Every Problem Is Stubbornness
Very few dogs wake up each morning plotting world domination.
Behaviour usually has a reason.
It may be:
* Confusion
* Fear
* Pain
* Stress
* Over-arousal
* Lack of understanding
* Insufficient reinforcement
Before labelling a dog as stubborn…
Ask why.
9. Don’t Rush the Process
Foundations matter.
Skipping them is like building a house on wet sand.
Take the time to build:
* Engagement
* Focus
* Motivation
* Clarity
* Confidence
Everything else becomes easier afterwards.
10. Don’t Stop Learning
Dogs continue teaching us every single day.
The moment we believe we know everything…
…a clever Spaniel, determined Terrier or mischievous Labrador will politely remind us that we don’t.
The best trainers remain students forever.
Stay curious.
Read books.
Attend seminars.
Watch experienced trainers.
Ask questions.
Keep learning.
Final Thoughts
Dog training isn’t about domination.
Nor is it about becoming a vending machine that dispenses treats every five seconds.
It’s about communication.
It’s about understanding.
It’s about fairness.
It’s about building a relationship in which both dog and handler enjoy working together.
When training is done well, it strengthens the bond between you and your dog.
When it’s done poorly, it creates confusion, frustration and conflict.
So the next time you head out with your dog, remember these simple principles.
Be consistent.
Be fair.
Be patient.
Keep learning.
And perhaps most importantly…
If your dog has just performed the most spectacular zoomies known to mankind immediately after you proudly removed the lead…
Take comfort in this:
Dogs have an incredible talent for keeping us humble.
That’s probably why we love them so much.
