As with anything else, when it comes to dog training there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things. Far too often, when people are instructing they do the wrong thing as opposed to the right thing. If they are any good results that come from this, it will be pure luck as opposed any deliberate action. For example, if you were trying to train a young child to play basketball you would assess his strengths and weaknesses. But, again, there is a right way and wrong way to do this. Telling the child that he is clumsy is not going to work. But, here's the thing: the childs problem is that he is clumsy! But, you do not correct problems with coordination by insulting the youngster. The reason is that the child would be more hurt that helped. When it comes to dog training this maxim applies as well.
People assume that when they train a dog if they verbally or physically punish the dog it will learn to behave. Actually, it will not. Instead, the dog will become less inclined to behave. This is because the dog will become fearful or, worse, aggressive when such tactics are employed. What the dog will not become, however, is behaved.
Regarding bad training methods, people understand right away that these are terrible ways to train a dog. After all, who doesn't think excessive punishment is foolish? But, what many people do not understand is that non-action is another horrible training method as well. Some people may be saying that they understand this because anyone who doesn't train a dog is going to guarantee bad habits. But, many of these people also do not realize that non-action also includes inconsistent or infrequent training as well.
To say "I train my dog" and the training includes training one day one week, skipping two weeks, training two days in a row, skipping one week, training three days in a row for fifteen minutes and then skipping another week is not proper dog training. It is an inconsistent and lazy method that will never yield the right results.
