A Secret to Dog Training: Don?t Overtrain

Posted by Iheartwalkies on August 22nd, 2013

Housebreaking your dog can be one of the hardest things you do when it comes to training. But it goes without saying – once your dog has mastered the skill, the rewards are immeasurable.

One of the biggest things you can do that will go a long way in training is don’t overtrain.

Puppies and dogs don’t have the attention spans to practice anything for long periods of time. If you take your puppy out and they are looking for a ‘spot’ for longer than 5 or 10 minutes, head back in and put him back in the crate for 15 minutes then try again.

Repetition is key – but overtraining is not.

Once he’s trained, continuing to walk until he goes is fine, but until then he will lose the understanding of “outside means potty.” It’s just too much for him to remember at such a young age.

Extra Tip:

The same rule applies to older puppies and adult dogs you are training with basic command or advanced tricks. Set some time aside, maybe 15 minutes, and practice. Anything more will overwhelm your dog and he will stop paying attention. You both will get frustrated, and he will stop enjoying your training time together.

It’s much more effective to practice 10-15 minutes 2 or 3 times a day than attempting to get your puppy or dog to focus for 30 or 45 minutes straight. Besides, your dog will LOVE all of the extra special attention!

More tips like this are available in our e-book “How To: Start Your Dog Out Right (For a Happy, Healthy and Well Behaved Life): A Guide for Acclimating Your New Friend to A New Life.” You can order a copy online by clicking here.

Are you in need of pet services? Contact Walkies today at 215.806.2945 or 856.314.8445.