F is for Faults - A-Z Special of the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop

Today, we're back for some more A-Z Blogging, after our break yesterday!

It is the day of letter F today, and we are also joining along with the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop very kindly hosted by Dachshund Nola, Cascadian Nomads, and Tenacious Little Terrier. 

For us, F stands for Faults, and we are here to tell you that sometimes, in Positive Training of your pet, faults are OK at times, believe it or not, accept it or not! They are a learning curve for both the animal and the handler, and they teach the owner how to avoid and prevent them for the future.

Everyone has that 'AHHH!' 'NOOO!' time training before they can successfully train their dog so there is a reliable reaction every time. But try not to holler at your dog - this is a blog hop about positive training, and is what we believe in. You should soon, after some hard work and dedication on your part, get your dog to happily do as s/he is told. Just use a positive method including appropriate rewards.

Don't forget to push aside the faults when your dog does eventually succeed, and praise him/her positively to reinforce the good behaviour acted. Turn the negative around into something more positive.

Don't be afraid to use items in which motivate your dog to succeed (set him/her up to succeed) including treats, toys, or just plain bags of praise from you as the handler! You're the one asking of the dog - you must be the one to show him/her you approve of the behaviour performed. 

There is nothing wrong with using treats etc to help your dog perform and give him something to work for in the initial stages of training.

In the above picture, the heart represents immediate praise and reward for the dog. He just performed the task you asked.

Remember, your dog must WANT to do the exercise for it to be worthwhile! Most dogs will just refuse when they get too bored with it! Even if its a vital and possibly life saving 'DOWN' if your dog is running towards a busy road away from you.

Use some motivating items, and this should help make your dog more enthusiastic about learning with you.

And you should then have a pet who is willing to learn.

So, the moral is, faults are fine! They keep you on your toes, and keep both your pet and you learning and successfully training in a positive manner. Everyone experiences setbacks - its normal.