5 Common Dog Training Mistakes and How to Correct Them

5 Common Dog Training Mistakes and How to Correct Them

by | Jun 15, 2023

 5 Common Dog Training Mistakes and How to Correct Them

Training a dog is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. It not only helps establish a strong bond between you and your furry friend but also ensures their safety and well-being. However, dog training can be a challenging task, and many pet owners unknowingly make mistakes that hinder their progress. In this article, we will explore five common dog training mistakes and provide effective solutions to correct them.

Mistake 1: Inconsistency in Training

Consistency is key when it comes to dog training. One of the most common mistakes pet owners make is being inconsistent with their signals and expectations. Dogs thrive on routine and repetition, so it’s crucial to establish clear rules and consistently reinforce them. Solution: Use the same signals for each behavior you want to teach and ensure that all family members are on board and using the same approach. Reinforce good behavior consistently with rewards and avoid rewarding unwanted behaviors. By maintaining consistency, your dog will quickly understand what is expected of them.

Mistake 2: Lack of Positive Reinforcement

Another mistake many dog owners make is relying solely on scolding or punishment to correct unwanted behaviors. Not only can this create fear and anxiety, it doesn’t explain to your dog what you WANT them to do.  Solution: Spend more time rewarding the behaviors you WANT instead of scolding the behaviors you don’t like. Reward your dog with treats, praise, and affection when they display desirable behaviors. This approach motivates your dog to repeat those behaviors and strengthens the bond between you. Puppy Trainer Vero Beach, Treasure Coast, Sebastian, Puppy training, Dog Training

Mistake 3: Improper Socialization

Socialization is a crucial aspect of dog training but it is often misunderstood. Most people think that socialization means getting your dog to play with other dogs. However it is so much more than that! In fact, you may accidentally create a behavior problem if you focus too much on intense dog-to-dog playtime. One bad experience at the dog park can create a lifetime of fear and reactivity in your dog!  Solution: Start socializing your dog from an early age. Socialization means exposing your pup to new sights, sounds, smells, textures, locations, people and other friendly animals. These experiences should be positive and controlled. Your dog doesn’t have to physically interact with other people or animals in order to benefit from the experience. Even watching people walking by in a park is a form of socialization. It’s crucial that your dog does not feel overwhelmed on these outings. Make sure they feel safe and reward them frequently for calm neutral behavior in new environments. This exposure will help your dog become well-adjusted, confident, and friendly.

Mistake 4: Overlooking Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Many dog owners underestimate the importance of regular exercise and mental stimulation in a dog’s training regimen. Dogs are naturally active and intelligent creatures, and a lack of physical and mental outlets can result in destructive behavior or hyperactivity. Solution: Make sure to provide your dog with plenty of mental stimulation along with short bursts of exercise. Sniffer walks on a long leash, tug games and food puzzles can help burn off excess energy and keep your dog mentally stimulated. Fun training sessions are another way to challenge your dog’s brain and encourage them to think. Teach them a new trick and see how focused they become!  5 Common Dog Training Mistakes, Puppy Training Sebastian, Puppy Trainer Vero Beach, Dog Training Florida

Mistake 5: Impatience and Unrealistic Expectations

Training a dog requires time, patience, and realistic expectations. It’s common for pet owners to expect quick results or become frustrated when their dog doesn’t grasp a skill immediately. This impatience can lead to inconsistent training and ineffective communication. Solution: Remember that dogs learn at their own pace. Be patient and allow your dog time to understand and practice new skills in low distraction settings first. Break down complex behaviors into smaller steps, rewarding your dog for each small achievement. Celebrate progress rather than dwelling on mistakes. With consistency, positive reinforcement, and patience, your dog will eventually learn and respond to your signals.

Dog Training Mistakes and How to Correct Them

Avoiding these common dog training mistakes will greatly improve your chances of success in training your beloved furry friend. Remember to be consistent, use positive reinforcement, prioritize socialization and mental stimulation, and remain patient throughout the process. By correcting these mistakes and following effective training techniques, you’ll establish a strong bond with your dog and create a well-behaved and happy canine companion.

Puppy Training Vero Beach, Treasure Coast, Florida

If you’d like to learn more about our programs and see if we’re the right fit for your pup, give us a call or contact us online to book a FREE phone consultation with our puppy trainers. We’d love to chat with you!
Sebastian Puppy Training Expert Discusses Puppy Blues

Sebastian Puppy Training Expert Discusses Puppy Blues

by | Jan 6, 2023

Sebastian Puppy Training Expert Discusses Puppy Blues

I recently had a couple of new clients come on board and I noticed a bit of a theme that seems to be a fairly common struggle among puppy owners. People decide to bring a new puppy into the family and all of a sudden, it’s a lot more difficult than they anticipated! As most of you know, raising a puppy is a lot of work but you soon realize every waking moment becomes focused around this little animal. It’s surprisingly pretty similar to having a baby or toddler in the house. It’s a situation where unless that puppy is asleep in a secure place, you really have to know where they are at all times and what they are doing. If you’re not paying attention, that puppy is peeing all over the house, chewing on furniture, and more. At such a young age, these puppies struggle to control their bladder and their impulse control. I have met people who end up in tears over how stressful it can be. They can’t get anything done having to monitor the puppy all the time or they’re arguing with their spouse or children over puppy-watching shifts. Sometimes people even have feelings of guilt surrounding the whole situation because they start wondering if this puppy is the right fit for them and their lifestyle. They find themselves asking, “What have I gotten myself into?” and tend to be really struggling with all of these feelings. 

Are Puppy Blues Normal? 

An important thing to remember is it’s normal! Don’t feel guilty about feeling overwhelmed. When I say puppies are a lot of work, it’s true! I’ve been doing this a long time and sometimes, a puppy isn’t a good fit. It may be controversial but the reality is, sometimes it just is not the right fit. The question is are you able and willing to find solutions to meet not only the dog’s needs, but your needs as well. Can you find a way to ensure everyone involved is living a good quality life or not? If you find yourself in this situation, I think you owe it to yourself to seek professional help and at least talk to someone who understands the struggle. A lot of times, there are a ton of solutions and management options that can not only solve problems, but also make puppyhood much less stressful. 

I can’t speak for other dog trainers but I like to do free phone consultations where I take the time to get to know you and your puppy, and make sure what I offer is a good fit for you. In most of these phone consults there are easy tips and tricks I’ll offer to people that can help make some changes, regardless of whether they choose to work with me or not. 

Just remember, you’re not alone in feeling like this while integrating a new puppy into the household! There’s even a term for this situation called the “puppy blues”! Be sure to reach out for help and make things a little easier on yourself. 

Sebastian Puppy Training Expert 

Sebastian Based Puppy training expert Gerry-Anna helps humans and their dogs live together in harmony. Book a call today and start receiving support right away.

Sebastian Puppy Training Expert Puppy Trainer Vero Beach Florida

How to Deal with Puppy Blues

I spoke to someone earlier this week and these types of conversations always pull on my heart strings. It’s very common and I wanted to address it here for those of you out there who have also struggled with this. It’s quite often that I talk to someone who had a senior dog that recently passed away. As to be expected, they are completely devastated. After so many years you know your dog very well and at that age, they tend to be the well behaved golden child. You get so used to their routine it becomes second nature. But once your old dog is gone, it’s not unusual to feel a void. At this point friends, family, or maybe even you yourself start thinking, “Maybe getting another dog will help get me through this.” 

So you bring a puppy home and at first, it’s great! The puppy is so cute and there’s something new to focus on. After the first few days, you may find you have a case of “comparisonitis” when he realization of how much work raising a puppy entails sinks in. Puppies are a ton of work! They’re biting, they’re nipping, and you soon can’t even cuddle or pet them because all they want to do is bite and play! Then you realize you’re still grieving your old dog and this new puppy is nothing like your old dog. In fact, this new puppy seems to be causing you an immense amount of extra stress. You might be arguing with your spouse over who wakes up in the middle of the night to take the puppy out. You may even find yourself in tears as you’re trying to get ready in the morning and the puppy has already peed and pooped everywhere! You realize, you can’t have time to yourself anymore with this puppy and compounding that with the feelings of grief from losing your old dog, it can all become really heavy! 

Just remember, this is completely normal. You have to try to find a way to shift out of the comparisonitis mentality. Your old dog may have listened to you 24/7, always been by your side, and was just the greatest companion. But you have to remember this puppy you brought home is not your old dog. They’re a young baby who is just learning about everything the world around them has to offer. A lot of the time, they’re not going to listen 24/7. They might be adventurous and wander off. That is the time to get into a productive mindset and come up with a plan to start raising this puppy to be well behaved. While yes, they’re going to be different from your old dog, there are still going to be new things with this puppy that are special to you as well. You just have to make it through the annoying puppy stage to get there. It’s a long road to not only train your puppy, but to also fulfil their enrichment needs, ensure they’re well socialized and all the other important pieces that go into a well rounded companion. Not to mention, there are a lot of solutions and management options to make your journey through puppyhood much easier. If you’re feeling stuck in those negative emotions, seek help from a professional dog trainer and if it’s right for you, seek a pet loss support group or therapist. There are plenty of ways to make this new chapter of life much more doable. 

Sebastian Puppy Training Expert

A note from Gerry-Anna expert puppy trainer at Goldstar Puppy Academy.

 Vero Beach, Treasure Coast Puppy Training

Investing time in your puppy’s leash walking skills is a worthy decision. You have many years of adventures ahead, and they’ll be much more enjoyable if your dog can happily walk at your side when on their leash. 

If you’d like some more puppy training tips, you can download my free ultimate puppy training guide, you’ll find the link in the footer of this page. 

Inside you’ll find easy to follow training advice to help you understand how your puppy learns, plus crate training, potty training, puppy biting and a socialization checklist.

How to Train a Puppy to Walk on a Leash

How to Train a Puppy to Walk on a Leash

by | Nov 30, 2022

How to Train your Puppy to Walk on a Leash Without Pulling

Vero Beach Puppy Trainer, Gerry-Anna’s Top Tips

Teaching your puppy to walk calmly beside you on their leash is a skill that you’ll be so glad you took the time to teach.  

If your dog pulls on the leash, it can make walks stressful and make you dread going out for walks together. 

However, when your puppy can walk nicely on their leash without pulling or lunging, you will enjoy your walks and look forward to all the adventures you can have together.  

So, let’s explore how you can teach your puppy this important life skill. 

Where to start your puppy’s leash walking training

Whenever we start teaching a puppy or dog anything new, we need to make it as easy as possible for them. 

If your puppy finds the training too hard or frustrating, you’ll quickly lose their attention – and you’ll also probably quickly lose the desire to keep going too. 

Instead, we break everything down into small steps, so you both have plenty to celebrate as you progress through your training together.  

So, start your training in your yard or on a quiet street before progressing to more distracting environments.

It’s important that your puppy doesn’t learn that pulling on the leash gets you to move forwards. So even on potty walks, I recommend that you stop moving forward when your puppy pulls. Use a long leash of 6-8 feet which will give your puppy enough freedom to explore without the need to pull and get used to creating tension in the leash.  

Puppy Training Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fort Pierce

Puppy training expert Gerry-Anna helps humans and their dogs live together in harmony. Book a call today and start receiving support right away.

How to train a puppy to walk on a leash without pulling Very Beach Puppy Trainer training Sebastian Florida Treasure Coast Dog Training

Tips to Train your Puppy to Walk on a Leash Without Pulling

Step 1 – Reward your puppy for being at your side

The first step is to teach your puppy that being beside your leg is an awesome place to be!

We’re often teaching our dogs to sit in front of us to perform tasks, so we now need to build value in being at your side. 

  • Begin with your puppy in the backyard with your puppy dragging the leash. If your yard isn’t fenced then use a long leash and keep hold of it – but don’t allow the leash to get tight with tension.  
  • Begin walking in a big circle or oval and say your puppy’s name to get their attention. 
  • When your puppy catches up to you on your left side, say ‘yes’ and deliver a treat to their mouth right beside your left leg.  
  • ​​Keep walking at a brisk pace and mark with a yes, and treat when they follow along on your left side. Always reward with your left hand and keep food in your left pocket. 
  • Repeat, gradually increasing the steps you take between marking and rewarding.

Use the word “yes” to mark the behavior of walking on your left side. Pretty soon your puppy will learn that the word “yes” means a treat is coming!

Your puppy will soon realize that when they’re at your side, great things happen!

Step 2 – Put your puppy on the leash

Now your puppy thinks being beside you is a pretty good idea, we want to introduce having only a light touch on the leash. 

Repeat the training steps above, but this time hold the leash with just your pinky finger! The goal here is to practice walking with no tension on the leash. You want the leash to remain loose at all times. 

Keep these sessions short to start with and away from any interesting distractions. 

As your puppy gets the hang of this, you can increase the number of steps you take before rewarding your dog. 

Step 3 – Take your leash walking training on the road

Once your puppy understands that walking at your side is rewarding, you are ready to begin practising this new skill in new environments. 

Choose the places you progress your training to carefully, we don’t want to make it too hard for your puppy, too fast. 

A great idea is to head somewhere new, but begin your walk with a sniffari. A sniffari is a nature walk where your dog is encouraged to mooch around and have a sniff – which is a naturally calming activity. 

Once your puppy has had around 10 minutes to explore, you’re ready to practice your leash walking skills. 

Repeat the training steps you tried at home, rewarding your puppy frequently for being at your side. 

I hope you find these tips helpful. Start slow, and keep your sessions short but frequent. 

Puppy Training Vero Beach, Florida

A note from Gerry-Anna expert puppy trainer at Goldstar Puppy Academy.

 Vero Beach, Treasure Coast Puppy Training

Investing time in your puppy’s leash walking skills is a worthy decision. You have many years of adventures ahead, and they’ll be much more enjoyable if your dog can happily walk at your side when on their leash. 

If you’d like some more puppy training tips, you can download my free ultimate puppy training guide , you’ll find the link in the footer of this page. . 

Inside you’ll find easy to follow training advice to help you understand how your puppy learns, plus crate training, potty training, puppy biting and a socialization checklist.

Puppy Training Vero Beach – How to Stop My Puppy Nipping

Puppy Training Vero Beach – How to Stop My Puppy Nipping

by | Sep 13, 2022

Puppy Training Vero Beach – How to Stop My Puppy Nipping

Unfortunately for us, puppies explore the world with their mouths. As a puppy training expert providing puppy training in and around Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast, Gerry-Anna shares her do’s and don’ts for preventing and stopping puppy nipping.

It’s totally natural for them to bite and chew on just about everything including us. This is one of the biggest headaches of puppyhood and can make even the calmest pet parent rage. Rest assured though, most puppies grow out of this phase and do not grow up to be Cujo. While you do have to live through it, below are some tips to help you survive.

Vero Beach, Treasure Coast, Florida Puppy Trainer

For expert advice on all aspects of puppy training in Vero Beach and the surrounding area contact me or arrange a FREE consultation call to discuss how we can work together to give you a dream dog.

How to Stop Puppies Nipping

Here are the do’s and don’ts for stopping your puppy nipping:

Do: Make sure your puppy is getting plenty of undisturbed quality sleep in their crate. A tired puppy is like a tired toddler, grouchy and ready to throw a tantrum at a moment’s notice! After about an hour of awake activity, your puppy will be ready for rest, otherwise, they become a gremlin. Generally, I suggest at least two 2-hour crate naps per day as a minimum. This routine can greatly improve your puppy’s behavior. 

Do: Keep a leash on your puppy when they are loose in the room with you. This way you can easily get a hold of them without touching them when they need redirection. If they tend to chew the leash, soak it with bitter apple spray or get a plastic coated cable tether instead. Hitch the leash to a doorknob if you need to until they settle down! 

DO: Keep several toys in easy to reach areas so you can put them in your puppy’s mouth when they start biting or chewing on something inappropriate. Rotate the toys weekly so they stay novel. 

DO: Calmly take your puppy’s leash and walk them to their crate when they start getting crazy. If you’ve redirected them to a toy twice and they keep coming back to bite you, chew on furniture or pester your other animals, it’s time to go to nap-town for a spell. Don’t worry about the crate being a “punishment” in this situation, it’s not. Your pup will be asleep within 15 minutes. 

DON’T: Roughhouse with your puppy or use your hands as toys. Puppies don’t understand that sometimes it’s okay to put teeth on skin and sometimes it’s not. 

DON’T: Keep petting or touching your puppy when they start mouthing you. Your puppy may even go through an “untouchable” phase where it seems like you can’t even pet them because they are so bitey. Don’t worry, it will get better eventually!

DON’T: Make high pitched noises or squeals when your puppy bites. This can make them more excited. 

DON’T: Physically punish your puppy for biting. This likely won’t work in the long term but can damage your relationship with your puppy. And for some puppies, it can make them come back and bite harder!

Puppy biting is a serious pain but stay strong, it will be better in a couple of months!

Vero Beach Treasure Coast Florida Puppy Training How to Stop Your Puppy Nipping Dog Trainer

Puppy Training Vero Beach, Treasure Coast, Florida

Goldstar puppy training programs offer a revolutionary blend of in-person private puppy training, home-study tutorials, and group puppy classes.

We provide puppy training in Vero Beach and all areas of the Treasure Coast, Florida.

Through years of experience, we’ve discovered that this is the most effective way to train your puppy successfully. Your puppy progresses their new skills easily, with the optimum conditions to promote powerful learning that lasts.

So that you can enjoy life with a dog who is confident, well behaved, and an upstanding member of doggy society!

Check out some of Gerry-Anna’s amazing reviews.

Book your FREE consultation today for expert puppy training advice and find out how Gerry-Anna can help you and your puppy live stress-free.

Puppy Training Vero Beach – What Is A Puppy Settle Station?

Puppy Training Vero Beach – What Is A Puppy Settle Station?

by | Jul 30, 2022

Puppy Training Vero Beach, Florida.

Keep Your Puppy Out Of Trouble

It doesn’t take long to realize that your puppy is way too immature to have free roam of the house. After all, you wouldn’t turn a toddler loose in your home without supervision, would you? Luckily, there are various management options to keep your puppy out of trouble. In addition to tools like the crate and exercise pen, one of my favorite options to implement is what I call a settle station.

A settle station is an area where you’ll condition your dog to lie down and chill out on a bed or mat. It should be equipped with a 3-foot tether or leash that attaches your dog to a heavy piece of furniture. The tether should be long enough that your dog can stand up, turn around and get comfortable but not so long that they can get into trouble or get a running start to pull the furniture. Or you can place an eye bolt in the baseboard if you don’t have a strong enough piece of furniture.

Puppy Training Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fort Pierce

Puppy training expert Gerry-Anna helps humans and their dogs live together in harmony. Book a call today and start receiving support right away.

Teach Your Dog To Love A Settle Station

While they are tethered on the settle station, feed them a food-filled toy (like a Kong or Toppl) at least once a day.

Reward them anytime you see them choosing to lie in this area independently.

Periodically bait the settle station area with treats when the pup isn’t paying attention, so they’ll find the treats later on their own.

When they are tethered, give them a toy or special chewable item.

Puppy Training Vero Beach Goldstar puppy training has the best new puppy essentials list, from exercise pens to Toppl food and the best edible chew toys from nylabone

Puppy Training Vero Beach, Florida

Most young puppies take to tethering very quickly. Just make sure not to give them attention if they fuss. Wait for calm/quiet behavior before addressing them. This skill is invaluable because once your puppy understands the concept, you can tether them in any room you’re in to prevent them from getting into things and encourage them to settle. For example, I often tether the puppy to my pantry doorknob in the kitchen while I’m cooking to prevent them from getting underfoot. If they lay on their mat calmly out of the way, I may toss them a kibble.

Also, if your puppy is getting wild and bitey, you can easily pick up their leash and hitch them to a settle station so you can move away without getting gnawed on.

As with everything, safety is number one, so be sure to supervise your dog when they are tethered. Use your best judgment to decide if this confinement method works for your dog. If they are pulling excessively on the tether and your attempts to teach them to relax are not working, you may want to use an exercise pen or gated area instead.

The crate and exercise pen should remain in your puppies’ daily repertoire. Use the crate for undisturbed naps at least twice daily and use the playpen to contain your puppy when you can’t immediately supervise, but they don’t necessarily need a nap. The pen is especially nice if you have other pets or children because it puts a barrier around your pup to prevent unregulated interactions.

If you’re feeding them three meals daily, try giving them a food toy meal in each location daily to keep them positive!

A note from Gerry-Anna expert puppy trainer at Goldstar Puppy Academy.

 Vero Beach, Treasure Coast Puppy Training

Hi!

I’m Gerry-Anna, the leading puppy trainer on the Treasure Coast, and I’d love to support you through your puppyhood journey and beyond!

If you want a dog that will be an absolute joy to share your life with, who’s a pleasure to be around, then it all starts with early puppy training.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and that is so true when it comes to raising a well-mannered dog who is a wonderful addition to your family.

Fixing problems takes a lot more time, effort, and support.

But if you learn how to prevent problem behaviors from developing and how to communicate with your puppy so they understand exactly what you want – you have an incredible foundation for the road ahead.

When To Start Puppy Training

In an ideal world, you will start your puppy training as soon as your puppy comes home. But it probably doesn’t look quite as you’d expect!

It’s much less about teaching cute behaviors like sit, down, and handshake…and more about helping your puppy develop confidence, manners, and resilience.

Included in all of my puppy training programs are my wellness essentials. These are the foundations that will underpin your puppy’s ability to understand boundaries, respond appropriately and grow into a content adult dog.

If you’ve not started training yet and wonder if it’s too late, please don’t panic or feel bad. Your dog can learn these foundations at any age. It may take a little longer to undo bad habits, but it’s entirely possible with the right support.

Find out more about my Puppy Training Services here.