Why Proper Dog Training Practice is Essential

Practice allows you to work on getting things right. It allows for mistakes to occur.  

During practice you are able to positively work with your dog to develop: 

an appropriate time and placement for reinforcement, praise, along with a mutual understanding. 

Once a skill is learned at the basic level 

it then needs to be challenged and reinforced properly to be strengthened. 

As improvement occurs it may then be utilized with confidence in various settings and situations.

Most of the time practice is done in a controlled setting with minimal distractions allowing the behavior to be learned correctly. 

However if no time is also spent practicing in an uncontrolled setting.  You will find yourself struggling to have further development. 

Uncontrolled settings allow you to strengthen your confidence and the confidence in the behaviors you are asking.

In turn you and your dog will be able to adapt to random occurrences and situations without feeling overwhelmed. 

True growth of a behavior happens by maintaining a proper balance of practice in a controlled and uncontrolled setting. 

You and your dog first work out the kinks and get the behaviors right. Then work on challenging the behaviors to strengthen them in various environments and settings. 

Practice should be fun, fresh, and not rushed always with an objective in mind. 

Having a goal gives you direction for your behavior training and relationship building with your dog. 

Always be positive. 

Never neglect your training. 

Dog Training should not feel like a chore. 

Aimlessly overworking is ineffective. 

A little bit at a time. Looking for how you can set you and your dog up for lasting success. 

Seek to end your practices on a positive note. Not trying to force any repeated successful outcomes.