Avoid These 5 Big Dog Training Mistakes
When it comes to training your dog, avoiding common dog training mistakes can make all the difference in your success. At Valor K9 Academy Boise, we help dog owners build strong, lasting relationships with their dogs through clear communication, structure, and consistency. In this post, I’m highlighting five big dog training mistakes I often see — and how to fix them.
1. Lack of Clarity
One of the most common dog training mistakes is not being clear in your communication. Dogs thrive when they understand what is expected of them. If your cues are inconsistent or vague, your dog will be confused and may not follow through. At Valor K9 Academy Boise, we teach our clients to use consistent words, tones, and timing to help their dogs succeed.
2. Not Being Consistent
Training takes repetition and structure. A major mistake is being inconsistent with commands or allowing a behavior sometimes but not others. For example, letting your dog jump on guests occasionally but correcting it at other times creates mixed signals. Consistency is key to teaching reliable obedience.
3. Overusing Treats
Using food as a motivator is a great tool in the beginning stages of training, but relying solely on treats can create a dog who only listens when food is involved. At Valor K9 Academy Boise, we focus on building relationship-based training where the dog listens because they trust and respect you, not just because of the reward.
4. Training Without Proofing
Another big mistake is not proofing behaviors in real-life situations. Your dog may sit perfectly in the living room but struggle when distractions are present. We teach clients to gradually introduce distractions and train in multiple environments, which strengthens the dog’s ability to generalize obedience everywhere.
5. Giving Up Too Soon
Training is not always linear. Progress comes in waves, and setbacks are normal. One of the most damaging dog training mistakes is giving up when results aren’t immediate. Stay the course, be patient, and trust the process. With the right guidance and commitment, your dog can achieve incredible results.
At Valor K9 Academy Boise, I work one-on-one with clients to help them overcome these common dog training mistakes and unlock their dog’s full potential. If you’re ready to take your training to the next level, let’s talk!
Written by Amy Pishner
About the Author:
Amy Pishner is the Founder of Valor K9 Academy, a veteran-owned dog training company in Boise, Idaho. With over a decade of experience training thousands of dogs, Amy specializes in balanced dog training that builds trust, obedience, and lasting results.