• "Unexplaining" the command
  We command to the dog "Sit down!", without helping him to take the position (and that way to explain, what we want him to do) and we wait for the dog to sit down. Of course, usually the dog doesn't do it. Next mistake is often repeating the command. Dog, if he doesn't know the command, wont sit without help even if he gets ten commands. (If he does, he is more probably tired.)
  
  
• Command follows after the physical force
  We jerk the leash and after it we say the command "to my leg !". It is proved, that if we change the order of command - physical force, even after 1000 repeating the dog won't figure out and understand the connection between command and requested excersise.
  
  
• The physical force follows too late after the command
  We give a command and wait, if the dog will do it. When nothing is happening, we start to shape the dog to the right position. This way, dog will start to understand the excersise by the time, but it will take much more time than if we force him to obey immediately. Plus, the dog learns to work slowly and lazily. Remember : the faster you are, the faster will be your dog.
  
  
• Not adequate reward
  We usually do not bless the dog too much (or with bad intonation). Some people do not bless the dog at all ! Also happens very often, that the reward is not interesting for the dog (the dog is not hungry and we offer him some food, or he is not after aport and we try to please him with a toy).
  
  
• Breaking the rule of going from the easy to difficult
  Usually this happens when we teach the dog to come, and before he starts to do it for certainty, we require him to sit in front of us and then sit next to our leg. Or at the excersise of laying the dog aside, we start to prolong the distance from the dog and the time of him being alone. In most cases this leads to that the dog will leave the place.
  
  
• Senseless repeating the command
  We give a command, the dog doesn't react, so we repeat the command (2x, 5x etc.) - and the dog turns "deaf". He simply learns, that it is ok to obey for the thirds (tenth) command. Remember : 1 command = 1 performance.
  
  
• Inconsequency
  The dog doesn't make the required command (or only partially - for example instead of sitting he just pretends to sit and immediately stands again) and we don't correct him - don't finish the excersise to the end. This way we only prolong the time of the new excersise to be learned well and also, the performances of our dog won't be reliable.

Only learning makes wise and also, experience keeps no school. Important is not to repeat the same mistakes round and round.

Helena