What Happens If You Don't Train Your Dog?

‍What Happens If You Don’t Train Your Dog?

If you own a dog and don’t actively try to train it, there are several possible outcomes. Some outcomes are good, while others are not. You will need to determine the level of training that your dog needs based on their breed, age, and energy level. Some dogs do well with minimal training while others require a lot of training to be manageable in the home.

In some cases, dogs that have little training will have good manners and can exist in the home with little to no issues. In these cases, the dogs will generally be house trained, crate trained, and know basic commands like “sit” and “lie down.” As long as the dog isn’t too excitable, shows no behavioral issues, and is generally happy and healthy, then this level of training is not an issue.

Other dogs, however, will not do well with little training. Breeds with high intelligence and energy levels will likely do best in a situation where they receive lots of training. Intelligent dogs need a lot of mental stimulation, which is best given through training. Dogs with high energy levels can use some of that energy when learning commands and tricks. Dogs that are both intelligent and have a lot of energy will require regular training to be manageable in the home.

If you don’t try to train your dog at all, there are not many good possible outcomes. A completely untrained dog will use the bathroom inside, destroy furniture and personal belongings, and will bark and be overall unpleasant to live with. Untrained dogs will make a mess and be difficult to calm down. Untrained dogs with these behaviors are often returned to a shelter, even though the behaviors could have been corrected with some training.

Overall, all dogs require at least some training to be happy, healthy, and fun to live with in the home. All dogs should be house trained, crate trained, and know a few basic commands.

Common Training Mistakes

Oftentimes, dog owners have good intentions and try to train their dogs. However, they may be making some common mistakes that are confusing their dog and making it harder for them to learn commands. Even though the person is trying to train their dog, they aren’t learning commands and may seem disobedient. The following are some of the most common training mistakes.

You Aren’t Training Often Enough

One of the most important parts of training a dog is routine and frequency. To make sure your dog learns and remembers commands and tricks, you need to train your dog regularly. You don’t necessarily need to have a training session every day, but at least once a week is recommended.

Additionally, when you do train your dog, don’t stop after ten minutes of practicing commands. Spend a good 20 or 30 minutes working with your dog so that they have a better chance of remembering what they’ve practiced.

You React To Bad Behaviors

One of the most important things to remember when training your dog is the power of positive reinforcement. When going throughout your day, try to remember to reward good behaviors whenever you see them. This will keep you in a proactive training practice instead of a reactive one.

If you only react to bad behaviors by punishing them instead of rewarding good behaviors, then your dog will have a harder time learning how they should behave. Try to not react to bad behaviors at all. Instead, reward good behaviors with praise to positively reinforce the things you want your dog to be doing.

You Don’t Practice In Different Environments

When you train a dog, the goal is that they can perform the trick or command in any situation. If you only practice commands with your dog inside your quiet house, you can’t expect them to perfectly perform the command in a different situation.

Vary your dog’s environment by holding training sessions in different locations. Try your backyard, the park, or a dog-friendly store. This will help your dog adapt to different situations and will ensure that they will have good behavior when put in new situations.

Why People Don’t Train Their Dog

Many people will adopt a dog and not realize how much work it takes to train them or think that it is acceptable to not train them. Teaching a dog basic manners, routines, and commands takes time and dedication, and all potential dog owners should be aware of that.

The following are some of the most common reasons that people don’t train their dogs. Make sure that none of these apply to you if you decide to adopt a dog.

They Think Puppy Behaviors Are Cute

Many people will adopt a puppy and not train it at all. People usually find puppy behaviors to be cute, even if they are indicative of behavioral problems later in life. Sometimes, people are also lazy when it comes to training a puppy.

Some examples of these behaviors include:

• Letting a puppy play with a shoe because it is cute, even though they will be able to destroy it within a few months when they are bigger and have stronger teeth
• Letting a puppy jump on people when they get excited. When they are small, this is not necessarily an issue, but if they will grow to be a large dog, this can be an unwanted behavior
• Using puppy pads and not attempting to teach them to use the bathroom outside as they grow older

All of these behaviors are seen as “cute” to puppy owners. However, when the puppy grows up without having these behaviors corrected, the family will end up with an adult dog that destroys shoes, bags, and furniture, who jumps all over people when they get excited, and who isn’t house trained.

These are all behaviors that could have been corrected early on but weren’t. These are also behaviors that will cause families to return their dogs.

Neglect

Unfortunately, another common reason that people don’t train their dogs is neglect. Some people have no desire to train their dog or even spend time with their dog, so they leave them to live their lives with no intervention, discipline, or routine. Dogs that grow up in neglectful households will not be house trained or crate trained, and they won’t know any commands.

Dogs in these situations are not mentally stimulated, likely won’t receive enough exercise, and don’t have a bond with their owner. This can lead to health problems in addition to behavioral problems.

Avoid a neglectful situation by implementing routines and training when you adopt a dog.