Puppies are the best. They’re cute, they’re playful, and they make you want to be a better person. The only problem? Puppies can also be pretty unruly—and it’s up to you as a parent to teach them how to behave.
If you don’t start training your puppy right away, bad habits will become engrained in his mind and become harder to break as he gets older!
So when should you start training your pup? What tips can help prevent common behavioral issues? Let’s get into it:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| It’s important to train your dog or cat to ensure they are well-behaved and socialized. |
| Effective training techniques include positive reinforcement, consistency, and patience. |
| Common training mistakes to avoid include using punishment, inconsistency, and unrealistic expectations. |
| Basic commands like sit, stay, come, down, and heel provide a solid foundation for future training. |
| Short, frequent training sessions are more effective than long, infrequent sessions. |
Socialize Your Pup
Socialization is one of the most important things you can do for your puppy.
It will help him learn how to interact with other people, animals and places. That way he won’t be afraid of anything when he gets older.
Socializing your puppy involves exposing him to new environments, sounds and situations so that he doesn’t develop fears later on in life.
The goal of socialization is to help him become comfortable with all sorts of new experiences so when it comes time for real-life interactions (like meeting new people), he’ll be ready!
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Teach Puppy Basic Commands At Home
Teach your puppy the basics of training at home, in a safe and controlled environment. This means teaching your puppy to:
- SIT
- STAY (or “GOOD”)
- DOWN (or “DOWN BOY!”)
- COME (“COME!” or “CHIHUAHUA!”)
You can also teach your dog other commands, like OFF, NO, LEAVE IT and DROP IT!
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Sit | Teach your puppy to sit on command, using treats and positive reinforcement. |
| Stay | Train your puppy to stay in one spot until given a release command. |
| Come | Teach your puppy to come when called, rewarding with treats and praise. |
| Down | Train your puppy to lie down on command, rewarding with treats and praise. |
| Heel | Walk your puppy on a leash at your side, using treats and praise to reinforce good behavior. |
Don’t Let Your Puppy Do What You Don’t Want Him To Do Later
It’s important to recognize that puppies are not fully grown dogs and need to be trained to behave in certain ways.
When you’re training your puppy, it’s important to remember that the things you don’t want him or her doing later on jumping on people, chewing on furniture or shoes, running around the house unsupervised should be discouraged during this training period.
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Eliminate Bad Behavior Early
- Bad behavior is easier to eliminate when it’s young.
Puppies will do things that you might find surprising or funny: they’ll bark at the ceiling fan, chew on your shoes and slippers, nip at their siblings’ ears (and sometimes your ankles), and so on.
The good news is that this kind of behavior can be cut off before it becomes a habit or a problem if you notice it early enough!
You should also keep in mind that some behaviors are going to be harder to change than others; if your puppy likes to chew furniture legs but doesn’t seem interested in chewing anything else (like an appropriate chew toy), don’t worry about correcting this behavior right away. If your pup starts getting into trouble as he grows older and bigger, then by all means get him started on more appropriate chewing habits right away!
| Bad Dog Behavior | Best Time to Address | Effective Training Methods | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barking | 3 months | Positive Reinforcement | 70% |
| Chewing | 4 months | Deterrent Sprays & Repellents | 85% |
| Digging | 5 months | Providing Digging Zone | 80% |
| Jumping | 6 months | Clicker Training | 75% |
Eliminating bad dog behavior early is important for the well-being of both you and your furry friend.
Prevent Resource Guarding
While it’s important to establish yourself as the leader, it’s also important to prevent resource guarding.
This is when a dog guards a resource, like food or toys, from other dogs or people. It’s a natural instinct in dogs to protect their food but if it becomes aggressive it can be dangerous for everyone involved.
To prevent this from happening you should use positive reinforcement when training your puppy so they don’t feel as though they have to guard anything they have (or want).
There are lots of resources online that can teach you how to effectively train your pup using positive reinforcement so check them out if this is something new for you!
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Know When To Save And When To Quit
If you are not getting the results you want, it is time to change your approach. If your puppy isn’t listening, go back a step and try another training tip or method.
For example, if your puppy is chewing on everything, try giving them chew toys instead of letting them chew on furniture or other objects.
If they still aren’t listening when you introduce new training methods or strategies then it could be time for a break from training altogether.
Take Your Puppy Out In Public As Soon As Possible
One of the best things you can do for your puppy is to get them out in public as soon as possible. Puppies need to be socialized early in life, so if you don’t start exposing them to new people, places and things right away, they may later become fearful of those things instead of being confident around them.
This process will take time it’s a lifelong processbut getting started with a local pet store or park is always a good idea.
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Teach Your Dog About Being Groomed And Trimmed
It’s important you teach your puppy to enjoy being groomed. The more they enjoy it, the easier it will be for you both to keep them looking great.
You can do this by teaching them to enjoy being brushed, blow dried and bathed so that when it comes time for a trim or even just a quick brush up, they don’t stress out about how much fun grooming time is going to be!
| Grooming Activity | Best Time to Start Training | Recommended Frequency | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brushing | 3 months | Every 2-3 days | 85% |
| Nail Clipping | 3 months | Every 4-6 weeks | 70% |
| Teeth Brushing | 4 months | Daily or every other day | 60% |
| Ear Cleaning | 6 months | Every 2-3 weeks | 75% |
Teaching your dog about being groomed and trimmed is an important aspect of pet care. The table above shows grooming activities, best time to start training, recommended frequency, and success rate of each activity.
Using reputable brands, such as Furminator or Wahl, can make the grooming experience more comfortable and efficient for both you and your furry friend. By starting training early and consistently practicing good grooming habits, you can help ensure your dog is happy and healthy for years to come.
Use Positive Reinforcement To Encourage Good Behavior Throughout Their Life
Reinforcement is a crucial part of training for your puppy and will be key to their future well-being. In positive reinforcement, you reinforce good behavior through praise, treats, toys and play.
This helps encourage the puppy to repeat these behaviors. For example: If you want your pup not to jump up on people when greeting them and instead sit politely for attention, give verbal praise such as “Good boy!” when he does this correctly and reward him with a treat or toy after doing so.
Negative reinforcement uses unpleasant consequences like physical punishment or yelling in order to correct bad behavior in dogs.
While it may seem harsh at first glance, it is actually an effective way of training puppies quickly because they are more likely to do what they know won’t hurt them (like not jumping) rather than what could potentially cause them pain (jumping).
For example: If your puppy jumps on visitors entering your home, ignore him until he sits down next time someone comes over; then give him praise when he does so properly again!
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Enroll In An Obedience Class With Other Dogs And People
The most important thing you can do is socialize your puppy. Taking an obedience class with other dogs and people is a great way to acclimate the dog to different situations, noises, and people.
During the first few classes, you will learn how to teach your puppy basic commands like sit, stay, come and walk on a leash without pulling. You will also be able to practice tricks like lying down or staying in one place (called “leave it”).
You should start training your puppy as soon as you bring them home from the shelter or breeder so they can learn everything they need by their first birthday!
With Proper Training, A Puppy Can Grow Into A Mature And Well-Behaved Adul.
Most importantly, though, you should ensure that your puppy is able to interact with other animals and people. This will help them grow into a mature adult who understands how to behave around other dogs and humans.
It’s also important that you expose your dog to different places and situations—this will give them the opportunity to learn about new environments and become more comfortable with change.
For instance, if you want him or her to be comfortable in a variety of situations (like going on walks), then he or she should be able to get used to walking alongside other dogs while on leash; this way they can become familiar with how it feels when there are multiple dogs around them at once.
The same goes for socializing at restaurants if there are ever any problems in these scenarios during adulthood (which we hope won’t happen!), the earlier you start training puppies social skills, the better off everyone will be!
| Dog Breed | Age of Completion | Type of Training | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | 6 months | Positive Reinforcement | 80% |
| German Shepherd | 8 months | Clicker Training | 75% |
| Poodle | 4 months | Obedience Training | 90% |
| Bulldog | 12 months | Behavioral Training | 70% |
Conclusion
In the end, a well-trained puppy is not only more enjoyable to live with, but it will make your life easier as well.
Any dog owner can tell you that the most rewarding thing about owning a pet is having someone to love who loves you back unconditionally. So take your time and enjoy every minute of this incredible journey!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you with training your puppy:
Teach Your Puppy These 5 Basic Commands: AKC provides expert advice on the 5 basic commands every puppy should know and how to teach them.
How to Train a Puppy: Daily Paws offers tips on how to train your new puppy from socialization to obedience training.
Puppy Training Tips: Spirit Dog Training offers a series of tips and tricks for training your new puppy, including potty training and crate training.
FAQs
What are the first commands I should teach my puppy?
The first commands you should teach your puppy are often referred to as the “basic commands.” These include sit, stay, come, down, and heel. They will form the foundation for all future training.
What kind of rewards should I use when training my puppy?
Positive reinforcement is the most effective method of training, and using small treats or praise to reward your puppy’s good behavior is always a good idea.
How long should training sessions be for my puppy?
Puppies have a short attention span, so training sessions should only be 5 to 10 minutes long. Multiple short sessions throughout the day will be more effective than one long session.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when training my puppy?
Some common mistakes to avoid include being inconsistent with commands, using punishment instead of positive reinforcement, and not being patient and consistent enough with training.
What should I do if my puppy doesn’t seem to be responding to training?
If your puppy isn’t responding to training, it’s important to reassess your training techniques and methods. You may need to simplify the command, increase the reward, or seek the help of a professional trainer.
My name is Dr. Hellen James, and I am a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience in pets training. My qualifications are that I have been involved in the pet industry since I was 16 years old. I have worked as a groomer, dog trainer, and veterinarian.
