Last Updated on June, 2023
It looks like a new Puppy Owner is on board! But, as much as it is a joy to add a new four-legged friend to your family, you should not forget that it comes with many responsibilities.
Dog ownership is not an easy job. There are a lot of things you should do in order to get your dog accustomed to being with you. Training them is the most important of all.
Training your puppy is essential because it can help your dog’s behavior to be what you wish.
However, the catch is. Puppy training is not an easy task. But Not to worry! We’re here to help.
Below are some of the most useful and important puppy training tips that’ll help train your puppy into a well-behaved, intelligent and obedient canine companion.
Here are the 3 key points from this article:
- Puppies should be trained early, around 8 weeks old.
- Training should be consistent, using positive reinforcement techniques.
- Socialization is key to a well-behaved dog.
TLDR:
- Start training your puppy as early as possible.
- Set up a regular schedule for feeding, potty breaks, and sleep.
- Be consistent and patient with your pup.
- Use positive reinforcement techniques and avoid punishments.
- Socialize your puppy early on.
- House train your pup patiently and consistently.
- Teach your puppy not to bite.
- Work on basic obedience commands.
- Crate train your puppy.
Table of Contents
Here Are The 12 Puppy Training Tips
1. Start Training Early
Beginning training as soon as your puppy is 8 weeks old is a must. At this age, your puppy will be ready to understand and learn basic commands such as “sit,” “down,” and “stay,”.
Introduce more advanced training and take them to puppy classes later as they grow.
2. Set Up A Schedule
You can make dog training easier for yourself by implementing a training schedule that will ensure your canine companion learns consistently and quickly.
Another benefit of implementing a schedule is that it will help your puppy to get used to his new environment and will help him know what’s expected of him. It also plays a significant role during the housebreaking process.
It will also help you in many ways, for example; A schedule allows you to plan out the pup’s day in advance rather than planning everything out at that very moment.
Create a daily schedule for your puppy and stick to it. For example, make sure that your pup is eating and sleeping at the same time every day.
Keep in mind that a puppy needs to be fed 3 times a day, unlike an adult dog who needs to be fed once or twice a day. So for your convenience, make his meal times exactly when you have your breakfast, lunch, dinner.
When it comes to potty breaks, take your pup outside every 2 to 4 hours and often while the potty training process.
3. Patience
The key to successful training is having patience. If you have the ability to give your dog time, then you will have a happier life with a better behaved and more obedient dog. It is important to understand that dogs need to train in order to learn what they should be doing. If you are too quick to yell at them or punish them when they misbehave, then it will not help your relationship with them or their obedience level.
You must remember that each moment is an opportunity for training and must be taken as such by being patient and teaching your dog what they should be doing in each moment of the interaction.
For instance, if you are playing fetch with your dog and he suddenly drops the ball after making an excited noise and begins to chew on it, then you will need to have patience.
You should not punish him for either of these things because they are natural tendencies of a dog, and in order to help him learn what you expect, it may take time and repetition.
4. Consistency
Being consistent while dog training is extremely important. If you fail to be consistent, you might find it hard to see results.
Consistency also helps to keep a steady positive relationship between you and your dog as well as keeping them motivated for training sessions and behavior changes in general.
5. Avoid Punishments
Do not punish your puppy even if he makes mistakes while you train him. You should know that punishing your puppy is a pointless thing to do because he will have no idea why he’s being punished.
Also, punishing your dog will diminish the trust that the animal has in you. If you choose to be harsh with your pup, expect to see some major behavioral problems in the future because if you keep treating him this way, he’ll remember it and adopt his own behavior.
So keep in mind that it is not ok to punish your puppy.
6. Positive Reinforcement
The best way to train puppies is through positive reinforcement. Positive rewards dog training is a scientifically proven system for training dogs.
It uses only positive reinforcement so both you and your dog will be more engaged and happy. This technique uses the science of “operant conditioning”. This type of dog training is to reward good behavior and ignore unwanted behavior.
Rewards can be either treats, lots of praise, or your puppy’s favorite toy. Always mix the reward to make the training process fun and interesting.
Positive reinforcement does not always mean treats and toys. Puppies love an excited tone, so if you sound happy and excited while training, your puppy too will be happy and respond to training very well.
Positive reinforcement dog training teaches your dog to understand what choices he’s making so he can work with you instead of against you-whether at home, in public, or anywhere that obedience is required.
7. Keep Training Sessions Short
The longer your dog’s tail is waggy, the happier they are. A happy pup means a safer and less stressful life for you.
By “keeping sessions short,” you can find out quickly what works and what doesn’t. It’s also good for your pup’s well-being that way, so it won’t cause stress or anxiety later on when they try to repeat the behavior outside of sessions. (1)
Puppies have shorter attention spans. This means training them for a long period of time can introduce training fatigue. The signs of training fatigue can include:
- Taking time to respond to cues
- Lack of interest in working together
- Not interested in toys and treats anymore
Training for short periods of time can set your puppy up for success much faster. Also, focus on keeping the sessions fun, as this will engage your pup to train more with you.
8. Socialization
Socialization is extremely important for a dog; it means taking your puppy out to explore new environments, getting to know new faces, other animals and dogs. Socialization is what makes your puppy a good dog in the future.
Have your dog meet new people and in different situations, like at the park, vet’s office or a groomer. This will help them feel less threatened when they’re in new, strange environments.
If your puppy isn’t well socialized, there is a higher chance of him getting stemmed to behavioral problems like excessive barking, aggression and fear. Well, socialized puppies will always be much calmer and more friendlier than a dog who is not properly socialized.
9. House Training
House training is the most crucial task that you as a puppy owner need to complete because you don’t want your puppy to pee inside the house.
Start potty training right after bringing your new dog home, set up a schedule and work accordingly. As mentioned earlier, feed him at least 3 times a day and take him out for potty breaks after waking up, eating, playing and before going to bed. Make sure you do everything at the same time every day. (2)
Keep in mind that this whole housebreaking process is going to take time, probably at least 4 to 6 months, so it’s important for you to be patient.
Accidents are bound to happen, so avoid punishments like rubbing your pup’s nose in the mess or even scolding as this will scare him. The only way to properly house train your dog is through positive reinforcement methods.
Related: Potty Training a Pitbull Puppy
10. Teach Your Puppy Not To Bite
One of the main issues that most people have is how to get a pup to stop biting. Puppies bite in order to communicate or play with their owners as they do with their littermates. They learn this habit from their mother, and it’s safe to say that it is not one of the good habits a dog should have.
You need to teach them that biting is not a good behavior, so begin training during playtime. For example, if your puppy bites, yelp loudly and end the playtime immediately, and if they keep biting, walk away and ignore them for a minute. Doing this will let your puppy know that biting will end fun, which should alleviate the behavior.
11. Work On Basic Obedience
It is essential to work on basic commands because if you don’t teach your dog proper commands, then he will not behave himself. Your dog must know a few basic things like “sit” and “stay.” If you can train your puppy to be obedient, then he will live a happy life and will be a well-behaved canine companion.
12. Crate Training
A crate can do a lot of goods for both you and your pup. Teaching your dog to spend his time inside the crate can help him while you’re unable to supervise him. Crates are also a great way to housebreak a new pup, as dogs will typically not mess in the area where they sleep and prevent bad behaviors like soiling and chewing.
Get Started Now!
Training a new puppy will not be an easy task. It takes time, effort, and, most importantly, patience. However, keep in mind that the time you spend training your puppy now will pay off, ideally when he becomes an adult dog.
Anyways I hope this training information and tips will help you be consistent and follow the steps above. You’ll have a well-behaved canine companion in no time.
FAQs
Was this article helpful?
