Have you brought a new puppy home recently? And, are you struggling with the pup’s tantrums? If yes, then here are some puppy training tips for you. Puppy training is a smart move. The base of the puppy training should be handled properly and professionally. While you must be highly excited about the fact that you have brought home a new pup, but hold on! Excitement can grow a lot more if you successfully train your puppy.
You might have noticed one fundamental question of majority puppy parents: how should a pup be raised? The answer always remains the same, “Train first.”
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Why is it essential to train a puppy?
Like humans, puppies and dogs also have their natural behavior. All of the actions which they possess might not be very satisfying as they can be dangerous and risky at the same time. For this reason, you must set specific puppy rules in your home and outdoors. By doing this, your puppy will know which of the activities are not acceptable and which are permissible.
Now, for a puppy, it will take time to adjust to the new pet parents. Your puppy will witness a new environment, for which every member of the family needs to consistent with the set of rules. This will gradually make your puppy act responsibly and make the puppy mentally healthy. So, if you set the rules even before the puppy arrives at your home. It will help you train your puppy right after bringing the puppy to the new environment.
Additionally, not all animals are pets. Considering that humans pet puppies and dogs and enter their personal space, it is important that we train them to be comfortable in such situations. Puppy training is essential because it will coach them to socialize with other animals and humans indoors and outdoors. One should eliminate the negative behaviors from a puppy’s lifestyle. Hence puppy training plays a vital role in maintaining a positive lifestyle. The most important of all the coaching is to make the puppy a good listener.
How to create Rules for the Puppy
First and foremost, every family member shall be present while the rules are set. A collective decision is best for puppy training. It is essential to maintain the consistency of the rules. This will later help the puppy avoid getting confused about what to do and not to do. You do not need to make a vast rule book for the puppy. It is better to keep things simple for the puppy and the family. Hence, the less complicated rules, the fewer complications during puppy training.
This goes the basic understanding of why and how of puppy training. Basic puppy training comes first. At times, the training might overlap, but it is okay if it is kept simple according to the family members. So, let us begin with the set of basic training.
Basic Puppy Training Tips
There are way too many essential puppy training tips. You will have to categorize them before you bring a puppy. It is crucial to make a different training set instead of going randomly with the practice. There must be a cognition flow for the puppy to capture the command reasons swiftly. In that case, the first tip for you to puppy train is:
- Positive reinforcement: Remember, pups and dogs are better playful than fearful. The first habit you must adhere to is being positive towards your puppy. Any task which your pup completes, reward generously. This will make your pup learn faster. This habit encourages puppies and dogs. If your pup fails to do a task, do not be harsh, rather be content and try next time. Severe punishment can make your puppy fearful and not be in good mental health.
Hence, you will have to be patient during puppy training. If not, the rest of the training will go in vain. Following positive reinforcement, train your puppy with socializing skills.
- Socializing: Keeping it simple, socializing is the key to solve most behavioral problems. Puppies who were socialized enough became well-adjusted adults. Exposure brings the best out of a puppy. Take your little puppy out for a walk (always remember to put on a leash and a collar), and make the pup meet new friends, people. Also, introduce him to different places and sounds so that later, your puppy refrains from barking at unusual sounds. Socializing reduces aggression, fear, anxiety, and excessive barking. The outdoor exposure will make your puppy feel comfortable in various situations.
Hence, you will have to focus on the engagements with the outside world so that, in any case, you bring your puppy to a new place, your puppy will not become anxious and aggressive and will be jovial. Following socializing, train your puppy with bite prevention ability.
- Bite Prevention: The essential part of puppy training is to teach bite prevention. The puppy should be able to develop this ability for the greater good. Puppies generally love chewing, also biting. It is similar to human babies; when the teeth start to grow through the gums, babies generally like exploring the use of teeth by chewing anything they get in front of them. So, the puppies need to learn to use the teeth gently. The procedure is, put your finger into his mouth to allow him to bite, but remove your finger or yelp at your puppy every time he bites hard. The regular practice of this will make him learn to use his teeth gently. This will gradually teach your pup to be careful whenever he uses his teeth. Do not forget to reward him when he masters this ability.
Now that you know, developing biting prevention ability is one of the essential tasks, it is vital to keep in mind puppy treats. Never forget to treat your puppy whenever the pup completes learning and obeying a command, and also once your puppy masters in it. Following this, there comes House training for puppies. It would be best if you focused on every part of your puppy’s lifestyle. Remember to make it healthy.
- House Training: For most owners and pet parents, house training is at the top of the list. It is difficult to prioritize one exercise over another, as these will overlap. Is it not disturbing if your puppy keeps on peeing and pooping anywhere in the house? It is, and this is the exact reason why a puppy should be house trained immediately after welcoming home. Coming to the procedure, maintain a timetable for your little puppy, which will include time to eat, drink, and sleep. Every day, after your little pup wakes up, take him outside for pee and poop. Repeat after every meal your puppy has. Also, remember to take him out after your puppy drinks water. Your puppy might not pee and poop immediately after drinking or eating, but gradually, he will learn that pooping and peeing inside the house is a big no!
Hence, reward your pup with special treats when your puppy relieves himself to the right spot. Immediately after house training comes Crate training. This is important for a puppy to learn to maintain stability at a very young age.
- Crate Training: The usefulness of crate training is about confining your puppy when you cannot supervise the pup. Puppies generally grow an attachment for the crates as it becomes a favorite spot for them. Crate training will also refrain your little puppy from developing bad habits like chewing inappropriate things. Most puppies will not eliminate their waste where they sleep, so if the crate training is done correctly, your puppy will learn not to pee and poop indoor.
Following crate training comes Confinement. It is recommended not to overlook this training, as it can cause fear, aggression, anxiety in your puppy.
- Confinement: Do Not Keep Your Puppy in Crate for a Long Time! This should be kept in mind when your puppy heads towards the crate or every time you take your pup to the crate. It is vital to limit the in-house run and gnaw the furniture, but keeping your puppy inside a crate for long hours to confine your little puppy is not a good idea. Both freedom and restrictions are essential but at a limit. Confine your little puppy in a small room and make a baby door for him to run around. This will make him understand the importance of Confinement along with freedom. If your puppy develops a habit of chewing anything near him, then it can be risky for your puppy. This is avoidable by confining your little puppy in a small room with a baby gate.
Once your puppy has learned house training, crate training, and Confinement, it will be easier for you and your puppy to work on the prevention of chewing inappropriately.
- Prevention of Inappropriate Chewing: It is essential to keep an eye on your puppy if he is indulged in destructive chewing habits. If yes, stop your puppy right there. Remember not to be harsh while preventing chewing. Be gentle, as puppies love to chew. If you are a new pet parent, you should pay special attention to it. The procedure to prevent inappropriate chewing is, make your puppy learn what to chew and what not to chew. Introduce your puppy with various chew toys, and take your puppy to the confinement zone. This will prevent him from chewing shoes, leather, furniture.
Remember to treat your puppy every time your pup obeys your commands, instructions, and requests. Next is to Prevent behavioral problems of your little puppy.
- Prevention on Behavioral Disorders: Behaviors are adapted faster than anything else. It is fruitful to train your puppy right behaviors before your puppy adapts to the wrong ones. Provide your little pet with pet toys, chewing toys, small soft balls to play with. The more you engage your puppy with games, exercise, and exciting activities, the less they tend to cater to bad behavior. Allow your puppy to play with you and your family when your little pup wants to. If not, your puppy will automatically indulge in aggression and bad behavior.
These eight essential puppy training tips are crucial for your puppy to grow into a responsible, obedient, and healthy adult. Along with these, training also requires a basic obedience program which will make your puppy learn when to sit, stand, leave, lie down, and more.
Basic Obedience Program for your Puppy
There are five basic obedience programs for your puppy to teach them under your supervision. You will have to be patient with the training procedure, as they take time. Puppies and dogs tend to forget these. The key to success is to keep your little pup engaged in these training and exercises throughout the puppy’s lifetime. The five basic obedience programs are as follows:
- To Sit: To make your puppy learn how to sit is the most basic. There are different methods of making your puppy learn how to sit. One of them is through Capturing. Let us go step by step.
- Take some dog food or dog treat in your hand, and stand in front of your little pup.
- Pull out one of your hands and make a gesture to make him sit.
- Wait for your little puppy to sit; once he sits, say “yes,” and give your pup the treat you have.
- Change your position and stand aside; wait for your pup to stand and sit again.
- Once your puppy sits, again say a cheerful “yes.”
- Give some dog treats, and make a sweet and loving gesture to make him happy.
This method will gradually make him learn to sit if repeated frequently. Remember to reward him with dog treats, love, and affection. These gestures will help your puppy learn faster.
- To Stand: This is another basic obedience for puppy training. A puppy needs to learn these basic commands. The procedure of making your puppy learn how to stand is as follows:
- Stand in front of your puppy and keep dog treats in your hand.
- Pull out one of your hands in a position where it will rich the puppy only if he stands.
- Command aloud “stand” and wait for your little puppy to stand.
- Once he successfully stands after the command, reward your puppy with a dog treat.
- Repeat this procedure by making him sit first and then stand.
This Sit and Stand training should go simultaneously, as it will be easier for your little pup to understand the difference between both commands.
- To Lie Down: This is similar to make your puppy learn how to sit. Let us see the procedure and keep the steps repeating frequently.
- Take some dog food in your hand, sit on the floor in front of your little pup.
- Keep one of your hands attached to the floor and say “sit” to your pup.
- Wait for your little pet to sit; once he sits, command him saying, “Lie Down.”
- Your pup will follow your hand, thinking of the treat. Once your dog lies down, give your puppy the dog food.
- Repeat this technique frequently, and every time your puppy obeys the command, treat well.
- To Stay: After Sit, Stand, and Lie down, Stay is another basic command which your pup should learn. This is a huge task and a bit time-consuming, but the more often it is practiced, the faster your puppy will develop the command Stay. Let us see the procedure to make your puppy learn how to stay.
- Remember to teach your puppy to learn the word FREE. This will give your puppy a cue that means your dog can unfreeze himself from the position your puppy is in.
- Take a doggie treat and remember to go slow in this procedure initially.
- Stand by your little puppy and command to sit or stand.
- Once your puppy sits and stands on your command, give your little puppy a treat.
- Sit in front of your puppy and give him another treat and ask to command him to stay.
- Repeat this while he learns the command stay.
Make sure your little puppy gradually understands this command. Do reward your puppy with a doggie treat whenever he completes the orders successfully.
- To Loose-Leash Walk: Your puppy needs to learn how to walk while your puppy is on the leash. Leash laws are present in many countries, and it is suitable for your puppy to be on the leash. Make some cues for your puppy, so he understands when to walk and when not. There are words like ‘Move forward,’ Let’s go,’ or ‘Heel,’ used as cue words for dogs to walk on a leash. Be consistent with the term you choose for your puppy. Let us not proceed on making your pup learn to loose-leash walk.
- Put on a leash and see if your pup is comfortable with it or not. Your puppy will try to bite the leash but treat every time your puppy wears the leash.
- If your puppy sits or stands by your leg while on the leash, reward him with treats.
- Keep your puppy in a loose loop, and take a step forward.
- While you do this, your puppy will follow you. Once your puppy follows you, give treats to your puppy.
- Use words like Move forward, Let’s go, or heel from the next step.
- Wait for your puppy to follow you.
- Reward him with doggie treats once your little pup starts understanding and obeying the command.
- Repeat this procedure frequently, and make your little pup a master of command.
These were the five basic obedience commands you can train your puppy under your supervision. Remember not to force your little puppy to obey any of your orders, as it can make them aggressive and anxious.
House Rules for Puppy Parents and Families
Along with the above puppy training tips, as a pet parent, you and your family must maintain a few sets of rules for yourself, too, to maintain a friendly and encouraging environment for your little puppy.
- Rules for children in the house: The children in the house need to understand one necessary thing, that is, puppies are adorable, heartwarming, cute, and whatnot, but they are not ‘play toys.’ Children must learn not to step on the puppy’s tail and push the puppy downwards in a sitting or lying down position. They must neither pull the puppy’s ears nor the tail. The objective is to make the children learn not to grant a puppy as an inanimate object.
- None should Behave Aggressively with the puppy: Puppies are similar to human babies. No babies understand the language of harshness. Similarly, puppies do not get along with harsh behavior. If the puppy gets adapted to the family’s aggressive behavior, then the puppy will generate the same within himself.
- Let the puppy have his meal in Peace: One should not disturb the puppy while he eats. If done, this will lead to food aggression and anxiety. It can continue to develop bad mental health for the puppy when the puppy turns adult.
- Keep Dangerous Items Out of Reach for the puppy: Puppies love chewing things in front of them. Few things might be dangerous for the puppy, and hence, none in the family should leave any object in the ground or the bed, which can be deadly for the puppy.
These are the few rules for the humans in the family, which you should maintain strictly. If these are not kept under supervision, the necessary training and commands might not work for the puppy.
Advanced Puppy Training Tips
We should now move for a few advanced training sessions for your puppy with the essential puppy training tips. Few of the training overlaps, like housetraining, crate training, Confinement, but there are a few minute training that can make a significant change. The advanced puppy training tips are as follows:
- Give your puppy a private den: Humans have their personal space. Similarly, puppies and dogs need their personal space. A puppy must get along with a ‘private den.’ Offering your puppy a private den will help your puppy get the comfort of the area. It will automatically litter-train him. Reward him with doggie treats, love, generosity if your puppy feels relaxed in the private den.
- End training session with right moment: Remember that puppies live in the moment. It becomes very harsh on puppies if their last activity does not end positively. Always complete the training session with rewards, love, affection. Make the training session playful to make the puppy learn wisely and correctly. Please pay attention to their tail wagging; that is the sign that they are happy with the day and session.
The Bottom Line
These are the puppy training tips essential for a puppy to grow responsibly and actively. It is always important to reward the puppy with doggie treats and love once the puppy completes the task and command. It is recommended not to be harsh on them on disobedience; instead, it is better to make the puppy repeat the task. Practice makes perfect, so keep on training frequently in inner and outer space. This will make your puppy compatible for handling any situation without being anxious.
