Puppy training is a rewarding experience for the trainer and the puppy. It’s tricky when starting, but you and the puppy will be well on your way to a great relationship with patience and these tips.
1, Start with basic commands
Basic commands include sit, down, stay, come, and heel. Before you can train your puppy to do more advanced tricks, it needs to know these basics.
“Heel” means that the puppy should walk by your left side, matching your pace
“Stay” means that the puppy should remain in the same spot until you release it
“Come” means that the puppy should run to you when called
These commands may take some time and repetition to master, but once your puppy gets the hang of them, you’ll be able to move on to more complicated tricks. Get the best treats for puppies to reward the puppy when it does well.
2, Use positive reinforcement
When your puppy does something you want it to do, such as sit or come when called, praise and give it a treat. Doing so lets the puppy know that it’s doing something right and will encourage more good behaviour. Negative reinforcement such as yelling or scolding will only make the puppy scared or resentful and is not as effective. It will also frustrate you in the long run.
3, Be consistent
Consistency with your puppy training is vital. Dogs are creatures of habit, and if you’re not consistent with your commands, it may get confused and not respond the way you want. If you tell it to sit one day but don’t consistently reinforce the order, it won’t know what you want and will get frustrated. The same goes for using different words for the same command or inconsistently giving commands. Be clear, concise, and consistent when training your puppy.
4, Start young
The younger the puppy, the easier it is to train. Once the puppy reaches a certain age, it may be too set in its ways to learn new things. Start the training exercise as soon as possible if you’re getting a new puppy. You might even want to enroll in a puppy training class.
5, Be patient
Patience pays. Puppies are not born knowing even the basic commands. They need time to learn. Be patient and consistent with your training, and eventually, your puppy will get it. Incorporate some training techniques into everyday activities, such as feeding or walking the puppy. Doing so will make it easier and more fun for both of you. Don’t train the puppy when it’s tired or hungry, as this will only make it more difficult.
6. Be prepared to have some accidents
No matter how well you train your puppy, there will be accidents. Puppies have small bladders and can only hold for so long. Be prepared to have accidents in the house. Clean up any messes quickly and thoroughly and always reward the puppy when it eliminates outside. The puppy might also forget some of the commands when distracted or playing. Be prepared for this, and don’t get discouraged. Just keep training, and eventually, the puppy will learn what you want.
7, Be consistent with discipline
Just as you need to be consistent with your commands, you also need the same when disciplining. If you tell the puppy not to do something and do it anyway, be sure to discipline it each time. This will let the puppy know that you’re serious, and it won’t get away with bad behaviour. Use a command such as “no” or “stop” and provide a firm yet gentle correction. Be sure to praise the puppy when it does something good.
8, End on a good note
End each training session on a positive note. Reward your puppy with a treat or some praise for doing something well. You’ll leave the puppy feeling good about training and make it more likely to obey in the future. Be sure to end on a calm note so the puppy doesn’t get too excited or hyperactive.
Endnote
Training your puppy should be a fun experience for both of you. Make it exciting and challenging, but never too difficult. Puppies are intelligent and want to please their owners. You can train your puppy to do just about anything with a bit of patience and perseverance. Incorporate some fun activities into the training, such as playing fetch or hide and seek. The exercises will make it more enjoyable for both of you and strengthen your bond.
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