Are you the brand-new owner of a dog? Or maybe you are just getting ready for your new pet? Getting a new puppy is an exciting, life-changing moment, whether you get them from a shelter, a friend, or a reputable breeder like the ones on Pawrade. One of the first things a new puppy owner needs to know is “how do I train my new puppy?” Here are some of the best puppy training tips for new owners.
Use a Crate
Crate training is one of the best ways to ensure you have a happy, peaceful, calm puppy. A crate gives your puppy a place where they can go to rest, feel safe, and be alone when they need space. It also allows you to stop bad habits from ever developing. Because your puppy will learn to see their crate as their den, they will learn to feel safe and comfortable in it.
Crate training is also one of the best ways to housetrain because puppies don’t like to use the bathroom near their beds. When your puppy gets in the habit of using one area for a bathroom, they tend to continue using that spot- even if it’s your living room rug. By tucking your puppy in the crate when it can’t be watched or you leave the house, you will help keep this habit from forming.
Limit Home-Alone Time
Puppies have a huge need for interaction, activity, and attention. If they are left alone for too long, bad habits such as separation anxiety, toileting problems, and chewing can develop. This happens because the bored puppy is trying to entertain itself. Leave your puppy in the crate anytime you leave home, and leave them with plenty of toys to chew on. Invest in some treat toys that require the puppy to work on the treat to get a reward. Also, leave your TV or radio on so they don’t feel so alone.
Puppies have small bladders and can’t avoid urinating if they are left alone for too long. Your puppy doesn’t want to potty in the crate, and you don’t want them to either, so if you can’t be home to let your puppy out in the middle of the day, arrange for someone else to do it, such as a neighbor or a dog walker.
Be Positive
The number-one rule for puppy training is to be positive. Puppies scare easily and a traumatic moment can scar them for life or be difficult to repair. When you are training, avoid punishing your puppy. If they are exhibiting negative behaviors, redirect them with a sharp “no” and then a toy or a snuggle after they come to you or look at you.
Once your dog learns a command, don’t correct disobedience for a long time. Assume that they will know the command intermittently and will still need guidance for a long time. This can mean guiding them into a sitting position or down position, or it may mean going to get them if they are ignoring a recall command. Then practice that command a few times until they’re being more consistent again.
Find Healthy Treats
When you are training your puppy, you will be using a lot of treats. It’s a good idea to find treats that are healthy, or your puppy won’t want to eat his real food and will end up missing out on needed nutrients. Vary your treats so they don’t get boring, and if they are large, tear them into tiny pieces so they last longer.
Train at Mealtimes
In addition to using treats, consider using your puppy’s regular food as training aids. This works best if you have a training session before each meal. Simply fill your puppy’s food bowl and rather than sitting it on the floor, keep it out of reach and spend 5 minutes going through your commands. After the food is half gone or so, reward them with hugs and praise and let them eat the rest of the food on their own. This will also teach them to be calm and gentle at mealtimes because they associate food with positive interaction with you.
Watch for Fear Stages
Puppies go through stages when they are imprinting on the world around them, and sometimes those stages involve being fearful of new things. During this period, avoid socializing your puppy too much and let them stay home or in the backyard. Unpredictable events like a car backfiring, thunder, or being crowded by overeager children can be detrimental in these stages. When your puppy is not in a fear stage, however, socialization is very important.
Avoid Dog Parks
Because you are not in control of other people or dogs in a dog park, it’s best to avoid them. Your puppy can learn bad habits, pick up diseases, or even get attacked at the dog park, and these events can change their personality dramatically. If your dog is traumatized by another dog at a young age, it could become fear-aggressive to any other canine interaction. At the least, your puppy cannot pay attention to you and your commands when surrounded by so much chaos, and that is not helpful to bonding and developing the focus and loyalty that you want.
Short Sessions are Best
Don’t train for too long. Puppies are babies, and they have short attention spans. A 10-week-old puppy can learn very quickly but they must do so in short 5 to 10 minute sessions. These short sessions work best if they happen many times a day. Incorporate training into your routine. Train in the morning while you feed them breakfast, at noon when you take them out to potty, and in the evening at suppertime. Have one last training session before bed. If you are home all day, you can do it even more often. As long as you aren’t interrupting a puppy nap, anytime is a good time for a few treats and commands.
Teach Basic Dog Manners
Don’t neglect to teach basic dog manners. Most people don’t seek the help of professional dog trainers because their dog doesn’t obey “lay down”, but because they pull on the leash, steal from the trash, are aggressive, or can’t be housetrained.
Teach Basic Commands
There are several basic commands every dog should know and obey well, in addition to many other commands that are practical or just plain fun. If you enjoy training your dog, start with these 6 commands and then branch out into other tricks and commands.
- Sit
- Come
- Heel
- Down
- Stay
- Give