As a new puppy owner, you may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of training your furry friend. Fortunately, you can help your puppy become a well-behaved and obedient companion with the right approach, time, and effort.
Puppy training ensures a happy and healthy relationship between you and your beloved pet. With training and discipline, you will establish boundaries, encourage good behavior, and foster trust and communication between you and your pup.
New Puppy Training Tips
A well-trained puppy is less likely to engage in destructive behaviors, like chewing, biting, or barking excessively. You will be happy to treat your dog like a beloved family member.
This article outlines tips and tricks from experts that will help you with basic behavioral training, so your puppy will grow into a well-mannered best friend.
Puppy Potty Training
Potty training is one of the first and biggest challenges new puppy owners face. To maintain a peaceful, clean, and odor-free household, you must teach your dog where it can and cannot go to the bathroom.
You must enforce good bathroom habits as early as possible and instill much-needed discipline to develop a harmonious relationship.
Here are some tips for successful puppy potty training:
Create a Consistent Routine
Take your puppy outside or lead it to its designated pee pad to potty regularly throughout the day. It’s best to go after meals, naps, and bedtime.
Use Positive Reinforcement
When your puppy successfully does its business where you tell it to, praise, and reward it with treats and copious affection to reinforce good behavior. Positive reinforcement is a crucial element of dog behavior training.
Be Patient
Potty training takes time and patience. Expect accidents and setbacks along the way. Keep at it until your pup learns what it should and should not do.
Choose the Best Potty Training Tools
Pee pads, poop bags, cleaning supplies, and stain and odor removers are some basic tools for potty training. Stock up on affordable yet high-quality options to make the process easier and faster for your pup and your household.
This doggielawn review outlines the many benefits of using this lush, odor-blocking, hydroponically-grown natural grass for puppy potty training.
Potty training is all about consistency and patience. With a routine and plenty of positive reinforcement, your puppy will learn to go potty in the right place quickly.
Consider Crate Training
Another lesson that a puppy should learn early in life is to teach it to love and respect its crate. This is its resting place and will not soil where it sleeps.
Crate Training a Puppy
Crate training is a great way to reinforce potty training and prevent destructive behavior.
Here are some tips for successful crate training:
Choose the Right Crate
Your puppy will spend much time in its crate, so make sure it is comfortable and cozy. Size is important—it should be large enough to lie down, stand up, and turn in a small circle. But it should not have so much space that it can find a corner to go potty.
An adjustable dog crate is a good investment for a growing pup.
Make the Crate a Positive Space
Put treats and toys in the crate to encourage your puppy to view it as a safe and comfortable space.
Start Slow
Begin by leaving your puppy in its crate for short periods while you’re at home. Gradually increase the length of time as it grows used to it.
Don’t Use the Crate for Punishment
Maintain positive associations with its crate. When you use it as a punishment, your pup will be less likely to go inside, let alone enjoy its time there. This may worsen bad behavior and undo the training you’ve accomplished so far.
Crate training can be a useful tool for puppy training, but it’s important to choose the right size crate and make it a positive space for your pup. With patience and consistency, your puppy will learn to love their crate.
House Training a Puppy
House training involves teaching your puppy to behave appropriately inside the house, including not chewing on furniture, not jumping on people, and not barking excessively.
Here are some tips for successful house training:
Establish Rules and Boundaries
Set designated areas where your dog is and isn’t allowed to spend time. For example, you can cuddle in the living room, but it can’t enter the kitchen or dining room.
Be Generous with Rewards
Reward your puppy with treats and affection when it exhibits good behavior. Redirect it gently when it engages in undesirable behaviors.
Be Consistent
Everyone in your household should follow the rules set for house training. When one person breaks the rules, it may confuse your pup about what it should and shouldn’t do.
House training a puppy can be challenging, but with consistency and plenty of positive reinforcement, you can help your pup become a well-behaved and obedient companion.
Additional Tips for Successful Puppy Training
In addition to the techniques mentioned above, here are some additional tips for successful puppy training:
Provide Plenty of Exercises and Mental Stimulation
A tired puppy is less likely to engage in destructive behaviors, so ensure it gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day.
Socialize Your Pup
Expose your puppy to various people, environments, and other dogs and pets to help it develop good social skills and become well-adjusted.
Don’t Give Up
Puppy training takes a lot of time and effort, so be prepared to put in the work and be patient with your puppy as it learns.
Conclusion
Puppy training can be a challenging but rewarding experience. With consistent effort and the proper techniques, you will have a well-mannered, house-trained dog that you can leave at home or bring out to socialize with no issues.
Focus on positive reinforcement to reinforce desirable behavior. You will surely find success with patience, consistency, and plenty of love!