Training Tips for Your New Puppy

Congratulations! I'm assuming that since you are reading this that you have a new addition to your home. A new puppy can be a very rewarding experience, and a very trying one at the same time. Puppies, like babies, test their parents' patience every day and there will be some days that you don't think that you can take it anymore. There will not be many of these days, but they will occur. Spending the time to properly train your new puppy will greatly reduce these days and will allow you to have a more enjoyable experience with your new pet.

A few things to remember before beginning your training are to be patient, persistent, and understanding. Puppies can't understand English so conveying your disappointment is done through the tone of your voice or your actions. These things can take time so don't get frustrated, even though you will. You have to do things over and over until they realize what it is that you want them to do. This is where the persistence comes in. Now for the understanding; it is a lot easier to understand when a child doesn't know what to do. However, when it comes to our pets, we tend to expect them to learn very quickly even though they aren't capable of it. So just remember when Fido doesn't fetch after throwing a stick a couple of times, to stick with it and be patient.

House Training

If your dog is going to live inside it is necessary to house train them. If your dog is going to live outside, you will not have to worry about this part, but there might be some interesting facts in there so you can read anyway. Dogs do not like to sleep where they go to the bathroom or vice versa. This is a downfall of crate training. Crate training can be useful when training a puppy or a dog that will be inside all day with no way of going outside while you are at work. Just know that they will not be really happy about going to sleep in this same area.

In my experience, it is easiest to house train a dog when you are there and see them use the bathroom. If you punish them after you get home from work and they used the bathroom at 11:00 that morning, the dog has no idea what he did wrong. If you can catch your new puppy in the act, you can stop them. Once you stop them, rub their nose in it, give them a firm "NO" and maybe even a little pop on the nose (before you rub it in the mess). This shows them what they did wrong and why they are being punished. After showing them what they did wrong, immediately take them to an area outside where they are allowed to use the bathroom. It will probably take them a few minutes of sniffing around and making sure that they can go potty, but once they do encourage them and praise them. This positive reinforcement shows them that they are doing the right thing now instead of using the bathroom inside the house. This is a slow, messy process that could take up to a couple of months, so be patient.

Chewing

All puppies are going to chew, especially when they are teething. You will need durable toys around during this process, because they will definitely get used. During this period other things will get used too; like shoes, furniture, cords, and many other things that you might not think. The key here is to understand that when their teeth are coming in it irritates them, and they are just trying to break the skin so that their new teeth can come in. They are not deliberately trying to ruin everything you own. This can be an extremely difficult habit to break, but the easiest way I have found is using an old flip flop. Dogs love flip flops so if you have an old pair, they can come in handy in chewing phase. Leave your old flip flops lying around, when you are at home. I promise that your new puppy will find these and begin to chew on them. When they do start chewing on it, give them a firm "NO" again and pop them on the nose with the flip flop. Then give them an approved toy to chew on and play with them using this toy. This will again show them that it is ok to play with certain toys, but there are some things that they aren't supposed to touch. Soon, they will realize that when you say "NO" it means they can't play with what they are using and will go find something else. This will definitely take some time, so don't get frustrated and be persistent.

Fetch

There is no greater pride than throwing a stick or ball and having your dog bring it back to you. This is a process that relies totally on positive reinforcement. Remember that you will probably have to show the dog what to do. If your dog has a favorite ball or toy, begin by using it to teach them how to fetch. To begin use the toy to get your dog's attention by playing tug of war or just use the toy to get them to start trying to bite it. Once they are focused on the toy toss it a few feet out in front of you. They might chase it or they might not, you will just have to wait and see. Take them to the toy if they don't go on their own, and let them pick it up. Once they have it in their mouths, run a few feet from them and crouch down and call them to you. Make them come to you, don't go to them. When they do praise them and make a big deal out of them bringing the toy to you. Keep repeating this process until they do it every time.

Sit and Stay

Sit and stay are two of the most basic commands that every dog owner tries to teach their animal. It is best to start with sit and then work your way to stay. It is easier to try to teach this when the puppy is a couple of months old and has an attention span longer than a few seconds, and being able to fetch also helps. Begin by telling the puppy to sit, which of course they won't do. Push on the dog's hind end until they are in the sitting position and then say "sit" again and praise them while they are in the sitting position. This, like everything else, will take time and patience. Stick with it, and eventually they will get the picture. Once your new puppy has mastered sit you can begin working on stay. The easiest way to do this is to utilize the sitting and fetching that your dog has already mastered.

Tell the animal to sit and stay. Take the toy that they play fetch with and throw it while holding their collar. They will try to run, and when they do tell them to sit and stay again. Have a command like "go get it" or something along those lines then let their collar go so they can get their toy. Repeat this process until they get the idea.

Try these tips to train your new puppy. These are the things that worked when I trained my dog, but it might not work for you. Each dog is different and responds to different things. Always remember to remain persistent and patient. Doing this will allow you to have a much easier process for you and your dog. Dogs want to make their master happy; you just have to be willing to spend the time it takes to teach them.