Ideally a puppy should not leave it’s mother and litter before the age of 8 weeks of age and this is the perfect time for you to bring your new puppy home. When a new puppy comes into your family household there a lot of adjustments need to be made. These puppy training tips are to help you during those first weeks and months when everything seems chaos and you have to have eyes in the back of your head to keep an eye on what puppy is up to. This puppy needs to learn the rules of the pack and that you are the boss. How do you do that? Well, these tips for training your puppy from day one will set you on the path for a long and lasting relationship with your dog.
Puppy Training Tip No 1 – Socialization
Puppy training and socialization is imperative from the day your puppy becomes a member of the household. Nowadays there are many puppy socialization and training classes for puppies from 8-12 weeks of age. This is the critical age for bomb-proofing your puppy and exposing him/her to many different situations, including people, other dogs, sounds, sights and smells, etc. The more you can expose your puppy to in these few weeks the more confidence that is established and this, in turn, means the more able your dog will cope with any type of situation as an adult. If you hide your puppy away, not exposing him to anything, then there is the chance as an adult your dog will be very nervous, anxious and fearful. An adult dog that has not been socialized can react aggressively in situations where they are not comfortable – growling and fear biting is a common outcome for this type of dog. An excellent book we would strongly recommend any potential new puppy buyer to purchase is this one below which will give you ideas for setting up an “error-less training management” system for your puppy so that you don’t have to correct behavior problems later.
A revolution for dogs: Very few dog trainers have not been influenced by Dr. Ian Dunbar’s dog-friendly philosophy. In the 1970s, Dr. Ian Dunbar sparked a dramatic shift in puppy training ― away from leash corrections and drill-sergeant adult dog training classes based on competitive obedience and toward a positive approach using toys, treats, and games as rewards for teaching basic manners, preventing behavior problems, and modifying temperament. Before Dr. Dunbar there were no classes for puppy training, very few family dog classes, and not much fun in dog training. His positive approach revolutionized the dog training field, especially puppy training.
Check out some of your local puppy training and socialization classes. Here are some tips:
Find out if they use positive reinforcement?
Are they qualified dog trainers?
Do they just throw all the puppies in together and let them fend for themselves among other puppies, or do they have controlled and corrective methods in place when puppies get overwhelmed or overpowered by other puppies? You certainly don’t want your puppy thrown in a confined area with other puppies and left to fend for itself with no possible escape if the play gets too boisterous.
Does the class include interaction with strange people?
Is there any sort of basic training such as sit, come, stay included in the classes?
Do they expose puppies to different noises and people with funny clothing on, objects or handling?
The class which includes all of the above could be considered a well-balanced puppy socialization course and would be possibly be most beneficial. If the class just includes letting a bunch of puppies interact on the floor together then that is possibly not such effective socialization or learning experience.
Caldwell’s Potty Bells Original Dog Doorbell
The next time your dog needs to go, he/she will let you know with Caldwell’s Potty Bells Original Dog Doorbell! As an alternative to barking or scratching at the door, the gentle jingle of Potty Bells is a much more pleasant signal that it’s time for a walk. Training your pup to tap the bell when nature calls is simple with the included three-step e-guide. She’ll be ringing them in no time, and she might even start to use them on her own by association. The snap closure makes it easy to hang Potty Bells from any doorknob, lever or handle. Charming yet durable, they’re designed with reinforced nylon stitching, six nickel-plated bells and a reversible alloy ornament with “I heart my dog” on one side and “Potty Bells” on the other. It’s a stress-free and less noisy way to potty train.
Puppy Training Tip No 2 – Handling and Grooming
From day one when you bring your puppy home get him used to being handled and brushed. The best way to get your puppy used to this is by starting immediately. Run your hands all over him/her, look in the ears, look in the mouth to check the teeth and gums, touch his/her paws. Do this every day and also get other people to do the same – all members of the family should get used to handling him. Invite friends over and get them to look in his ears, check in his mouth and touch his paws and handle them as though they are going to clip his nails.
Would you rather pay a vet the $$$ it costs to clip his nails or to even have to put him under anesthetic to do the job? The best training tip is to start playing with your puppy’s paws from day one so that you will be able to do the job yourself and save yourself a lot of money. If something happens to your puppy later down the track and he/she is used to being handled then it makes things a lot easier for everyone.
KONG Wild Knots Bird
This KONG Wild Knots Bird is soft and cuddly on the outside while durable and strong. The internal knotted rope satisfies your dog’s natural chewing and tugging instincts and the reinforced plush body provides extra durability. It also has a minimal amount of stuffing for minimal mess and if that was not enough, it also squeaks! It is KNOT just average plush!
This dog toy is a great plaything for keeping your four-legged friend entertained and ideal for fun, interactive play. A great source of exercise and the strong plush material and inner rope strength gives it plenty of chewing potential. Dimensions: W19 x D7 x H31cm. This toy is not indestructible. All pets should be supervised when playing. Replace toy once worn.
Puppy Training Tip No 3 – Biting
Puppies need to bite! At about 6 months of age they lose their baby teeth and grow adult teeth. In the litter if a puppy bites another puppy too hard the puppy that has been bitten squeals loudly. This is how they learn how hard they should bite. So when puppy comes home and starts biting our hands or feet, immediately give a sharp squeal. What the puppy needs to learn is NOT whether or not it should bite BUT how hard to bite. Good bite inhibition means that when a dog goes to snap or bite due to sudden pain or fear that it will have a soft mouth and not do any damage. The puppy should learn this by the time he is four and a half months of age. Biting is a reaction to something and if your dogs goes to bite but doesn’t do any harm then you know he has learnt good bite inhibition at a young age. You can find out more about biting behavior from Dr Ian Dunbar’s Book from Amazon.com
Indoor Grass Toilet from PetPlanet.co.uk
Terrific for puppy training, this Indoor Grass Toilet by PetPlanet is just perfect for puppies or small dogs. It is a draining system for urine that resembles a patch of grass and will contain your pup’s waste in one area. A brilliant product that is simple, hygienic and convenient, the urine seeps through the patch of synthetic grass into the tray below for easy disposal and cleaning and any solids can be easily scooped from the surface.
It will assist you house training your pup and stop you waking up to any little surprises! Training dogs can be a very messy business but this artificial grass dog toilet will help put an end to all of that. Once your pup begins to use it properly and realises that it is not a toy, you can start to move it closer to the door until eventually, he or she gets the idea to go into the garden to eliminate.
It also features anti-skid rubber feet to protect your flooring and is especially ideal for wooden or laminate floors. When nature calls you do not want the outcome to be spread around your house!
Puppy Training Tip No 4 – Jumping
Jumping can become a problem as a dog gets older. When a puppy is small and cute we encourage them to put their paws up so we can pat them. Really, what is happening is that the puppy is learning that it is ok to jump up at people. Instead, if you puppy starts jumping, ignore the behavior or turn your back, and as soon as the puppy stands still with four paws on the ground, then reward that behavior. As soon as the puppy jumps again turn your back and ignore. The dog will eventually get the lesson that it is more rewarding to be standing with four paws on the ground that jumping up for attention.
If your dog’s urine causes brown sports in your yard, use Zesty Paws Grass Defense Stay Green Bites Digestive & Immune Health Dog Supplement to keep your grass green and healthy. Made with Cran-Max® and a blend of DL-methionine, digestive enzymes, yucca extract, and apple cider vinegar this supplement nourishes your dog and supports his digestion and urinary acid levels. This recipe is clinically proven to help flush out any bad bacteria to support the bladder and urinary tract, keeping your dog healthy while ensuring your yard looks great. Each chicken-flavored chew is highly palatable and easy to feed to your pup as a treat to support an immaculate yard.
Puppy Training Tip No 5 – Coming When Called
This would have to be one of the most important exercises your puppy will need to learn! Use the puppy’s name to get his attention only. They learn their names very quickly, so whenever you say your puppy’s name and he looks, reward for that. The word “Come” should be the command word for actually coming toward you. Do not say, “come”, “come”, “come” and your puppy does not respond. Instead, encourage your puppy to come to you and as he starts to come to you, then add the command word “come”. That way, your puppy will learn that “come” is actually the action of coming towards you. Make the ‘coming when called’ a game and crouch or sit on the floor and call your puppy to you. Have two or more people involved and calling the puppy between all of those people.
- DURABLE NYLON LEAD – This dog training leash will outlast and outperform cotton leashes – hands down. This material is woven and stitched in the US. This training dog leash is great for medium and large dogs. You’ll love using it for recall training, exercise, backyard and more.
- HOOK AND LOOP COILING SYSTEM – No more tangled leashes! Long Trainer is equipped with a hook and loop coiling strap which makes storing and transporting a breeze. Just wind up the leash, wrap the strap, and you’re good to go!
- HAND CRAFTED IN THE USA – We source the highest quality materials from vendors around the US and hand assemble every leash in California. With every design, we strive to make the best dog leash possible.
- DIMENSIONS – This dog leash measures 3/4 inch wide by 50 feet long. Great for hiking, camping, training, hunting, backyard, beach, recall training, outdoor play with tennis balls, and swimming!
- 5 YEAR MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY – Leashboss products automatically come with ‘The Boss Promise’, a 5 year manufacturers warranty that protects against defects, product issues, and chewed leashes.
- Our leashes are strong and made with high quality material but nylon leashes are not chew proof. If your dog is prone to chewing, we do not recommend leaving your dog unattended with this or any Leashboss leash.
Puppy Training Tip No 6 – Be Consistent
The most important training tip we can give is to be consistent with your commands and words. If you want the puppy to lie down, use one word for one action. Confusion occurs when one word has two different meanings; for example, if you teach your puppy to lie down to the word “down” – if the puppy is lying on the couch and you want him to get off the couch, you use the word “down” expect that your puppy will lie down on the couch and not get off. In this situation you would need to find another word to instruct your puppy to get off the couch.
REMEMBER:- Puppy training should be FUN, FUN, FUN!!!
There are so many more puppy training tips that it is impossible to go into them all here. Find a quality dog trainer who conducts effective puppy or dog training classes so you can learn how to train your dog to be well-behaved and a pleasure to have in the home and out in public. A quality dog trainer will go into a lot more detail about how to train your puppy and provide you the information and elaborate on the tips we have listed above.
