Puppies are ideal candidates for training, but how your approach to their education is could make all the difference to how well they learn.
Avoid using tools such as collars, choke chains, martingales, slip leads, and e-collars that rely on punishment – these methods could result in fearful or anxious puppies.
1. Start Early
Your puppy should begin training before leaving its breeder to take full advantage of this important time to establish basic obedience commands and avoid bad habits like chewing shoes and furniture. Furthermore, this period is also an opportune moment to set boundaries such as crate training or potty training.
Working at your dog’s level and keeping training sessions short are both key components to successful dog ownership.
Positive reinforcement techniques should always be preferred over punishment. Fusion Dog Training Co. advises against negative punishment, such as yelling or physical correction, as it can teach your dog that people are scary or untrustworthy. Instead use a calm yet assertive tone when correcting unwanted behaviors and don’t reward your pup with your attention immediately afterwards.
2. Keep It Fun
Puppies can be like little toddlers in a way that they’re constantly exploring and discovering, so keeping their minds active is vitally important. One fun way of doing so is playing interactive games with your dog that will engage their senses while having a lot of fun together!
A great game to try with your pup is foraging. Spread out some boxes – such as shoe boxes, cereal, or larger mail-order ones – around the room and let your puppy explore them with his nose or paw. When they step inside one with either nose or paw, click and treat him or her.
Feeling creative? Try adding movement or even tricks to make the game even more exciting for both of you!
3. Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is the best training method because it provides a gentle means of teaching your pet new behaviors. Reward desired actions with treats, play, or petting instead of shocking or yelling to dissuade unwanted ones.
Positive reinforcement works best when rewards for desirable behavior occur frequently. When your pup displays desired actions, praise him or her with excitement and give them a treat! You could also try other forms of reinforcement like tug-of-war games or petting.
For optimum results in balanced training, the key is that positive reinforcement becomes part of their everyday behavior – consistently rewarding positive behaviors will foster habituation over time. You can visit this site to learn more about the benefits of consistent training.
4. Don’t Punish
Punishing a puppy usually doesn’t work and may even backfire. For instance, punishing them for soiling indoors then rewarding them when they go outside successfully does nothing to change the pup’s behavior because they may be soiling inside from fear or anxiety; this is why they will be likely to continue having accidents indoors despite your best efforts!
Furthermore, puppies tend to have short memory spans so understanding why you are upset is often difficult for them as well.
Avoid yelling at and physically punishing your dog when it behaves inappropriately, such as biting or chewing. Punishment can create fear, and anxiety and strain the relationship you want to form with your puppy. Instead, immediately correct bad behaviors with better actions, such as playing with their favorite soft toy or offering them something better such as a chew bone to play with.
Negative punishment includes turning away from a puppy, breaking eye contact, and withdrawing all attention they are receiving (like taking them out of play). Electronic collars that deliver low-impulse shocks as an attempt to curb bad behaviors should never be used on puppies.
5. Keep It Simple
One key point to keep in mind when training your puppy is its short attention span. Therefore, training sessions must be kept short so as not to bore or discourage your pup.
Make bathroom training as straightforward as possible by selecting an outdoor location and taking them there every two hours, such as upon waking, before and after playing, eating, and drinking. You can click the link: https://doggywiki.com/dog-training/ for more information.
Lure training can be an invaluable way to teach your puppy new behaviors such as “sit” and “stay.” Simply hold out a treat in front of their nose to draw their interest, say your training cue, and reward. Lure training is particularly effective in low-distraction environments where working on new behaviors won’t quickly become tedious or frustrating.
Capturing is a training method designed to establish consistent expectations between puppies and humans. When your puppy makes the right choices, such as sitting down to play, capture them in action and offer lots of praise as well as rewards such as chew toys or balls.
Conversely, when your pup jumps up on something they shouldn’t, don’t shout at them since this might actually come across as praise instead and might lead to further misbehavior from them.
Why Hire a Dog Trainer?
Hiring a professional can help make the process of training your new pup as efficient and fun as possible. Start by searching for the best dog training near me – a local directory website to help you find potential candidates. Be sure to read online reviews before selecting a trainer.
An effective trainer will ask lots of questions when they first meet you and your dog, including asking about other animals, people in your household, what you have tried, your goals for training your pup, and much more. While this might seem intrusive, they care deeply and want to ensure they find an ideal solution for your family.
Your trainer will tailor his or her methods specifically for your dog and personality and will provide techniques you can continue using after they leave.
Never expect an instant solution when hiring a trainer. Dog behavior changes over time with hard work and strategy, not overnight. Anyone promising that they can cure your problem in just a single session likely is not suitable. When working with the right trainer, they will ensure you both work together towards keeping your pup happy and healthy.
