Congratulations! You just got a new puppy! You’re completely obsessed with everything they do – sleep, eat, cuddle, look cute, and sleep some more. You love owning a dog and wonder how you went so long without one. That is until it’s time to start dog training.
Your puppy starts peeing in the house, waking you up in the middle of the night, and barking at you all day long. You even start to wonder if something is wrong with them – are they really supposed to be this needy?
Well, the good news is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your dog, except for the fact that it needs to be trained! You need to teach your puppy. They don’t know they shouldn’t go to the bathroom in the house until you show them where they’re supposed to go. And even when you do, it will take some time for them to understand.
Dog training isn’t easy. In fact, it’s actually pretty hard – this is the main reason why many families choose to adopt an older dog. However, if you can stand the hard times, there’s absolutely nothing better than bringing home and raising a puppy.
Today, we’ve put together our best tips to help you with dog training. Just remember, the number one thing you have to do is be patient!
Start with potty training
Dog training is tough work. It’s hard to know exactly where to start. You might not like that your dog barks at you, but it’s probably more essential that you ensure your dog stops going to the bathroom in the house. That’s why you’ll want to start with potty training, otherwise known as house training.
Puppies are generally unable to control their bladders and bowels until about twelve weeks of age, so you really need to practice some patience here. However, the sooner you begin potty training, the quicker your puppy will begin to adjust.
You’ll first want to set a schedule. If you get up at the same time each day and take your puppy out right away, they will begin to know how long they have to wait to go to the bathroom. It’s also important that you feed your dog at the same time each day.
Make sure to watch your dog for signs of having to go to the bathroom. Since they are unable to communicate that they have to go in the beginning, the will generally start pacing or circling instead. When you see that happen, take them outside immediately. If you find your puppy in the process of going, say “no” firmly and show them where they should go outside. If they go outside, be sure to praise them. That’s how a puppy will learn that they are doing the right thing.
Contrary to popular belief, you do not want to punish your dog for going to the bathroom in the house if you catch it after the fact. The dog will not associate that punishment with going to the bathroom and will only become confused.
It’s also a good idea to choose a word to use that lets your dog know it’s time to go to the bathroom. “Out” works well for most people.
Crate your puppy
You’re going to feel bad when you put your puppy in a crate. Everyone does. As soon as you walk away or go to leave the house, your puppy will start crying. It might be sad, but it will yield better results later.
When you leave the house, you should definitely put your puppy in a create. Their instincts will tell them not to go to the bathroom in their own “home.” Just make sure the crate isn’t too large – if there is room for them to go to the bathroom and not lay on it, they might go. You want to get a crate that is just big enough to turn around in and lie down. If you want to buy a larger crate for your dog to grow into, that’s fine, just be sure to use a divider that blocks them from accessing extra space.
If you choose not to crate your puppy and they aren’t yet potty trained, you will, unfortunately, come home to a small mess.
Always use a leash when dog training
Ever wonder how owners that let their dogs roam around without a leash do it? From solid years of training! Chances are if you see a dog that isn’t on a leash, they were once trained on a leash.
When first using a leash, let your puppy sniff it and realize that it’s nothing bad. If you don’t do this and go to put it around their neck, your puppy might get scared and try to stop you from putting it on. This is only because they don’t know what the leash is. Introduce them to the leash first, and then attach it to their collar.
Try using the loose leash method. This ensures that your dog isn’t pulling you during the walk, but also gives them enough space to walk around and sniff. This is an important part of dog training.
Start with a 6-foot leash and a collar. Choose a word or phrase that gives your dog the command to walk with you. As soon as they try to pull or lunge forward, stop and don’t allow your dog to move forward anymore. You have to show them that the only way they can walk is with you – they might be in front of you, but they need to be at your pace.
The best way to do this? Have treats as a reward! When your dog walks how you want them to for a consistent period of time, give them a treat to show that they’re doing what you want. This is a great way to teach!
And there you have it – though it might take some patience, dog training is well worth the result.
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