Training A New Puppy

Getting a new puppy is a wonderful experience, but there are many important things that you need to teach a puppy. To teach properly, you need to understand how a puppy thinks. Begin training on the very first day the pup comes home. Puppies can learn at a very early age, but understand that the pup is a baby, and must be treated tenderly.

Dog training methods have changed drastically over the past few years. Trainers once encouraged dog owners to use physical force to get the dog to obey. Choke collars were placed on the dog, and were pulled very hard when the dog was not listening. Today, most trainers understand dogs much better. Dog training should be done in a very calm and gentle manner, with no harsh physical contact. You do not need to shout, or be rough with dogs to get them to obey. Dog training should be a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy!

There is an endless list of tricks and commands that you can teach dogs. It is very important, though, to start with the basics and slowly work toward the more difficult ones. Do not rush training. Every dog will learn at a different pace. In fact, training slowly and gradually is much better.

One very important thing to teach a young puppy is his or her name. You want the pup to pay attention, and to come when called. To get started on this exercise, you will need some very small pieces of dog treats. Small pieces of cheese or hot dog work well. When the pup is near, say his name. When he looks up, give a small treat. Do this many times, and practice every day. When the pup gets really good at this, you may move farther away and even into a different room. It is important to remember to call the pup’s name only once each time. You do not want to teach the pup that it is all right to ignore you! If the pup does not pay attention at first, just make a noise (sometimes a kiss sound works well). Once he looks at you, offer the treat. This exercise teaches the pup that good things happen when he responds to his name. The pup will learn to stop whatever he is doing, and look at you. This training exercise can be done by everyone in the family.

House-training is another very important thing that you must teach a new pup. There are many methods to do this, but “Crate Training” has become very popular. A crate is a dog cage or kennel made of plastic or wire. It should be big enough so that the pup can stand up, turn around, and lie down. It really should not be too large. It may be best to borrow a small one to start with, and then get a larger one as the pup grows. It is all right to put a blanket inside if you wish. The pup will see the crate as his “den” - his personal space. Apart from house-training, crate training has other advantages. If your pup needs to stay over night at the vet, the vet will use a crate or cage. Going to the vet can be stressful, and dogs will handle the situation better if they have been introduced to a crate. Also, if you need to leave your dog unattended, you will not be “surprised” by messes on the floor or chewed up furniture when you return. A crate is also a safe way for dogs to travel. It is not cruel to crate-train a dog. It is cruel to be angry with him if he has gotten into trouble because he was bored while you were away.

The basic idea behind crate training for house-training purposes is that a dog does not like to soil where he sleeps. When house-training a new pup, remember that a young pup will need to go to the bathroom a lot! It is also important that you understand your pup’s behaviour. If you pay close attention, you will soon learn when and how often your pup is most likely to go to the bathroom. Also, many pups give telltale signs when they want to go (for example, many will sniff the floor or begin to walk in circles).

The first step to crate training is introducing your pup to the crate. This needs to be done in a positive way. Whenever your pup gets into the crate, praise! Tell the pup how good he is! Do not use the crate as punishment - you want your pup to feel happy about the crate. Put small treats inside the crate to encourage the pup to go in. Eventually, you may close the door on the crate, wait a minute, and open it. If the pup whines, just say “shhh,” and when he quiets, open the door. Remember to praise! It is best not to open the door if the pup is whining or barking. You need to teach your pup that the reward comes when he is quiet. Sometimes it helps if you cover the crate with a blanket, but make sure that one side is uncovered so that air can get in!

Once the pup is acquainted with the crate, you can use it when you leave the house and at night. Remember, though, to take your pup outside on a regular basis. When you arrive back home, the first thing that you must do is bring your pup outside to use the bathroom. Also, you need to do this first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and during supervised play sessions. It is best to carry your pup outside while he is young, so that he does not have an accident along the way. You should take him to the same spot each time, and praise him when he has done his duty. Soon you can begin to use the words “hurry up” as your pup is beginning to squat, and he will soon learn that those words mean bathroom time!

Your pup will have occasional accidents - remember that he is still a baby. If your pup starts to soil inside, say “no” or “stop” and carry him outside. If he has an accident in the house, but you did not see it happen, clean it up and forget it. Do not scold the pup - he has forgotten what he did and will not understand why he is being scolded. Never drag your pup to the mess, point at it, or rub his nose in it. This will only delay house-training and will make your pup afraid of you. It is also best not to put papers down for the pup to use. This will teach your pup that it is all right to soil in the house (and you are trying to teach the exact opposite!).

Your pup will also have accidents inside the crate. Again, just clean it up and forget it. Since dogs do not like to soil where they sleep, your pup probably is not too pleased about the mess, either! Soon your pup will be able to sleep all night without an accident. It is best not to give him too much water in the evening while you are trying to achieve this. Since you are reducing water, you should not exercise your pup too much in the evening. You want your pup to be comfortable and not too thirsty when he goes to bed. It is also important to feed your pup on a regular schedule. Young pups need to eat three times a day. If you keep your pup on a regular feeding schedule, he will soon be on a regular “bathroom” schedule, too.

Remember to be consistent and patient with your pup, and most of all, loving! Accidents will happen but everyone makes mistakes, especially when learning something new.

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