Methods to Begin Puppy Training

Puppies are always picking up new information, whether it be from their surroundings, from interacting with humans and other animals, from their caregivers, or from formal training.

This lays a crucial groundwork for their future as adults. Puppies can develop into self-assured adult canines with the right amount of socialization and basic puppy training.

To help you get started, here are some fundamental puppy training principles to keep in mind.

Implement Reinforcement Learning Techniques

You may have heard of or maybe seen a dog trainer employ a variety of techniques for teaching a puppy basic manners. In contrast, only a training approach based on positive reinforcement has been validated by scientific research.

Through the use of rewards, or positive reinforcement, desired behaviours are fostered. Avoid using punishment, which includes harsh corrections, correcting devices like shock, choke, and prong collars, and dominance-based handling approaches, since they can have lasting effects that manifest in your dog later in life as various forms of dread and anxiety.

Determine which reinforcements are most effective for your puppy before using this. Puppies can learn with anything from a portion of their regular kibble to a more exciting treat designed just for training.

Puppies can sometimes be found that are completely unmotivated by food. Try to locate a favourite toy of the puppies that may be used as a reward for excellent behaviour. Puppies respond well to positive reinforcement like praise. In other cases, a simple “good work!” or “pet” can be all that’s needed to train a puppy the basics.

Avoid Long Training Sessions by Keeping Them Brief

When training a simple cue, sessions should be brief—no more than 5 minutes long—and spread out across no more than 15 minutes per day, on average. Puppy attention spans are relatively short, so leave them feeling hopeful about the next session.

Training your puppy successfully requires consistency.

It’s vital to maintain uniformity in your cueing and training methods. When teaching your puppy the basics, such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” stick with one word and/or one hand signal throughout. Consistently rewarding good behavior, especially when doing so is inconvenient, is also crucial. Stop what you’re doing, open the door, and praise your puppy when it returns from using the outside as a toilet

Contrast your training with a variety of settings.

There is a significant difference between teaching a puppy at home and taking it to a new location like a park or the beach and asking for a cue. Reason being: the outer world is full with interesting sights and smells they have never experienced before.

You should try to train your dog in a variety of environments so that it can respond calmly and confidently no matter what challenges it faces. Remember that until they have finished their puppy immunization series, puppies shouldn’t go to places where there are many other dogs.

Keep Waiting

Similarly to how young toddlers develop and learn, puppies do the same thing. They won’t always get what you’re after, and they can make some blunders along the road.

Puppy learning curves vary widely; be patient. You can help your puppy feel safe and comfortable by sticking to a regular schedule for feeding, bathroom breaks, napping, and playtime.

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Scheduling Outcomes for Puppy Kindergarten

Exactly when should you begin introducing your dog to the various signals? When should I start potty training my dog? I’ve included a sample schedule for raising a puppy.

7-8 Week Old 

Age: 7–8 Weeks Old Primary Cues (Sit, Stay, Come)

Beginning with fundamental cues at 7 weeks of age:

Repeatedly saying a cue word like “sit” is not effective.

Get your dog to sit by luring it with a treat.

You can reward your dog for sitting by giving it a treat and some verbal praise.

Leash Retraining

At this age, it is appropriate to begin leash training inside. Puppies shouldn’t be wandering around where other dogs walk because they haven’t finished their immunizations yet and could get anything from them.

It’s best to ease them into wearing the collar or harness gradually by having them do so for shorter and shorter periods of time while rewarding them with tasty snacks. Pace yourself as you lengthen this time period.

Once your puppy has learned to come when called, you can take him or her on leashed walks around the house. After your puppy is fully vaccinated, you can begin training sessions in the backyard.

Manipulation in a General Sense

Make sure your dog is comfortable with human contact. Reward them by stroking their ears and paws gently. This will help them feel more at ease during future nail trims and trips to the veterinarian

Puppies Aged 8-10 Weeks

Puppies Aged 8-10 Weeks Crate-training 

The crate you give your puppy should become a haven of peace and quiet for them. First, get them nice and calm by taking them to their box for 10-minute intervals. Give them a treat when they enter their crate. To reinforce a good mood, you may even give them meals inside their kennel.

Aged 10-12 Weeks 

Don’t Bite! When puppies reach this age, they start to talk a lot. They learn about their environment by putting new items in their teeth, but they should be taught not to bite people or things like your hands and ankles. If they start biting you, distract them with a toy or something more acceptable

Puppy Training: 12-16 Weeks

Potty training success depends on sticking to a regular routine. After each meal, as well as after playtime and naps throughout the day, you should take your puppy for a walk.

At this age, they should have developed sufficient bladder control to begin training themselves to hold it. Every time your dog uses the outdoor restroom, give it a treat.

The Time Period of 6 Months 

By now, your old puppy has entered the awkward teenage years, making this the most challenging time to begin training. That’s why it’s so crucial to begin teaching kids at a young age! Eventually, you’ll take your training to places like dog parks, where there are more people and more distractions, to help your pet’s abilities really stick.