Expectations of Training in Puppies

With good, simple instructions puppies learn very quickly. If you let your puppy do whatever he pleases in the early stages of his life, he is likely to be more confused when you eventually start training him and slower to change his ways. The rules you establish with your puppy in his first few weeks in your home are likely to last with him throughout his life.

  1. Obedience

    • To develop excellent behaviour in your dog and help fulfill his potential as an intelligent, loving companion you must instill in him an understanding of all necessary commands while he's a puppy. These include "sit," "wait," "heel," "down" and "drop it." Training exercises should be short and interesting, so the puppy does not lose attention, but you must also repeat the same commands over and over so that he latches on to their meaning. If mastered at a young age the puppy is more likely to perform complicated tasks as he advances.

    Aggression

    • Tempering your dog's aggression varies in difficulty depending on the individual dog. Most puppies mouth when they play, but some also bite more deliberately due to boredom or frustration. To prevent this becoming a problem later you should yelp if he bites to signal that it hurt. This should be enough to surprise the dog and teach him that it's wrong.

    Toilet Training

    • Teaching a puppy when and where to go to the toilet is fundamental because they have no experience to tell them what's right and wrong. The puppy does not instinctively know he's supposed to control his bladder, so you should never shout at him for urinating on the floor, rather praise him when he does it outside. Keep your expectations low to begin with and after a few weeks he will grow used to only going outside.

    Playing

    • It's important your puppy has lots of his own toys to play with and that you encourage him to play with them. You should praise him when he chews them and brings them to you and give him a treat now and again. By also firmly telling him "off" or "no" when he plays with other property he will soon learn what are his toys and what are not.

    Interaction

    • Interaction with other dogs is essential. This should be introduced from a very young age and one way is through puppy socialization classes, where all different breeds of dog meet in a controlled situation. Playing with other dogs while on a daily walk, or at the park should also be encouraged. The chances are two dogs will meet regularly and strike up a friendship. Interaction with other humans is also important. Dogs deprived of social encounters often grow to be fearful or aggressive.

    Eating

    • When it comes to food, you can deter boisterous behaviour by using firm commands to ensure your puppy knows what is and what isn't his. You should also make sure he knows his place by giving him his meal after you've eaten. This way, he will always wait for your say-so before starting on his food.