Tips for Free Puppy Behavior Training

As recently as 50 years ago, when people got a puppy, it lived outside most of the time, ran free and the basic concerns of ownership involved providing food, shelter and required veterinary care. Dogs today moved into a truer companion status, sharing our homes and in contact with our neighbors. While puppy obedience classes offer the opportunity for socialization with people and other puppies, most puppies need only basic training. Free tips help you get give your dog the training it needs and saves money.

  1. Library

    • Check out your local library for books on dog training. Many libraries carry books such as by positive dog trainers such as Jack and Wendy Volhard and Victoria Stilwell. Avoid books that recommend you handle your dog in a rough manner, jerk on its leash, roll it on its back to show you are the boss or hit it. Training your puppy in kind gentle ways avoids making it feel afraid. Scared dogs often learn to respond to rough handling with fearful or aggressive responses, such as growling or biting.

    Shelters and Rescue

    • Contact your area humane society and animal shelters for assistance. Many shelters and humane societies offer free training or brochures on training your puppy. Often they maintain lists of rescue groups that provide assistance in training. Bad behaviors often result in owners relinquishing a dog to the shelter or a rescue; therefore, these groups generally have a vested interest in helping you train your puppy.

    Organizations

    • Call your local 4-H or university cooperative extension office if there is one in your area. Many 4-H clubs and university extension offices provide brochures and information on training. Some, such as the University of Minnesota Extension: 4-H Dog Project, provide free seminars and programs for dog training. Some 4-H members do projects on dog training and one may use you and your dog as a part of her project if you make the group aware of your needs.

    Online

    • Resources on the Internet provide many professional free tips for training your puppy. Mary Woodward, Greenwood Dog Training School co-owner, provides an online site, Mary Woodward's Clicker Training Lessons, with clear, easy steps for training your puppy to do most of the basic behaviors your puppy needs, including sit, down, stay, walking loosely on a leash, come and allowing you to trim its nails. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides many online articles on training. VeterinaryPartner offers an extensive online canine behavior library with training and behavior issues.

    Breed Club

    • Contact the American Kennel Club or check the Internet for the parent breed club for your dog or breed clubs for a mixed breed for breed-specific tips. It helps to understand your dog's genetic influences such as herding behaviors, which may include nipping, high chase instincts or strong destructive tendencies. Most breed clubs offer training tips either online or by mail to help owners. Understanding that your puppy may require more time to do some behaviors helps you with training methods and expectations.