Puppy Obedience Tips

Puppy obedience training takes dedication, time and patience, along with an

understanding of how the puppy thinks and responds to the world around it. It

is important to start consistent obedience training when the puppy is very young

and to find ways to keep him motivated.

  1. Motivation and Training

    • A puppy that is motivated learns quickly and tends to look forward to future

      training sessions. To keep the puppy motivated, start out by keeping training

      lessons at a maximum of 10 minutes and use different commands through the

      lessons. In addition, use this time as playtime in between every few commands.

    Undivided Attention

    • Puppies are easily distracted and, with this in mind, it is important to find a

      quiet place for puppy obedience training. Other people, animals or activities in

      the area can prevent both the trainer and the puppy from focusing on each other.

      Remember, undivided attention is always required for successful training

      sessions.

    Unnecessary Repeated Commands

    • It isn't necessary to repeat commands over and over, because a puppy can become

      confused by this. Get the puppy's attention, and then give him the command in a

      calm, loud voice and wait a moment before repeating it. This gives him a chance

      to obey the command. The puppy is still learning and a continuously repeated

      command can lose meaning for the puppy.

    Choosing the Time

    • Choosing the right moment for obedience training sessions is crucial in how the puppy will respond to the lessons. Make sure the puppy is not hungry or too full, is not sleepy or has not just woken up and does not have a full bladder. All of these things can interfere with the pup's motivation and ability to concentrate.

    Patience

    • Puppy obedience training takes lots of patience and dedication. The trainer

      should never attempt obedience training if he is stressed or not feeling well,

      because patience can be cut short and this isn't fair to the puppy. It is best

      to skip a training session during these times, because the puppy does not

      deserve to be over-corrected or yelled at.

    Praise

    • Always praise the puppy when it responds to a command, and remember they are

      frequently distracted and will only carry out simple commands for a short amount

      of time. In the beginning of obedience training, they are basically learning

      what commands are all about, so never expect the puppy to obey a command that

      consists of more than a quick sit, stay or lie down.