Puppy Behavior & Training

Submissive Behavior

• Submissive puppies are typically easier to work with and may be the better choice for first-time dog owners or families with children. If a puppy rolls over for you, or if you roll it on its back and it stays in that position willingly, it is likely a submissive puppy. Submissive dogs are shy and eager to please. A puppy may exhibit a behavior called submissive urination; however, most dogs grow out of this phase by about 6 to 8 months. Extremely shy dogs will need activities to build their self-esteem.

Dominant Behavior

• Dominant dogs tend to be highly intelligent and independent. Firm and consistent obedience training is important for these dogs because if their dominant behavior is left unchecked, it may lead to aggression. Dominant puppies are usually the first to nip and chew on humans and each other. They may climb on top of their litter mates and appear to be bullying other puppies. Males are generally more dominant than females, and certain breeds, including working dogs and terriers, tend more toward dominance. However, dogs of both genders and any breed can be dominant.

Toilet Training

• Toilet training or "housebreaking" a dog is often a new dog owner's first concern. It is almost guaranteed that a puppy will have at least one accident in the house. Puppies are not born knowing the rules of your household and do not automatically understand human language. Patience and consistency are the keys to toilet training. A puppy should never be scolded or hit, and he will learn nothing by getting his face rubbed in it. This will only make him fearful, and he will hide somewhere to do his business.

  When starting to toilet train, puppies need to be taken outside every few minutes until they urinate or defecate. Once they do so, they should be praised and rewarded with treats. If a puppy has an accident in the house, he should be quickly but calmly redirected outside. It is best to use one- or two-word commands like "outside" and "go potty" to reinforce these ideas.

Leash Training

• There are a number of leash options on the market. Most people use a simple collar and leash combination. Small dogs that tend to pull on the lead may benefit from a harness and leash. Harnesses are not a good option for large, powerful dogs because they optimize their pulling power and can make them difficult to control. Retractable leashes are also impractical for large dogs. Most puppies should start with a short leash (4 feet or less) and can "graduate" to a longer leash when they have mastered leash training.

  When walking a puppy, it is important to hold the leash firmly and to use gentle tugs or verbal cues to redirect a wandering puppy, not jerks. It is best to begin with short walks where the puppy is encouraged to stay at your side (heel) for most of the walk. Praise and rewards encourage desirable behaviors.

Basic Commands

• There are several basic commands all puppies should learn. The first is "come." This is important because a dog that gets loose or is in an unsafe situation needs to respond immediately to this command. "Sit" is another very useful command and is one of the easiest for dogs to learn because they assume a sitting position naturally. "Down" is a command that can be used to keep dogs from jumping on guests or getting on furniture or counters. As with toilet training, consistency and rewarding desirable behaviors while ignoring or redirecting undesirable behaviors are the basic principle of command training. If you need help, there are many books or DVDs on the subject. Dog obedience classes are also an option.