How to Not Lose Your Temper With a New Puppy

It can be frustrating to work with a new puppy as you train it to use the bathroom outside and teach the puppy that it is not OK to chew your belongings to pieces. Doing your best to keep an even tone and mind while working with your new puppy can only strengthen the bond and level of trust your new puppy will have for you. Not losing your temper at times will be difficult, but with some mental preparation and a bit of practice on your part, you'll be less likely to lose your temper.

Things You'll Need

  • Puppy treats
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Rule out behavior problems due to age and medical reasons. If the puppy is only a couple of months old, the puppy may not have the attention span or physical bladder control to perform the way you desire. Have the puppy examined at regularly scheduled veterinarian visits and address behavior concerns during the appointments.

    • 2

      Make sure the routine you have with your new puppy is consistent. Always work on training periods for short stints of time, starting at about 5 minutes at a time and working up to 15 minutes at a time. When the puppy is very young, he won't be able to concentrate more than a few minutes at a time, much like a young child.

    • 3

      Reward your puppy for good effort and obeying your commands. Alternate between healthy over-the-counter puppy treats and lots of praise. The more you do this, the less you'll have a need for raising your voice or losing your temper all together with the dog. The "punishment" a puppy will feel is in hearing your "firm" voice of correction and not receiving a treat when he doesn't obey.

    • 4

      Ease new routines into the puppy's life gradually instead of forcing the dog to learn many things too quickly. For example, don't expect the puppy to be housebroken, learn to live without you eight hours a day, not chew things up and walk on a leash right away. The more realistic you are about working with your puppy, the less likely you are to be agitated or angered by the pup's behaviors.