How to Train a Poodle Puppy

Perhaps it's the curly hair, the mischievous personality or the high intelligence level that attracts people to poodles. Whatever the reasons, poodles are one of the most popular pets among dog lovers. Because they are extremely smart and willing to please, poodle puppies are typically easy to mold into well-mannered adult dogs. In order to train your poodle puppy, employ patience, persistence and a few other techniques.

Things You'll Need

  • Crate
  • Treats
  • Collar
  • Leash
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Instructions

    • 1

      Teach your poodle not to eliminate indoors by placing it in a crate when you are not home or unable to provide supervision. Since your poodle puppy is very small, you will need to purchase a small crate, as it should only be big enough for the poodle to stand up and turn around in. Anything larger will allow the puppy to walk away from any accidents that occurred in the crate, which defeats the purpose of crate training. Take your poodle puppy with you to the store to see what crate will fit, if possible. If you desire to use a crate now that will fit the poodle when it is an adult, simply block off the excess space with blankets or a divider and remove them as the puppy grows.

    • 2

      Remove your poodle puppy off of your couch, bed or other areas you don't want him using. Poodle puppies love snuggling and spending time with their owners---they will do just about whatever they can to be near you, including jumping on the sofa, chair or bed. If you do not want your puppy on these areas, remove him each time he jumps on them. In addition, give him treats or praise when he is not trying to jump on those areas to reward his good behavior.

    • 3

      Place your poodle puppy on a raised surface when teaching him commands. Not only is this position easier on your back but it helps the puppy to better see you and understand what you are asking. PetCareEducation.com states that poodles typically learn new training commands with less than five repetitions because of their high intelligence levels. Therefore, if the poodle can better understand what is being asked of him, he will master the commands sooner rather than later.

    • 4

      Train your poodle to walk on a leash by placing the leash and collar on the pup, then holding out a treat in front of it to entice it to walk towards the treat. After every few steps, reward the puppy with the treat. Extend the walking periods before the treat is given every couple of rounds. Dog-Obedience-Training-Review.com states that poodles often have difficulties with leash training; therefore, the sooner you begin utilizing this technique with your puppy, the easier and faster he will learn.