The Best Ways to Train a Puppy

Training Tips

• All dogs should learn the basics of obedience. "Sit," "stay" and "off" are good commands to work on first. Starting training your puppy as soon as possible so it won't learn bad habits. Very young dogs have a short attention span, though, so training sessions should be short and frequent.

  Treats are the best motivation, so show the puppy you have something tantalizing in your hand. This gets their attention. Next say the desired command and show the dog how to do what you want it to do. For example, put the puppy in the sit position and give it a treat. With a bit of repetition, the dog will quickly figure out that the desired behavior will result in a treat.

  Potty training can be more difficult. To train a dog to go in the desired place, take the puppy to that place multiple times throughout the day, and if it does its "business," reward it with a treat.

  The key to proper puppy behavior is to start early and be consistent. If a behavior is overlooked one day then punished the next, it sets up a mixed message for the pup and you will not get the behavior you're seeking. For example, if you allow your puppy on the couch sometimes, it will think the couch is an acceptable place for it.

  Exercise keeps a dog's physical and mental health sound. Bored animals tend to find mischief, and they can be more difficult to train because they have a hard time focusing when they have too much energy.

  Some breeds, such as collies and retrievers, require more mental stimulation than others because they were bred to be working dogs. These guys can get into trouble and develop undesirable behaviors unless you offer them an alternative. Keeping a plethora of toys available and introducing more active training like "fetch" is a good way to start. Once your puppy is 6 months old, you can introduce games that are more mentally and physically challenging.