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As a dog owner, training your puppy from an early age is imperative. Proper training ensures a well-behaved and obedient pet that can coexist with humans and other animals. Training also helps to eliminate destructive behaviour and strengthens the bond between the owner and the pet. In this article, I will share the essential commands that every puppy should learn and tips for effective learning.
Importance of Puppy Training
Puppy training is crucial as it lays the foundation for your dog’s behaviour and obedience. It helps to socialize the puppy with humans, other dogs, and the environment. Puppies that are not trained may develop destructive behaviour, such as chewing on furniture, digging holes in the yard, and excessive barking. Moreover, untrained puppies may display aggression towards humans or other dogs, which can lead to injuries and legal problems.
Training also provides mental stimulation and exercise for the puppy. It helps to prevent boredom, anxiety, and depression, which can cause destructive behaviour. Additionally, training helps to form a strong bond between the owner and the puppy. This bond creates a sense of security for the puppy and helps to build trust, which is crucial for obedience.
Basic Commands to Teach Your Puppy – Sit, Stay, Come
The basic commands are the foundation of puppy training. They are simple but essential commands that every puppy should learn. The first command to teach is “sit.” Hold a treat above its head and move it backward to teach your puppy to sit. The puppy will naturally lower its rear end to reach the treat, and you can say “sit” as you give it the treat. Repeat this process until the puppy can sit without the treat.
The second command is “stay.” To teach your puppy to stay, ask it to sit, then take a step back and say, “Stay.” If the puppy stays in place, reward it with a treat. Repeat this process, taking a step back each time until the puppy can stay in place for a few minutes.
The third command is “come.” To teach your puppy to come, call its name and say “come” in a happy and excited tone. When the puppy comes to you, give it a treat and praise it. Repeat this process until the puppy can come to you from a distance.
Training Tips for Effective Learning
Training a puppy can be challenging, but it can also be fun and rewarding. Here are some tips to make the training process more effective:
- Keep training sessions short and frequent. Puppies have a short attention span, so it is best to train them for a few minutes at a time, several times a day.
- Use positive reinforcement. Reward good behaviour with treats, praise, and playtime. Avoid punishment-based training as it can lead to fear and aggression in puppies.
- Be patient and consistent. Puppies learn at different rates, so it is essential to be patient and consistent with training. Use the same commands and rewards consistently, and avoid confusing the puppy with conflicting commands.
- Use distractions. During training, introduce distractions, such as toys and other dogs, to test the puppy’s obedience. This helps to prepare the puppy for real-life situations.
Positive Reinforcement vs Punishment-Based Training
Positive reinforcement is the best approach to training a puppy. It involves rewarding good behaviour with treats, praise, and playtime. This approach strengthens the bond between the owner and the puppy and encourages the puppy to repeat good behaviour.
On the other hand, punishment-based training involves using physical or verbal punishment to correct bad behaviour. This approach can lead to fear and aggression in puppies and damage the bond between the owner and the puppy. It is essential to avoid punishment-based training and focus on positive reinforcement.
Crate Training Your Puppy
Crate training is an effective way to house-train a puppy and provide a safe and secure place for the puppy to rest. A crate should be large enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. It should also have a comfortable bed and toys to keep the puppy entertained.
To crate train your puppy, introduce it to the crate gradually. Place treats and toys inside the crate to encourage the puppy to explore it. Once the puppy is comfortable inside the crate, start closing the door for short periods while you are present. Gradually increase the time that the puppy spends inside the crate, and never leave it inside for extended periods.
Walking on a Leash – Heel and Loose Leash Walking
Walking on a leash is an essential skill for every dog. It provides exercise and mental stimulation and lets the owner control the dog’s behaviour in public places. There are two types of leash walking: heel and loose leash walking.
Heel walking involves walking with the dog close to your side, with its head at your knee. To teach your puppy to heel walk, start slowly and encourage the puppy to stay close to your side. Reward the puppy with treats and praise when it stays in the correct position.
Loose leash walking involves walking with the dog on a loose leash, allowing it to explore its surroundings. To teach your puppy to loose leash walk, start by walking slowly and rewarding the puppy when it stays close to your side. Gradually increase the distance that the puppy can explore on the leash.
Teaching Your Puppy to Not Bite or Chew on Things
Puppies love to explore their environment by chewing and biting things. However, this behaviour can be destructive and dangerous. To teach your puppy not to bite or chew on things, provide it with plenty of chew toys and discourage it from chewing on other items.
If the puppy bites or chews on something it shouldn’t, say “no” firmly and redirect its attention to a chew toy. Avoid punishment-based training, such as hitting or yelling, as it can lead to fear and aggression in puppies.
Advanced Commands – Roll Over, Shake, and Speak
Once your puppy has mastered the basic commands, you can teach it some fun and advanced commands. The first command is “roll over.” To teach your puppy to roll over, start by asking it to lie down. Then, use a treat to lure the puppy to roll over onto its back. Reward the puppy with a treat and praise when it successfully rolls over.
The second command is “shake.” To teach your puppy to shake, start by asking it to sit. Then, hold out your hand and say, “Shake.” When the puppy puts its paw in your hand, reward it with a treat and praise.
The third command is “speak.” To teach your puppy to speak, start by getting it excited. Then, say “speak” and wait for the puppy to bark. Reward the puppy with a treat and praise when it successfully barks on command.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Puppy Training
There are some common mistakes that new dog owners make when training their puppies. These mistakes can hinder the training process and lead to frustration for both the owner and the puppy. Some of the mistakes to avoid include:
- Inconsistency in commands and rewards
- Expecting too much too soon
- Punishment-based training
- Lack of exercise and mental stimulation
- Overfeeding and lack of discipline
Conclusion
Training your puppy is essential for its behaviour, obedience, and mental health. Basic commands are the foundation of puppy training, and positive reinforcement is the best approach to training. Crate training, leash walking, and teaching your puppy not to bite or chew on things are also crucial skills.
Remember to avoid common mistakes in puppy training, be patient and consistent, and provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. With proper training, your puppy will grow into a well-behaved and obedient dog that is a joy to be around.
Photo by Pauline Loroy on Unsplash
