For new owners, dog training is a learning experience for the person as well as the puppy. Do not fret, however, as it is possible to teach a puppy to pee outdoors, stay off the couch and not eat the newspaper. There are some dog training basics that can help new and experienced owners train their puppy with less stress.
Crate Training
Crate training is a good first step for a new puppy and their owner. Dogs like small, enclosed spaces because they make them feel safe. A puppy will not resist going into a crate, making training easier. If a blanket, shirt or other item with the owner’s scent on it is placed in the crate, it will reinforce the idea that it is a canine safe haven.
Crate training begins when the owner needs the puppy to be out from under foot for a bit, or needs to leave them alone for a short period of time. This helps prevent destructive or unwanted behavior, such as peeing in the house or chewing on the furniture. After a while, the dog may even go into the crate on their own if they want to be alone or feel over stimulated.
Crates can also be used as a time out room for misbehavior. When used for correction, make sure the puppy knows that it did something wrong and is being punished. Saying “no” or “bad” and putting them in the crate is a way for the puppy to learn their behavior is not acceptable. Then shut the door and leave the puppy in the crate for a few minutes. Do not leave the animal in there for too long, but also do not let the dog out the second they start to whine. Five minutes will teach the canine about the consequences of bad behavior without being too strict. It also keeps the pet from learning the owner will open the cage when they whine, a tactic they learn quickly.
Another benefit to crate training is that it gets human and canine used to the basics of training. The person learns consistency and being firm without being harsh. The puppy learns that there is good and bad behavior and that bad behavior has consequences. This will help as the owner progresses to more commands and other basic training techniques.
Basic Training
Owners have a responsibility to their dog and other people to train their dog properly. No one likes to be around a pet that barks constantly, jumps all over the place, and pees on their favorite shoe. With some essential training, the family pet can be one that is enjoyed by all, and is welcome everywhere.
Dog training basics extend to these sessions in manners. There are some guidelines to follow to help make sure the training sessions are productive and less stressful:
- Remove distractions: dogs can be easily distracted. Before beginning a training session, make sure the location is free of other animals, people and loud noises. This helps the animal focus on the owner and not the cat next door.
- Have treats handy: people and animals respond better to positive reinforcement. Have some dog training treats handy to help let the canine know they did a good job.
- Get their attention: don’t assume the dog knows that they are in a training session. Call the animal by name and make sure there is eye contact before using a command.
- Call attention back: it is not okay for the pet to do an action once and then start sniffing the nearest tree. If the animal gets distracted, call their attention back before continuing the session.
- Don’t make sessions too long: dogs have short attention spans. Keeping a training session to approximately 30 minutes will keep a puppy and human from getting frustrated.
In addition to these tips, there are some other dog training basics that are important to know. Praise works better than negative reinforcement. While there will be times when punishment is necessary, try to make more of a fuss over good behavior than bad. Dogs instinctively want to please people, and if they know an action pleases their owner, they will want to do it again. This helps form a positive relationship between human and canine.
It is important to be firm but not harsh when training a dog. Never yell or hit, since hitting can injure a puppy and make them skittish. When punishment is necessary, use a negative word, such as “no”, or put them in their crate. Eventually, they will come to understand that this action displeases their owner, and they will stop behaving that way to make their person happy. Consistency, patience and praise are the best dog training basics any owner can build on to raise a happy, healthy dog.