Puppy Training for Idiots
28 Jul 2009
There’s nothing more exiting than when you get a new puppy. But, it isn’t so exciting when your puppy starts misbehaving. But, if you start training your pup as soon as he comes home, a lot of your pain and frustration can be avoided. If you start out right, you will quickly end up with a confident, well mannored dog.
If you do some searching, you’ll probably see that there are several ways you can go about how to train a puppy. No matter what you do, you should always follow a few guidelines when training a puppy. One of the keys to effective dog training is to use positive reinforcement. Using negative reinforcement can have significant negative effects such as agression. Another thing to always remember is that effective puppy training takes patience and consistency.
Starting Out
You need to get in the habit of consistently rewarding your puppy when he does something good. Make the reward something like a dog treat or a good belly rub. Always remember that since your puppy is so young, it may take a little while for him to get the picture. For example, your dog doesn’t insinctively know that it is wrong to pee in the house.
Some areas to focus on from the beginning are house training, simple commands like sit and stay and leash training. This type of training will help you bond with your puppy and teach him that you are the “alpha dog.” Short, consistent lessons will see the most progress.
Don’t slack off in your training as will just just get more difficult as your puppy gets older. Take puppy training as a serious commitment. Don’t give up, be patient and your puppy will eventually get it.
Should I Crate Train my Dog?
Most people agree that crate training is very beneficial if you think your dog will be staying by himself often. Crates can be a place of safety and comfort for your dog. Since dogs are den animals, a crate makes him feel secure. If you are having trouble housetraining your dog, you should look into crate training.
To train your puppy that his crate is his “den”, there are a few tricks. Fill his crate with his favorite toys and treats. You should never make him go into the crate when he doesn’t want to. The last thing you want to for your puppy to associate the crate with something unpleasant.
A Few Last Thoughts
One of the most important items on the puppy training list is housetraining. Taking your puppy outside often and giving him lots of praise when he does the right thing is important. You won’t get very far if you just use discipline when he goes inside. Go outside with your puppy and don’t come back in until he has relieved himself. Once he’s used the restroom, give him lots of praise.
If you need more help take a look at one of the best dog training programs available. Read The Secrets to Dog Training Review here.
