The earlier, the better? This motto certainly holds true for puppy training. Small dogs are extremely curious and approach the world with an open mind. This can be leveraged to playfully – yet consistently – teach them what is expected.
Rules in Puppy Training
A loving and consistent approach to puppy training forms the foundation for a peaceful and stress-free coexistence between dog and human. When dogs learn their position in the family and their boundaries from the beginning, it has a positive impact not only on the harmonious atmosphere at home but also on the healthy development of the dog.
Dogs are pack animals and require clear structures and rules for their emotional well-being. A negligent or uncertain owner confuses young dogs, leading to undesired or even dangerous behaviors. Additionally, behaviors learned early in life are challenging to unlearn in adulthood.
What Should a Puppy Learn?
No doubt, an exuberant puppy can turn family life upside down and create a lot of chaos in the house. It is crucial, therefore, to make it clear to the little whirlwind from the beginning what is allowed and what is not during puppy training.
Your new roommate with the loyal gaze and clumsy paws will naturally make it challenging for you to remain consistent. Who can resist a cute puppy begging for a piece of sausage at the table or cuddling up in bed? However, how should a dog understand that these privileges are suddenly no longer allowed as an adult?
Therefore, in puppy training, you should be clear from the beginning about how you envision living with your dog. What behavior is important to you, and what behaviors will you absolutely not tolerate?
If you consistently adhere to this clear line from the beginning, your dog will soon learn where his “place” is and will likely pose minimal problems as an adult dog.
Clear Commands and Signals in Puppy Training
Clear commands, a calm but decisive tone, and unambiguous body language provide your dog with a sense of security.
Dogs are masters at reading facial expressions and often respond faster to simple hand movements than to complex sentences. Consider carefully how you want to name commands such as “Sit,” “Come,” or “Heel” and what appropriate gesture you can show alongside. Stick to these straightforward commands by consistently using the same keywords and hand movements.
To avoid misunderstandings, it’s better to refrain from long sentences like “Buddy, you must wait patiently in front of the supermarket because Dad needs to do some shopping.” For learning basic obedience, short, clear instructions linked to the same desired behavior are essential.
Praise and Treats in Puppy Training
How do you get the puppy to enjoy learning? Praise and treats play a significant role in motivating young dogs. In this regard, they are not much different from most humans. They choose the path that promises them the greatest success. Criticism and punishment demotivate them, hindering successful puppy training.
For dogs to learn which behavior is correct and which earns them the desired praise from their owner, the reward should be immediate.
Dogs live in the present and always associate their owner’s reaction directly with the current situation. Even criticism is understood by dogs only when it happens immediately. If your not-yet-house-trained puppy does its “business” right in front of your couch, and you only notice this when you’re settling down for the evening, reprimanding your dog is futile.
You can reward your puppy with treats (be cautious – not too many!), cheerful words, gentle strokes, praising gestures, or a coveted toy.
Granting small freedoms, such as briefly unleashing the leash, frolicking with other dogs, or engaging in a shared ball game, is also perceived by dogs as a desirable goal.
The Right Time for Puppy Training
In general, the correct timing is crucial in puppy training. For a training session or a small obedience exercise to be positive, your puppy should be “ready” for your exercises.
If he is currently romping around in the garden, exploring a new toy intensively, or is simply tired or hungry, this is certainly not the right time.
Puppies are very eager to learn but are usually not focused on one thing for too long. Exercises that require your dog’s prolonged concentration are probably unsuitable for the beginning. Instead, integrate puppy training into your everyday life and get your dog used to certain rules and rituals as early as possible. Try to train your dog “on the side”: ensure he waits patiently when you prepare his food, never give in to begging, and praise him for staying calm when the doorbell rings. Give him a treat when he manages to wait alone in front of the bathroom door without whining.
The Key Foundations of Puppy Training
Among the most crucial exercises in puppy training is not just practicing commands. Young puppies must first get used to the unfamiliar environment. They need to build trust with their new humans, understand household rules, and learn how to interact with unfamiliar people and animals.
It is advisable to take the first few days off work when you have a puppy. Call your dog often by his name, cuddle and play with him, and let him eat treats from your hand. This way, you build trust and ensure that the puppy feels comfortable with you – the most important foundation for all further goals in puppy training.
House Training
In the first days at home, you can already start house training with your puppy. This is certainly one of the most critical prerequisites for a relaxed coexistence with your four-legged companion. Take your puppy outside every two to three hours and praise him when he succeeds.
Establish fixed times for going for a walk as early as possible, such as after waking up, before or after lunch, and before bedtime. It is essential to observe your puppy closely. If he sniffs nervously around your apartment, it could be a sign that he needs to go to the “doggy toilet.”
Don’t scold if something goes wrong at the beginning. Instead, praise him every time he succeeds in doing his business outside! House training doesn’t happen overnight and requires a lot of patience.
Puppy Training also Means Setting Boundaries
Puppies like to explore their world using their mouths. They don’t yet understand the value of furniture. Moreover, they don’t grasp that humans are more sensitive to biting than their littermates.
In puppy training, therefore, show your dog his boundaries early and consistently. By admonishing undesirable behavior and praising desirable behavior extensively, your puppy learns how far he can go.
Excessive growling, barking, or begging at the table is best discouraged by ignoring your puppy. When your dog exhibits this behavior, his primary goal is initially to gain your attention. By denying him this attention, he will soon learn that such behavior doesn’t lead to his goal.
Leash Manners
Leash manners in puppies are also fundamental to training. Adult dogs that pull on their leash can become a real problem. After all, they are not always as easy to restrain as a lightweight puppy. Walking on a loose leash should, therefore, be part of the mandatory program from the beginning.
Show your puppy from the start that you hold the leash and not the other way around. It’s not your dog determining the direction but you.
To ensure your dog pays attention to you during walks and adjusts to your pace, always make sure the leash remains loose from an early age. When the exuberant puppy pulls on the leash, stop. Only resume your walk when the leash becomes loose between you two.
Next Step: Impulse Control:
As an advanced exercise in leash manners, consider placing a treat or a coveted dog toy at some distance on a large field. Your puppy will likely want to dash straight to it.
However, hold him back or even move further away from the coveted object. Only when he manages to walk calmly at your pace should you approach with him. The reward is given only if he learns to restrain himself.
Recall and Stay
An essential foundation of puppy training is recall. You save yourself a lot of stress and nerves by teaching your puppy to come when called early on.
If you notice your puppy is already running towards you, give him the recall signal (e.g., “Come,” “Here,” or a whistle with a whistle). When your dog arrives at you, reward him. This way, he learns that it pays off to come to you quickly.
It’s similar with training the stay command. Your dog needs to learn that he can’t immediately jump out of the car when you open the trunk. Or that he shouldn’t immediately run out when you open the front door. Don’t reward this behavior by giving in to his impatience.
Close the car door or front door immediately if you notice your puppy trying to get out. Only when he manages to wait patiently should you reward him and open the door again.
Repeat this process until your dog sits or stands even with the door wide open. Then reward him by allowing him to finally go out.
Being Alone
From the 12th to 18th week of life, you can slowly get your puppy used to being alone. Of course, you should never leave your adult dog alone for too long. But in everyday life, there are always situations where your dog would be a disturbance. Your puppy should, therefore, learn early on that he can’t accompany you everywhere.
This works best if you subtly integrate exercises for being alone into your daily life. Initially, leave the room for a few minutes without saying goodbye. Come back in and act as if nothing happened.
Gradually, you can increase the time until your dog has learned to be alone for an extended period. Only when you are confident that your dog remains calm can you leave the house.
If your dog is very clingy and immediately starts barking or whining, you can vary the exercise. Only re-enter the room when your dog remains calm. If you don’t want to leave your excited dog alone, at least ignore him when you re-enter the room. Only give him a treat once he has calmed down.
Grooming Rituals
Keeping a dog in a species-appropriate manner also means taking care of sufficient grooming. The coat should be brushed regularly. Paws, ears, and teeth must be checked and cleaned. Additionally, trimming the nails is part of the standard grooming program. Get your furry companion used to staying still during these grooming rituals from the beginning.
When cuddling with your puppy on the couch in the evening, stroke his belly and touch his ears. Hold his paw for a few minutes or open his mouth with your hand. You’ll notice that your dog becomes more relaxed over time and begins to enjoy this “care.”
Sleeping
Amidst all the exercises you do with your puppy, the most important thing is often forgotten: sleeping. Make sure your little dog gets enough rest. He needs time to process the many new impressions that bombard him every day. Let him sleep when he retreats to his basket after a walk.
Never overwhelm him with too many or too long training sessions. You don’t have to keep your little dog busy around the clock – after all, you can’t do this with your adult dog in everyday life either.
Socialization: Familiarizing Puppies with the Environment
The more a puppy learns in its first few months, the less it will be unsettled later. Proper socialization of a puppy is, therefore, crucial.
In daily life, there are many unfamiliar sounds for a young dog: a loud vacuum cleaner, the washing machine or the television, energetic children, fast bicycles, loud motorcycles, people with sunglasses, people in wheelchairs, or screaming babies, noisy traffic, and strange escalators. Most of these impressions are new for puppies, and there is much more to discover.
Show him something new every day: you can use your daily walks to repeatedly show your puppy different places, sounds, people, or animals. But don’t overwhelm your dog. Initially, a few minutes in an unfamiliar environment are enough for your puppy.
