How to Start Training a Puppy

Training a Puppy

Puppies need lots of love, care and training to thrive. If you neglect to train your puppy even the basics, you will end up with a grown dog that goes to the bathroom when and where it wants and chews everything on sight, for starters. Dogs are pack animals and need a strong leader to teach them right from wrong. Many dog breeds love training. Every dog should know certain basic rules. The first thing you will be training a puppy to do is go to the bathroom in a designated area.

There are many different books, articles and theories on the best way to potty train a puppy so we won’t spend a lot of time on that. Most experts will advise you to take your puppy out every couple hours to the designated bathroom area and crate them when you’re not at home to avoid accidents. Around 12 weeks of age, consistent puppy potty training will start to pay off because the puppy will be better able to control bathroom urges.

Around that age, your puppy is also ready for basic training. Aim for training sessions twice daily, for about 20 minutes per session. You will need a leash and collar, but you may want to invest in a training harness which makes the task even easier. A good first command to start with is Sit. Tell your puppy to Sit in a firm voice and press down on their lower back/bottom area to encourage them to do so. When your puppy sits, reward him or her with a treat. Some dog experts also recommend clicker devices that make a clicking noise along with the treat to give the dog a sound to associate with the correct behavior.

Puppies should be taught to walk properly on a leash, lay down, stay and come to you when called. You will also want to teach them to refrain from jumping up on visitors. There are no shortage of dog training books, puppy training tips and even television shows devoted to the subject. So you will find plenty of material to help you with your training endeavors. Training a puppy is not easy, and takes lots of patience, but can definitely be done. If you can’t seem to do it on your own, consider enrolling your puppy in an obedience course. This can help both dog and owner.