Puppy Training Secrets

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Many people wonder what age is appropriate to begin training a puppy.  Doing training while your puppy is still young will certainly make things easier, but you can train a puppy at pretty much any age.

The best time to begin training a puppy is the day you bring the puppy home which generally is around 8 weeks of age.  Try not to get a puppy from a  litter younger than 8 weeks because  while a puppy is still in it’s litter they learn a lot about not biting from their litter mates which is helpful to you when you bring home the new puppy.

Here are a few tips to make the process of training as easy as possible:
Train consistently.  Whatever behavior you are trying to teach your puppy, practice every single day for about 3 minutes and do it the same way every single time.  It doesn’t really take much time in your day.  Two or three times a day for about 3 minutes each time is plenty.  Puppies have a short attention span and will tire and get bored quickly.

Make sure what you are teaching is age appropriate for the puppy.  Do not expect a young puppy 8-12 weeks of age to be able to hold a sit or a down for more than a few seconds.  If your expectations exceed the capability of the puppy you are setting you both up for failure and frustration.

Always use the same word for the command each time.  Pick one word and use only that word.  Do not confuse the puppy by saying down when you want him to lay down then turn around and say down when you want him off the couch.  Each behavior has its own word.

Never, ever punish your puppy at all – ever.  If your puppy does not obey a command simply say wrong in a totally non-emotional tone of voice.  Hitting, yelling at, or striking your puppy sets you up for having a confrontational relationship with your puppy who will soon become a grown dog.  Aggression begets aggression – simply do not do this.

Always praise your puppy when he does a behavior properly.  You can alternate giving a food treat to make the training more rewarding for him, but understand how to wean off food treats.  A simple Good Puppy said in a happy high pitched tone is also a great reward.

There is a lot to learn in training a puppy, but if you do it well, with the right information and the right techniques, you can easily have a well trained puppy in just a few weeks.

These are just some of the basics that will help you get started on the right foot with your puppy.  Puppies are very smart and learn quickly, especially when they are taught from an early age.

Be as comfortable with the trainer of your dog as you are the teacher of your children.  And remember, Opportunity Barks!

Jim Burwell