Training a puppy marks the beginning of your journey of transforming
your excitable puppy into a loyal dog who will be by your side for life.
As in any relationship the more you give, the more you get back.
That is why you too play an essential role.
WHEN CAN YOU START
TRAINING A PUPPY?
Without hesitation! If you are getting your puppy from a breeder,
you will most likely take him home when he is around eight weeks old. By this
age, your new puppy has already developed around 80% of his adult brain and
over the next few weeks, his brain will continue to develop.
Your puppy is eager to learn and it's important to make sure you are
confident and consistent every day.
Puppies have a short attention span and it will take repeated
attempts to learn, but once they learn what is expected of them you will have a
great opportunity to get them involved quickly. And remember, it's easier to do
it now and not when they're a few months older, they're much bigger and
stronger and already set up in their own way.
GAIN YOUR PUPPY'S TRUST
Trust and consistency give your puppy the confidence that they can
count on you, their new parent. Using their name often may seem simple but for
them, it is a very important signal.
Another fantastic way to gain her trust is through positive
reinforcement and encouraging good conduct rather than punishment through
physical strength. Through positive reinforcement, you can create a strong bond
of trust based on mutual respect and appropriate compensation.
Puppies are cute and fun but it can also be frustrating when they
don't always do what you want. Apart from the fact that they do not speak the
same language as us, keep in mind that they are really young and therefore
easily distracted.
Be patient and consistent with your puppy. They are still learning
and will eventually understand what you want them to do.
Sitting
Hold a small treat in front of your puppy, near their nose (don't
let them grab the treat from your hand), and slowly move it back over their
eyes so that their nose rises. Their body should come into a sitting position
naturally. As soon as he sits down you can give your puppy the treat by
praising him at the same time and use the verbal command "sit". Keep
practicing until they no longer have to take the treat, just quiet praise.
Land
Hold the treat in front of your puppy's nose, slowly move it towards
the ground and between their front paws. This should encourage them to lie down
to get the reward. As soon as they crouch, give your puppy the treat by
praising him at the same time and use the voice command 'land'. Again, keep
practicing until they no longer have to take the treat, just quiet praise.
Walk on a leash
It is essential that your puppy's basic training includes walking on
a leash. Start indoors where he can feel more comfortable and you can control
your surroundings.
The first thing to do is to put on the collar and immediately
afterward praise him and reward him so that he can realize that wearing the
collar is a good thing.
Put some treats in a bowl on the side of the room and let them walk
beside you on a leash towards the bowl. Next, try walking with a treat in your
hand and your puppy at his side on a loose leash, using the treat to lure him.
Gradually build this process; avoid pulling on the leash as they may
resist and you will find yourself playing tug-of-war with them. Once
comfortable indoors, start training him to walk on a leash in the garden if you
have one. Remember to be patient and praise them when they do it correctly.
There is nothing to worry about walking on a leash, but he won't do it until he
is shown otherwise.
The food you choose can
facilitate puppy training
When choosing puppy food, look for an ingredient called DHA
(docosahexaenoic acid). It is a naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acid that is
a key element in brain development.
All EUKANUBA Puppy and Junior
foods contain adequate levels of DHA to give your puppy the best possible start
during their early years and beyond.
Puppy Training Courses
Most of us with dogs in EUKANUBA have taken puppy training classes
at one time or another. A good course is fun, useful, and before you know it
your puppy will obey all commands ... well, almost all commands. We have
created a handy guide on what to look for in a puppy training class.
BASIC PUPPY TRAINING
Be prepared to be persuasive, with too many repetitions, some
treats, and some well-deserved praise. Once they know how to sit and lie down
on command, they will be truly proud - showing off their new skills with
friends and family - and they will love all the positive attention they get.
TRAINING YOUR ADULT DOG
They say you can't teach an older dog new exercises, but that
couldn't be more untrue. Whether you've just adopted a new adult dog who needs
some help with the basics, or a dog you have needs a little reminder - here are
some tips for training an adult dog.
Consistency is the key
For any behavioral issues that may arise with your adult dog, the
basic training principles that apply to puppies will still apply. Training an
adult dog already trained in its own way may take a little more time and
patience.
First, it is vital to be consistent with commands and praise him. It
is important to make sure that all family members know your training goals and
how to use the commands correctly, otherwise the dog may receive mixed messages
which can be confusing.
Praise rather than punish
Dogs Learn With Positive Reinforcement This means that you will only
achieve your goals by praising the behavior you want to encourage and by
teaching your dog what good behavior is. Punishing your dog for bad behavior
can more likely lead him to behave more unpredictably and make it harder to
train them the right way.
