Saturday, December 19, 2009

Puppy Obedience Training Tips

Bringing your new puppy home for the first time is one of the most exciting experiences one can have. Watching their curiosity as they examine and explore their new surroundings is priceless. While this is a very exciting time, some ground work must begin immediately. Puppy obedience training is a necessary step and process that one must start right away.

You can do this in a number of ways. You always want to use positive reinforcement for desirable behaviors. When the behavior is undesirable, make use of proper corrective methods. You need to make sure you don't ignore any kind of behavior, whether desirable or undesirable. Make use of repetition to establish proper learning. Remember to be consistent with the commands you use and make puppy obedience training a daily part of your life.

We always want to use positive verbal praise and even a treat sometimes when our puppy performs something correctly or acts desirable. Remember that repetition and patience is the key here. While dogs are extremely smart the process of learning something new takes a little time for anyone.

Though it may be tempting to rub your puppy’s nose in the accident or swat him with a rolled up newspaper, punishing your dog in this way is not really effective puppy obedience training. Your dog will just learn to be afraid of you. This does not form a healthy relationship. Do you think she will come when you call, if she thinks she is going to get a whack?

If your puppy is chewing on something he shouldn’t or did something bad then just firmly say “No” or “Bad”. Again whichever word you choose stick to it and stay consistent. If you find him chewing a lot on something he shouldn’t then make sure he has something that is acceptable and praise him when he chews on that toy instead.

Biting is a natural part of being a puppy. It’s not that she is vicious, she is just teething and exploring. You do want to make sure that you don’t allow her to bite your hand or feet. Again patience is key. If you find her biting, make sure you yelp to let her know that she hurt you. Use a firm voice and immediately stop playing. She will learn that biting ends playtime.

Remember to set a schedule to get both of you on the same page. Get your puppy used to waking up and going outside to use the bathroom at the same time each morning. Feed your puppy and the same times each day. The amount of food and frequency will vary depending on breed. Don’t forget to schedule in some play time. Consistency will help with training.

Having a puppy is definitely not all fun and no work. But with some patience, consistency and repetition your puppy can be trained and obedient in no time at all. Puppy obedience training will help your pup grow into a well mannered dog and give you plenty of joy and friendship for many years to come!