Successfully training a puppyjust as soon as you bring them home is one of the absolute best things you can do for your new pet, and also for yourself, as a well trained dog is a far more enjoyable companion than an unruly animal who doesn't know any of the basic, and rather necessary, commands that all dogs should know.
Before beginning any particular type of training method or technique, you'll want to make sure you take the time to bond with your puppy, allowing them to build trust and adapt to their completely new, and often confusing, environment.
Start out with very short, but frequent, training sessions, remembering to also socialize your dog with other animals and people as soon as possible.
Housetraining, or housebreaking as it's often called, should be the first thing you do when training your puppy, teaching them where they are expected to go to the bathroom, and also ensuring that you let them outside on a frequent, regular basis.
Don't make the mistake of allowing the dog too much "time to adjust" and overlooking accidents throughout the house, or attributing them to being nervous or afraid in their new living quarters and be sure to establish set rules right from the start.
After mastering this, it's now time to move on to learning the basic commands, and learning the boundaries and limits.
When training your new puppy, it is important to remain as positive as possible.
While you are instructing your dog, it is important to consistently praise your animal.
You should do this by speaking in a friendly, energetic tone and by putting a reward system in place.
There are many examples when it comes to successful puppy training and reward systems.
You may wish to take the dog for a walk around the neighborhood, or in the local park, and play with them when they have proven successful in learning, or just give them a little treat.
Many dogs really enjoy receiving a bone that they can chew on, or even a new toy! How you choose to reward the animal is entirely up to you, but you should consider some type of reward and remain consistent throughout the puppy training when it comes to rewards.
One of the main keys to training a puppy is to have the proper understanding and knowledge of the two basic types of dog training, with one primarily focusing on overall behavior, and the other honing in on matters of obedience.
With behavioral training, the focus is on correcting unwanted or destructive behavior, such as jumping on visitors, barking excessively, or getting on the furniture.
Obedience training is for teaching dogs and puppies to follow direction from their owners, such as to sit or stay, by listening and understanding certain words or commands.
Either type of training should always be done in short intervals, no more than 15 minutes long, to keep the rather short attention span that all dogs have interested in and focused on what you're trying to teach them.
Training your puppy should ideally begin the moment you introduce him or her to their new home.
By taking the time to properly train your new dog, which entails consistency, stability, establishing a routine, and have an inordinate amount of patience and love, you can be sure you'll quickly achieve success and have a happy, well adjusted companion for many years to come.