When you get a puppy home, your first thought usually is: ‘Oh, it’s so cute, I’m going to love it all my life!’
Right? We can surely and strongly identify with that feeling. Puppies are cute, and they deserve the whole world of love and happiness.
However, simply basking in your dog’s cuteness is not enough. Let’s be real, that’s not the only thing you should be doing.
All puppies, and especially some breeds (pitbulls, for example), need thorough training to develop good manners and integrate seamlessly into society.
What are some of the ways to ensure your puppy is well-mannered?
There are many essential steps you must take in this regard. You need to make sure that your puppy does not grow up to be too bratty, aggressive or engage in destructive behavior.
Training them in the right way will protect not just them but also the people they are normally around. Below are fourteen tips that you must heed in order to make this possible. Read on to know more.
Socialization
Socialization is extremely important for a puppy. It allows the little one to be introduced to various kinds of environments, people, other dogs, and noises in a controlled manner.
But one note of caution: Watch out for any signs of aggression or hostility. You would need to address it later in the correct manner.
Expose it to various kinds of objects
Let your puppy become familiar with objects such as cars, roads, shops, stalls, etc. Take it out for daily walks.
This will also help it learn new sights and sounds, and eliminate any fears it might have.
See if it reacts adversely to any object or sound. If it does, try to train it by associating positive things with that sound/object. This is an integral part of adjustment training.
Establish a disciplined routine
Discipline is as important for dogs as it is for humans. You should lay down specific times for daily activities such as eating, playing, bathing, or napping.
Implementing a strong time table will help it behave according to schedule and not ask for meals or playing at inappropriate hours.
Always supervise their interactions
You should definitely be taking your puppy to become familiar with people and dogs.
But make sure to always supervise it. You do not want any untoward incident to take place.
And you certainly don’t want your puppy to feel overwhelmed. All dogs, like humans, have different personalities.
You should be mindful of your pet’s emotional needs.
Be consistent with your commands
Be consistent with your commands and techniques while training your dog.
If you have a certain gesture for asking it to sit down, stand up or lie down, then make sure that you use that same gesture every time.
Using different commands can confuse your dog and hinder learning.
Toilet train your dog
It is very important to train your dog properly when it comes to going to the bathroom.
You should teach it to climb up onto the toilet seat whenever it wants to take a ‘poop’, and not anywhere else.
This may prove to be quite difficult at first, but gets smoother with time.
You can accelerate this learning process by offering your dog a treat every time he/she gets it right.
Be patient with your dog
Remember that every dog has a different nature and personality, just like humans. So let it learn at its own pace.
Do not try to hurry or speed things up, as this may only intimidate your puppy. It may also grow scared of you.
Do not rush into things. Take it slow and reassure your pup that you love it.
Use the reward system
As we all know, rewards are one of the strongest methods of positive reinforcement. They are especially useful during the learning period.
Whenever your dog manages to follow a command successfully, reward it with treats, words of praise, and also toys.
Use encouraging terms such as ‘you’re such a good boy/girl’ when it learns a specific command.
You can also try out various kinds of rewards and see which one your dog likes the most.
Try to divert its energy when you see destructive behavior
If your dog exhibits destructive behavior in any way, then try to divert its attention and energy to a different thing.
If it chews on toys excessively, then reprimand it and take the toy away.
You can then make him chase or find the toy to start playing again.
Doing this repeatedly will establish the fact that chewing too much or too hard is the wrong thing to do.
Pay attention to undesirable behaviors
When your dog does something undesirable, use a stern tone to let it know its mistake.
You can also exhibit aloof behavior or ignore it for sometime, until it understands its mistake.
Just like positive reinforcements, negative reinforcement is also needed to keep it under control.
It is absolutely essential to help your dog distinguish negative behavior from positive.
Always make use of the leash
When you take your dog out on a walk, make sure that it stays on a leash. This is necessary to restrain it from going after people, cars or animals.
Always discipline it firmly if it tries to escape the leash. Remember to keep doing this until your dog becomes used to it.
Familiarise it with your friends and family
After get a dog, you should take it to meet your family and close friends. Being around them will help the dog identify them as ‘friends’.
This in turn, will enable them to not be scared or aggressive around them.
Increased exposure is important for developing familiarity.
Teach them not to go after strangers
Many dogs have the habit of going after strangers. Some also start barking excessively whenever they spot an unfamiliar face.
When your dog does this, make use of the ‘sit’ or ‘lie down’ commands.
This will help it understand that this behavior is unacceptable. You can also try tying it to a leash if you’re expecting guests in your home.
Do not overlook unnatural behavior
Last but not the least, make note of unnatural behavior. If your dog starts acting withdrawn or disinterested all of a sudden and without reason, do not ignore it.
This can be the sign of depression or trauma. If this happens, try to identify the source of this fear. Once you know what you’re dealing with, treat it accordingly.
If you’re unable to do so, take it to a vet or a dog trainer.
They will tell you what’s wrong with your dog. You will also receive suggestions on how to overcome this issue.
Conclusion
Dogs are known as man’s best friends. And there are plenty of reasons behind it. Dogs make our lives better by being a part of them.
They are adorable, brave, and loyal. They’re also the best cuddle buddies one could ask for.
Follow all these fourteen tips to perfection, and take the help of a professional dog trainer whenever you feel it’s required.
We wish you and your pet pooch the best of luck.
How did you choose to train your dog? Let us know in the comments below.
