If you’re considering bringing a new puppy into your home, then you are likely aware of the fact that they can be quite a handful. There is a lot to consider, from how much to feed them to how to train them not to go in the house. You can even try teaching your puppy verbal commands and tricks, and in this brief article we’ll take a look at some easy puppy training tips for getting the best results in the shortest amount of time.
Possibly one of the best the best puppy training tips is to always stay patient and calm with your puppy. Losing your temper will not help build a healthy relationship, and staying cool under pressure will keep the dog from destroying your nerves. A great way to teach your puppy what to do and what not to do is with simple reinforcement. Reinforcement can be either positive or negative, and can be used in virtually any situation. It can even be used in tandem with treats, or a special dog training clicker for more precise results. Let’s take a quick look at some examples of reinforcement.
Say you want to teach your puppy to sit. Call it over to you and in a strong (but not too loud or angry) voice say “sit.” By using a bold voice you establish that you are the pack leader, and your puppy will follow your orders. If your puppy sits, praise it and give it a treat. Practice it a few times a day until your puppy sits on the first try. If the puppy does not sit, apply a gentle push to its hindquarters until its bottom is on the ground, and say the word again, followed by praise. Most puppy training tips will tell you that patience and persistence is key when dealing with any problem.
Another one of the more popular puppy training tips is a great method to keep puppies from chewing on things they shouldn’t be chewing on. This method consists largely of taking things off the ground and storing them where they can’t be chewed, and if the puppy chews on furniture, you can try spraying a bitter-tasting solution on it to discourage this as well. This is known as dog-proofing a house, and it is an important part of raising a dog (due to their tendency to destroy anything they can while you are gone).