Buying or adopting a puppy for the first time feels very exciting, but it also comes with many challenges too.
Training a puppy to adjust to the lifestyle of your house is the most important challenge. By doing so, you can help them adapt to your home environment and develop good behavior and manners, so they don’t cause much trouble.
Being a new pet owner without previous experience with pets will make training a puppy more challenging. Well, no need to worry if you are a new pet owner; there are plenty of ways to train your pet. When training your puppy, remember to be patient since it can sometimes be frustrating.
Training a puppy includes several steps like teaching house training, crate training, socializing within your inner circle, etc. To learn more about training your newly adopted puppy, read the 7 tips we will discuss below.
These seven tips will help to train your puppy and build a strong foundation of trust and love with your furry companion.
In essence, socializing involves taking your puppy out and allowing them to meet and interact with different people, places, and circumstances. A well-socialized adult dog easily becomes adjusted to a family. A dog lacking proper socialization can develop anxiety, hostility, and excessive barking issues.
A puppy should be exposed to various people, animals, places, sounds, and sights early on in life so that the puppy will not respond negatively to them as he grows older.
Further, you must provide your puppy with a variety of handling experiences. By doing so, your puppy will likely feel more comfortable in unfamiliar environments, such as the veterinarian, groomer, or park walk.
A puppy's housebreaking is usually high on the priority list of new owners. Undoubtedly, finding your dog peeing at random places is not something you want. To prevent such behavior, a proper training must be done on where to pee and where not to.
Initially, schedule your puppy's activities regularly to ensure a successful training process. Keep the feeding schedule consistent throughout the day. Each time he eats, drinks, or wakes up from a nap, takes him outside to potty.
House training takes some time to develop and don’t try to punish your puppy if they comply or keep doing bathroom activities at random places.
Punishment often does not produce the desired results. Dogs will only be scared or confused if you scold them. Buy an under couch blocker because sometimes a pup can go under your couch or sofa to do their business, and such objects help to prevent that.
When you cannot supervise your puppy, you may confine him in a crate. In time, your puppy may become accustomed to his box and make it his most preferred place. Keeping your puppy in a crate can prevent bad habits such as inappropriate chewing and soiling from developing. Put some toys in the crate for entertainment purposes.
House training can also be accomplished with the use of crates. Most dogs don't relieve their bowels beside the area of sleeping. Your dog might be discouraged from doing potty inside the house if he is in a crate and not under your supervision during the day.
Training your puppy takes time and patience. It can be frustrating when your puppy doesn't seem to respond to your commands, but remaining patient and consistent is essential.
Don’t yell at your puppy if he doesn’t follow your instructions; this may scare him and further create problems in the rest of the training. He may further resist your commands or may act aggressively and attack you.
Puppies have a short attention span and can become easily distracted. Keep training sessions fast and frequent; take breaks if you or your puppy become frustrated. Give your puppy treats if he accomplishes a task, as you say it.
Dogs have a habit of chewing on anything, whether it's a hard or soft material. Many people are already aware of this, unless someone is a new owner and doesn’t understand dog behaviors.
Teaching your puppy the appropriate items to chew is more effective than trying to prevent him from chewing. Regarding chewing training, confinement is a very effective method. Doing so prevents your puppy from chewing on your shoes, furniture, or any other objects you want to keep him away from.
As a part of his chewing training, he should be directed to appropriate toys. A simple "no" does not suffice when your dog attempts to take something you do not wish him to have.
There are unique chewing toys that are specially made for dogs. Go to a pet shop, buy these toys, and teach your dog to chew on them; you may also place them in his crate.
Despite their playful nature, puppies sometimes have difficulty walking on a leash. The rule of thumb here is that practice makes perfect. The ability to walk a puppy calmly and respectfully on a leash will greatly assist you in the process of socializing and housebreaking.
You can easily control your dog using a leash and stop him from behaving irrationally or attacking someone who they are unfamiliar with.
If you are having trouble training your puppy, it may be helpful to seek professional help. A professional dog trainer can provide guidance and support to help you and your puppy succeed. They can also identify any behavioral issues that may need to be addressed.
So find a dog trainer in your local area for assistance in training your dog.
The process of training a puppy can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. These seven tips will help create a happy and healthy relationship between you and your pet.
Remember to be patient in your approach because it can sometimes become frustrating. Eventually, your puppy will be a well-behaved member of your family that you will love and cherish. Always remember to seek professional help if needed and enjoy the journey of training your new companion.
