Congratulations on your new puppy! You're about to embark on a wonderful, albeit challenging, journey, and the more information and support you can get, the better. If you're looking for a puppy training guide that helps you understand normal puppy behavior and how to prevent potential behavioral concerns down the road, you're in the right place. Read on to learn basic training for puppies to help keep them safe — and keep you from pulling out your hair.
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What to Expect
Puppies need time to acclimate to you and their new home, and they may feel scared or stressed by new places, people and experiences. Puppies don't act "bad" out of meanness or spite. They simply react to situations with puppy-specific behaviors.
Puppies explore their world by mouthing, chewing, sniffing and pawing. They play loudly and interact with everything (shoes, furniture, your ankles) as though they're toys. When scared, you can expect to hear pitiful, heartbreaking cries of distress. These are all natural behaviors.
How Puppies Learn
Puppies learn by making mistakes through cause and effect. Start basic training for puppies as soon as your new pet arrives — don't wait for some "golden age." Some learn quickly, while others may take several weeks. Here are the basics of how dogs learn to get you started on the right track.
In Short Bursts
Pups have limited attention spans. Plan several five-minute sessions daily rather than one marathon session, and conduct training sessions in quiet places with no distractions.
By Reaction and Reward
Pups and adult dogs repeat behaviors that reward them. They steal socks because you chase them in a fun game. They potty because emptying feels good. They chew because it relieves teething pain and stress.
Notice how you react to and reward a behavior. Rewards may include treats, your smile, a new toy, petting or anything else your pup likes. Even scolding rewards a pup who hates being ignored. On the other hand, pups tend to stop behaviors that don't reward them.
Remember: Physical punishment or yelling is never appropriate. It will only damage your bond and turn your puppy off of training.
Puppy Training Guide Essentials
Puppy Proofing
Puppy chewing is a common complaint among new pet parents. Puppies chew anything within reach, so puppy-proofing your home minimizes and addresses potential trouble spots. Crawl around on the floor to get on your puppy's level and scope out potentially inviting opportunities, like digging up a potted plant.
Socialization
Any complete puppy training guide includes socialization, which is how pups learn to interact with their world and distinguish between safe and unsafe situations. Include whatever you want your pup to accept as an adult as part of their socialization. For instance, organize a "pass the puppy" party with several friends so your new pet gets used to being handled by friendly strangers.
House Training
Pups "go" wherever and whenever they feel the urge — usually after playing, naps and meals. So, house training begins with planning frequent potty breaks to show your puppy where the approved potty spots are. Between breaks, confine your puppy to easily cleaned areas, such as a crate or gated-off room lined with puppy pee pads.
Crate Training
Crate training works great for house training, so make your puppy's crate one of the happiest places in the house. Try this: Put a special treat inside and close the door, leaving your puppy outside the crate. Let them beg and paw to get the treat for several seconds. Then, open the door and shut them inside to enjoy the treat.
Never Stop Training
Follow this puppy training guide for a positive start, but remember that training is forever. You can build on these basics with more advanced commands once they master these foundational pillars of puppy obedience training. As you go, look for more opportunities to reward your puppy rather than to say "no." By starting immediately, you'll build a great relationship as your puppy grows into the wonderful adult dog they were born to become.
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