Puppy Train
You can't teach old dog new tricks. Though it is an idiom used to describe a range of things, there is some truth in it because it is harder to teach an old dog after he has established habits for a long time. If you want to set good habits for your dog so he becomes well adjusted to our society, it is important for you know puppy train him at a young age.
Training your puppy at a young age has the advantage of starting him on the track and preventing bad habits from forming. Well trained dogs are easier to care for and love. They do less damage to your house and can communicate to you through body language and noise. Your puppy is totally dependent on you to tell him what is right from wrong.
Your guidance in the first few months of his life is responsible for shaping your dog's character, temperament and behavior habits for the rest of his life. So it is important you know what to do and read about how to puppy train.
To pet a dog that fits our society, you want to form good habits early on in his life. The main things you want to achieve in puppy train are 1) discouraging unwanted behaviors like chewing, digging and barking, and 2) getting him used to humans, dogs and places through socialization.
Make your training about positive reinforcements. You shouldn't use punishments because your puppy has no idea what is right or wrong. Furthermore, punishments cause distrust which leads to other behavior problems as your puppy matures. So make sure to use lots of rewards, praises and encouragements when engaging in puppy train.
Puppies have short attention span like children. Keep your training sessions short and consistent. The key is to repeat the lessons many times and through positive reinforcements your puppy will learn what is right and wrong. Just like dealing with children, be patient and show a lot of love when training your puppy. The bond you form at this stage will last for lifetime.
1st Lesson of Puppy Train – Discouraging unwanted behavior
Chewing: can be an annoying habit if your dog chews furniture or your favorite shoes. It can also be a dangerous habit if he chews electrical cords or rodent poison. But one thing to remember is that chewing itself is a natural and good behavior. For example, chewing on bones or toys is good for your dog's teeth. It is only when he chews on things we don't want him to chew on that it becomes a problem. So don't get worked up if your dog chews up your favorite shoe, it is your responsibility as the owner to teach him what is acceptable.
To puppy train your dog and discourage him from chewing undesirable objects, you can spray it with bitter apple spray. It is a harmless and stain-free, but strong taste deterrent that will discourage your dog from chewing the object. In addition, you can put a chew toy near the object to encourage your dog to chew on the toy instead.
If the bitter apple spray doesn't work or you don't want to spray everything in the house, wait to catch your dog in the act of chewing. Your dog cannot associate your yelling with a past action, so make sure you respond as soon as he starts chewing. Go up to your dog as he is chewing and firmly say "No!" and remove the object from him. Remember puppy train is about preventing bad habits from forming. Teach your puppy what is and what is not acceptable to chew as early as possible.
Digging: Another nasty habit dogs can have is digging. Without proper puppy train it can put a strain on the owner-dog relationship the dog frequently destroys the garden. A dog digs because it is a habit that has helped dogs survive in the wild before they were domesticated. Dogs dig to hunt for rodents, make dens and store food. It is so natural that your puppy will not know he is doing anything wrong unless you teach him it is unacceptable.
To puppy train and stop your dog from digging, it is important to figure out why your dog is digging. Once you have determined the reason, you can look for a solution and be consistent when enforcing the solution. For example, if you play to spray water on your dog for digging, make sure you spray him every time so he associates the spray with digging and learns digging is not acceptable.
If your dog is digging because of boredom, give him lots of exercise to burn off his energy and give him toys to play with. Satisfy his mental stimulation needs by playing problem solving games with your dog.
If your puppy is digging to go under a fence, fill in the holes with things that'll discourage your dog from digging like chicken wire or even his own poop. Most dogs are put off by the smell of their own poop and dislike the feeling of scratching against chicken wire.
If your puppy is digging to store bones, take the bones away and give him a chewy toy to play with.
If your puppy is digging to hunt for rodents, spray him with water every time he digs. You can also try filling holes with chicken wire or dog poop to discourage him from digging specific areas. Most terriers have a natural instinct to dig for rodents, you can section off a specific area in your garden for your puppy to satisfy this natural habit.
If you are unsure why your puppy is digging, you can use the water spray method in addition to filling the holes with dog poop. Most dogs are put off by the smell of their poop and won't attempt to dig there again.
Just like chewing, you want to puppy train your dog as early as possible to get him on the right track. Remember to be consistent and patient during puppy train. Please email me if you have more innovative ways of stopping your dog from digging.
Barking: Similar to digging, a dog barks for many reasons. Usually it is to warn of intruders, attract your attention, express his pain or because of separation anxiety. To puppy train your dog not to bark, you'll need to find out why he is barking and provide the proper solution to discourage that behavior.
If your puppy barks when you are away, it is probably due to separation anxiety. Your dog is used to constant attention and thinks he is the center of the world. You should puppy train your dog to be independent. Start by leaving him alone for short periods of time with the radio on and a treat dispensing toy to play with and work your way up. An adult dog should be able to be alone for periods up to 8 hours. Learn how you can help your dog master separation anxiety here.
If your puppy barks because of boredom, think about how much exercise and social stimulation you are giving your dog. A dog needs a healthy balance of physical exercise, mental stimulation and socialization. See if you can provide more problem solving exercises, teach him new tricks, or let him play with other dogs more to stop him from barking out of boredom.
If your puppy barks because he wants to play with you, you must not reinforce this behavior by answering him. Wait for him to quiet down before greeting and playing with your dog. Puppy train is all about conditioning. Make sure you don't give positive reinforcements for behavior that you don't want to continue.
If your puppy barks to warn of you intruders, understand this behavior is ingrained in your puppy through evolution and is generally not a problem unless it becomes excessive. If your dog barks excessively at strangers or you suspect him to have aggression problems, take your dog to professional trainers or obedience training courses.
2nd Lesson of Puppy Train - Socialization
Socialization is an important part of puppy training. Early in his life, your puppy goes through a critical period of development where his experience with new people, environment and dogs will affect his acceptance of these things later in life. What happens during this critical period will have a big influence on your dog's character and temperament for the rest of his life, so make sure he has a positive experience during socialization.
You should bring your puppy to interact with as many types of people, animals and environment as possible. You want him to be comfortable meeting other dogs, being petted by strangers, being handled by groomers and veterinarians, riding in cars so he can fit well in our society. You will notice some dogs do not know how to interact with other dogs and that can be blamed of lack of socialization or puppy train.
Socialization as part of puppy training should take place between 8 to 16 weeks of age after he completes his vaccinations. Bring your puppy to dog parties and invite your friends over so he gets to mix with a variety of people, animals and environments. Start as soon as your puppy completes his vaccinations so he learns to accept new things before bad habits develop.