Spring time, Puppy training time!
Spring time is the ideal time for puppy training. The warmer weather presents many outdoor training opportunities such as outdoor socialization, how to walk on leash, how to focus even in high-distraction environments etc.
The largest learning window is when your pup is between 8 – 12 weeks old. Timing is key! Read on to get puppy training tips that will help to foster obedient behaviour inside and outside the home.
In this article:
1. Bonding with your puppy
2. Helping your puppy socialize
3. Obedience training
4. Positive reinforcements
5. Listen to ‘Giving Your Dog Its Best Life’ podcast puppy training tips
1. Bonding with your puppy
Your long awaited puppy is finally home with you. So cute! So small and adorable! Take this precious time to bond with your new puppy. Be patient and understanding. There is a lot going on that your puppy needs to adjust to, and their anxiety could be high. Take the time to get to know your puppy’s personality, try to understand what they are trying to tell you. Playing fun games with treats, and hand-feeing helps strengthen the relationship bond.
2. Helping your puppy socialize
Socializing your puppy with other animals, four-legged and two-legged alike – is key to raising a happy, confident and friendly adult dog. Socializing can start any time once the puppy is weaned. This is the best timing as puppy brains are primed to learn the most as they brains are growing most quickly in this period. Begin with short outings, in a safe, quiet and gentle environment with lots of positive exposure to each activity. Offer a tasty treat to reinforce good feelings.
3. Obedience training
Suddenly, the honeymoon period is over. Your sweet puppy is now barking at anything and anyone all the time, chewing on everything it can find, and going potty every where! Basic impulse control is the first true training lesson for puppies. At the beginning, keep it to simple commands like “sit”, “stay’ and “come”. Be consistent and use the same word and/or hand signals. Keep the session short and frequent. End each session on a positive note so your puppy is excited for the next session.
4. Positive reinforcements
Rewards based training is proven to be the most effective. Dogs repeat behaviours that are rewarding to them. Set your puppy up for training success by rewarding your puppy every time they do things correctly. Reward them frequently to build focus and confidence. Find out which rewards work best for your puppy. Some puppies might find something as simple as a piece kibble as exciting enough to train with, while others might need something tastier, like a special training treat. Rewards can even be praise, a toy, or a chance to play a game. Anything your puppy loves makes a great reinforcement.
Shop: Darford Trainers: Training & Reward
• A healthy, high-value treat with superior aroma to accomplish training goals
• Mini bite sized, small and easily consumed
• Low calorie (only 2.4 kcal per treat!) ideal for frequent and repeated rewards
5. Listen to ‘Giving Your Dog Its Best Life’ podcast on puppy training tips
Our resident Canine Educator, Jeannine Smith, has put together a wonderfully helpful “Puppy Paw-fectly Helpful Hints” in her ‘Giving Your Dog Its Best Life’ podcast. You can listen to it here:
Article links and references:
https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-start-training-puppy
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-tackle-common-puppy-training-challenges/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/training-rewards/
https://animalkind.ca/puppy-training-tips/
