Training a Puppy - Mistakes to Avoid Like the Plague
Training a puppy is no different from training a dog who is 5 years old with regard to how he learns.
If you want your puppy training efforts to pay dividends, stop listening to all the breathy-voiced, psychobabble about puppy training being so much different than training an older dog.
Three mistakes you shouldn't make.
A mother starts teaching her pups at between three and a half and five weeks of age.
When training a puppy, you need to be softer than you would be on an adult dog but, the process is exactly the same.
Start associating right from wrong with your puppy using a system of consequence and reward.
The reward should be sincere, loving praise and the consequence should be applied by a tug of the neck fur for a very young puppy or a very light correction with a leash and flat collar.
Forget about listening to all the advice everyone tries to give you about training a puppy.
You'll find that everyone's an expert when it comes to dog training but almost none of them can back it up with a trained dog.
The next time someone gives you advice on how to train a puppy, just ask them to give you a demonstration of their dog's obedience.
That usually ends the conversation.
Don't think that you can bring a puppy home and then go out for a night on the town.
A puppy and puppy training is a full time job.
If you're going to get a puppy, bring him home just before the weekend or when you have a week off work so you have a little time to get your new little buddy started off on the right foot.
So, start your training as soon as you get your puppy and forget about advice you get from well intentioned friends, family and neighbors.
Understand that you're going to have to dedicate some time to your puppy training efforts and change your daily routines in order to supervise him all the time.
Most new dog owners need help somewhere along the way from a professional in order to solve some of the problems that crop up so, don't be too proud or too embarrassed to get the help you need when you need it.
If you want your puppy training efforts to pay dividends, stop listening to all the breathy-voiced, psychobabble about puppy training being so much different than training an older dog.
Three mistakes you shouldn't make.
- Don't wait until your puppy is 6 months old to start training.
- Don't listen to your neighbor whose dog act like an idiot.
- Don't leave your dog unsupervised unless he's outside or in a crate.
A mother starts teaching her pups at between three and a half and five weeks of age.
When training a puppy, you need to be softer than you would be on an adult dog but, the process is exactly the same.
Start associating right from wrong with your puppy using a system of consequence and reward.
The reward should be sincere, loving praise and the consequence should be applied by a tug of the neck fur for a very young puppy or a very light correction with a leash and flat collar.
Forget about listening to all the advice everyone tries to give you about training a puppy.
You'll find that everyone's an expert when it comes to dog training but almost none of them can back it up with a trained dog.
The next time someone gives you advice on how to train a puppy, just ask them to give you a demonstration of their dog's obedience.
That usually ends the conversation.
Don't think that you can bring a puppy home and then go out for a night on the town.
A puppy and puppy training is a full time job.
If you're going to get a puppy, bring him home just before the weekend or when you have a week off work so you have a little time to get your new little buddy started off on the right foot.
So, start your training as soon as you get your puppy and forget about advice you get from well intentioned friends, family and neighbors.
Understand that you're going to have to dedicate some time to your puppy training efforts and change your daily routines in order to supervise him all the time.
Most new dog owners need help somewhere along the way from a professional in order to solve some of the problems that crop up so, don't be too proud or too embarrassed to get the help you need when you need it.
