Private dog training at Professional Canine Services is an excellent way to get real results with your dog, but most of your training will be at home. Whether you train your new puppy or dog yourself, join our classes, or take advantage of our private training, here are 10 basic training tips you should tackle right away with your new pup or dog:
1. Before they come home, decide what they can and cannot do.
Are parts of the house off limits? Are they allowed to sleep in bed with anyone in the house? Are they allowed on the living room furniture? Will they eat at your dining table? If rules are settled early, you can avoid changing behavior later when you decide you do not like something they are doing.
2. Understand that a puppy is an infant.
Adjust your expectations, taking into considerations the physical and mental limitations of a puppy.
3. Puppy-proof your house.
Any time the puppy is not directly supervised, he should be in a safe place where he can’t get into trouble. Use baby gates, a crate, or a pen and provide safe toys for him to chew. Eliminating opportunities for accidents and destructive behavior will get you through the puppy phase with most of your stuff intact.
4. A room of their own.
Before they come home, make sure your pup or dog has their own, private sleeping place that's not used by anyone else in the family or another pet. They will benefit from short periods left alone in the comfort and safety of their very own den, which is often a crate. Be sure to reward them if they remain relaxed and quiet!
5. Reward your dog immediately for good behavior.
Reward your puppy or dog's good behavior with positive reinforcement. Use treats, toys, love, or praise. This will let them know when they're doing something right. Never reward bad behaviour. This will only confuse them.
6. Do not correct your dog for something done hours ago like peeing on the carpet.
Puppies and dogs both live in the moment. Two minutes after they've done something, it's forgotten about. This never changes. When they're doing something bad, try your chosen training technique right away so there is a chance to make the association between the behavior and the correction. Be consistent!
7. Everyone in the house needs to be on the same page.
It is important to get as many family members involved as possible. If you are using the command “off” when they jump on the furniture and someone else is using “down,” while someone else is just letting them hang out up there, it will only confuse them.
8. Do not lose your temper while training.
If you are getting upset, your dog knows it.
9. Teach one command at a time.
Training takes time. You need to have realistic expectations about changing your dog’s behavior as well as how long it will take to change behaviors that you don’t like.
10. Do not finish a training session on a bad note.
Your puppy or dog will work hard to please you throughout training. Finish training with lots of praise, a treat, some petting, or five minutes of play. This will make sure they show up at the next class with their tail wagging.