Puppy training tips can be very helpful to change bad habits in pets. It's always important to dedicate time to train a puppy to urinate outdoors, sleep in his own bed and not bite or bark loudly. Proper training will ensure good behavior, and it's essential to establish good habits when the puppy is very young because that is a critical time in his development.
Training a Newly Acquired pet
You should start implementing simple training tips on the day you bring your puppy home. If you don't train your puppy he will learn undesirable behavior that will be very difficult to unlearn at a later stage. Since the puppy is in a new environment and missing his mother, he needs to have security and a routine in place. It's best to train him gradually and give him plenty of tender loving care. Stick to a schedule so that he gets settled in quickly and is ready to absorb what is taught to him.
Purchase the Right Dog Products
When training your puppy buy a collar, toys and a bowl meant exclusively for him. Give him a private place to sleep and a place to play. He should learn to allow all members of the family to put on his collar and leash. He will require a private place to sleep and play with his toys, as too much attention can be exhausting.
Positive Reinforcement
It's best to use positive reinforcement rather than punishment while training your puppy. The puppy should be praised for desired behavior with encouraging words such as "Good dog," a hug or some treats. When the behavior isn't acceptable, you can highlight it by ignoring the behavior or saying, "No" in an assertive tone. It's best not to hit the puppy or scold and shout at him, as this will only confuse him further.
Be Consistent
You should be consistent. It's best to train the pet at the same time every day and use the same words of encouragement or disapproval, so that the puppy learns to relate these words with the behavior. Besides using verbal cues, you may use hand cues. Different cues should be used for different tasks.
Shorter Training
Since puppies have short attention spans, they learn best when they're trained for shorter durations. The training for each task should be broken up into simple steps. Puppies tend to forget and it's important to be patient in order to avoid confusing them. If certain cues are used for a particular task, all family members should use the same cues so that your puppy identifies the cue with the behavior.
Rewarding Your Pet
At the end of the training session, conclude on a positive note so that trust is built up and the pet feels encouraged and rewarded for behaving in the desired manner. Never forget that a healthy puppy is a happy puppy. To ensure good health, feed him quality dog food and give him plenty of fresh water and regular exercise. The puppy should also get enough sleep, as he will be more receptive than when he's tired.
By following the puppy training tips above, you can have a puppy that's well mannered, obedient and sociable.