Top Tips for Puppy Training

Introducing a puppy into the family is an exciting time and if you would like to know when the training should begin, you need to sit down with the family and create some house rules prior to the puppy’s arrival. It is essential that all family members are aware of the rules and with consistent responses, the young dog will soon understand what he can and cannot do. Here are a few tips from dog trainers to help you train your new pet.

• Choosing a name – This requires some serious thought, and short names with a strong consonant sound at the end works best. Names like Jasper, Booboo, Hustler or Boomer, etc, are ideal, as they are short and he will soon get to recognise his name when you call him.
• Setting the house rules – Make sure you have a firm set of rules regarding what the puppy can and cannot do and he will quickly understand this is your responses are consistent. Is he allowed in every room of the house? Can he climb on the furniture? These questions need to be answered prior to his arrival.
• His own space – Your new pet needs to have his own space, preferably with a suitably sized dog bed, which he will soon realise is his private place. Encourage him to spend time there and he will soon understand that he has his own space. Dog training course are available, and if you are interested in dog training, NSW prices are very reasonable from a reputable dog training facility.
• Using the reward system – This is universally agreed to be the best way to train a dog, by rewarding him when he does the right thing, by giving him a treat, or some affection. Equally important is that you do not reward bad behaviour, as this will only confuse him.
• Keep training sessions short – Much like a young child, a puppy has a very short attention span, so keep training to no longer than 20 minutes, and always end training on a positive note (when he gets it right), as this will help to motivate him.
• Ignoring bad behaviour – Rather than getting angry, you should ignore bad behaviour, so as not to reinforce it, in other words, do not respond to him when he is acting in an unacceptable way.

It is worth noting that training is as hard for the dog as it is for the human, and his inherent desire to please you will help him to understand the rules, and within the first 6 months, you should have a well-behaved dog who knows his place.