Yes! You finally got the puppy of your dreams! You’ve already been planning his life before he even stepped into your home. But hold on, aren’t you forgetting the other aspect of owning a puppy? Yes, I mean house training a puppy what else? Playing with them is great fun but do not forget that you need to teach them the right behavior early on so they will grow up to happy and confident dogs. If you are new at this, it’s alright–everyone was at one point. Here are four really helpful and essential tips to help you get started.
1. Your position of leadership must be established in the new dog’s eyes. Yes, I know it’s hard to be firm when he’s looking at you with those melting eyes but that’s not helping you in the long run. You can lavish him with as much love and attention as you want but when it comes down to discipline, show him who the boss around the house is. Give the dog an opportunity to obey you by teaching him simple commands. Say ‘Sit!’ in a strong and firm voice while you gently guide him to that position. Reward him with praise and treats for doing right. Never give in to whining and whimpering because he will use it to get his way in the future if it works.
2. You will need to potty train your puppy. This is one of the first chores in house training a puppy. Fifteen minutes after meal times, take the young dog outside to eliminate. Circle the area you’ve chosen for toilet duties and wait for him to do his business there. Right after he unloads, give him a lot of praise him for a job well done. Do this for several weeks every time you go out for this specific purpose. If you find dog matter inside your house, don’t get too upset, accidents happen. Clean the spot with a deodorizer thoroughly. Dogs usually sniff out their territory and reclaim soon after.
3. Your puppy needs socialization. This is one of the most important aspects in all the puppy training tips you will ever read. A pup with well developed social skills grows up to be a happy and confident dog. These are the pets you would want around the house. Begin this training by introducing him to all kinds of people early. Have him interact with vaccinated animals. Bring him with you in places where there are a lot of people. Allow him to be cleaned, brushed, and clean so he will be comfortable being petted even by strangers.
4. You must have a reliable communication system which your puppy understands. Dogs, indeed most animals, understand what their human counterparts mean through the reward-punishment method. The tricky part is to do this as consistently each and every time. For example, he jumps on a couch and you scold him sharply. The next day, he jumps again and you make nothing out of it this time. This will confuse the puppy and result in a cloudy understanding of what you want from him. Be consistent every time.
That just about wraps it up. It sounds too simple right? If you read up on other puppy training tips you will find they all branch out from these four foundational issues. Now you have the knowledge. Use it well and be on your way to a responsible, loving puppy training expert in no time at all.
