5 Tips For Training Your Puppy At Home
According to PetKeen, 45% of pet dogs are trained at home by their owners. Puppy training cannot be that difficult after all. It requires dedication and consistency throughout training your dog and exposing it to the correct rewards. It is common to encounter a few setbacks and frustrating moments when starting to introduce your four-legged friend. However, you and your dog will eventually love the process if it is carried out correctly.
Professional puppy training is also an excellent way for your dog to learn basic cues. Nonetheless, if you are unwilling to spend money on dog training, there are many ways in which you can train your dog at home. Here are five of the best puppy training tips to help you become the best dog owner and teach your puppy all essential cues and behaviors within a week!
- Start Slow And Be Patient
Before you start to house train a puppy, keep in mind that it will not be a piece of cake. When adopting a dog that has not been trained previously, you must alter its existing behavior and inculcate a new set of practices. Training your dog will be challenging as they do not speak and understand the same language as you do. Try comparing your dog with a small kid who has not yet learned to speak or walk. Just like the kid, the dog will learn new things gradually.
Do not take the fast route of puppy training at all. Start slow, and by slow, we mean only training your dog initially for 5 minutes per day and then increasing the time. Do not prolong training sessions, as this can make your dog tired and annoyed. Longer sessions can also leave you overwhelmed and frustrated. Repeat specific training sessions and give your dog the freedom to learn at its own pace.
Train your dog at fixed times during the day to help them get prepared for it. Pups are energetic animals who spend most of their energy playing and running during the day. Use the prime time to host brief training sessions and make the most out of them.
- Don’t Lose Your Temper
Dogs are lovely creatures and do not deserve to be yelled at under any circumstances. Research states that many dog species primarily aim to please humans. When house training a dog, be aware of possible accidents and trouble your puppy will cause. Ignore them with a smile and stay focused on the training.
Dogs learn pretty quickly when introduced to positive reinforcements. These are processes that complement a behavior by positive action. When puppy training, these reinforcements encourage the dog to continue the excellent work and be motivated. Positive reinforcements can be in the shape of treats or toys. Negative behaviors such as scolding or physically hitting your dog are the worst ways of training. Your dog becomes stubborn and gets scared due to such harsh treatments.
- Use Treats And Toys
Our previous section introduces treats and toys as a puppy training method. Treats can come in handy if you are crate training a puppy or just teaching them basic obedience cues. Rewarding treats promote positive behaviors and encouragement among dogs. They can help with the dog’s training if presented at the right time. For example, when potty training a puppy, giving a treat after your dog goes to potty outside will establish positive behavior among it.
Pups associate your actions with theirs. When they get a reward for doing something, they will tend to repeat it often to get rewarded frequently. Hence, using treats and toys can magnificently ease your puppy training sessions and lead to quick learning by your dog.
Click here to read the entire blog post on dog treats and some expert tips on using them most effectively!
- Always Give Praise
Dogs are similar in terms of specific traits found in humans. Both of them long to be acknowledged by others and feel great about being noticed. Use this as an advantage for yourself while house training a dog. When you teach your dog a specific cue, praise them for every little effort they make towards learning. You should also give them treats along with praise, but minimize the use of goodies in the long run.
Praise also works when crate training a dog. The four-legged friend becomes your best pal when you continue applauding it. This tip is helpful when your dog is at the third phase of training, where you cut down on its treats.
To learn about the ultimate puppy training schedule, click here to read the blog post on our website!
- Try Variety
If you feel that the puppy home training sessions have been stale and not much output is being seen, then this is the perfect time to spice things up.
Take your puppy outside often for walks in the parks and streets. Allow other dogs to play with your fluffy friend and give it a chance to socialize. Introduce your dog to your friends and people in the park. If you feel your dog is no longer attracted to its existing treats, try making some delectable and healthy dog treats at home! Read more on preparing the tastiest and easiest dog treats with available home ingredients.
You should even modify the training sessions by incorporating new tricks and cues that are much more fun to learn. Trying new things will make your dog interested in puppy training classes.
Final Thoughts
House training a dog is no longer a mountainous challenge after implementing our five best tips. Always remember that your dog loves pleasing you, and it will take some time for them to learn specific behaviors and commands. Start slow, and do not forget to praise your four-legged friend!
