When you bring your new dog home, you need to begin training them right away. If you don’t know where to start or if you want to try and make a huge difference to your dog’s behaviour early-on, then this is the guide for you.
Choosing your Dog’s Name
Part of the fun of bringing a new dog or puppy home is choosing a name for them. Did you know that certain names are much better for training when compared to others? If you want to make it easier for your dog, then you need to try and choose a short name that ends in a very strong consonant. This will help them to hear whatever you say clearly. A strong ending is crucial, so think about names such as Jasper, Ginger or even Jack. This will really help your dog to pick up on their name much faster. This is especially the case when you put an emphasis on the end.
If your pet is an older dog then there’s a high chance that they are very used to their name right now, but that being said, changing it isn’t out of the question. If you give your dog a new name because they have come out of a very abusive situation then this can help you to give them a fresh start, so make sure that you keep that in mind. If you have given your dog a new name, then make sure that you use it consistently so that your dog will respond to it eventually.
Decide on your House Rules
Before you even bring your new dog home, you have to make sure that you lay down some house rules. Are they going to be allowed on the bed? What about the furniture? Are any parts of the house out of bounds? If you leave the rule setting until a later date, then you may find that you end up having a way harder time training them and this is the last thing that you need. It may also be very confusing for the dog as well, so keep that in mind.
Set up a Private Den
Dogs need their own space sometimes, just like humans do. As soon as you can, you need to give your puppy their own space such as a crate. Your dog will really benefit from this if you leave them in there for short periods of time and you may even find that they can feel much more comfortable as well. A crate can be a very valuable tool when it comes to housetraining too. If you want to help yourself, then you need to reward your puppy as soon as they become relaxed and they quieten down in their den. If you don’t want to crate them, then visit here to see lots of options for beds.
Help your Dog to Relax
When your new puppy gets home, it’s very helpful for you to put a warm hot water bottle next to them as well as having a ticking clock. This may sound strange, but it actually imitates the heat of their littermates and the heartbeat of their mother. This will soothe them, and it will also help them to ease into their new environment. This tip is very important if you have a dog that once lived in a busy shelter or if they have had somewhat of a rough start in their life.
Make an Effort to Reward Good Behaviour
Reward your dog’s good behaviour with positive reinforcement. Make the effort to use toys, love and plenty of praise. You need to let them know that they are getting it right. You have to make sure that you don’t reward any bad behaviour, or punish them. This may sound strange, but rewarding good behaviour is far better than punishing bad behaviour.
Teach your Puppy to Come when Called
The first command that you need to teach your pet is to come when called. You need to make the effort to get down on their level and you also need to give them plenty of praise and positive reinforcement. Next, try and use the “come” command when they are distracted with food or even a toy. It’s normal for you to not see any improvement to begin with, and you may feel as though your dog’s recall is awful at times, but don’t worry because it gets better. As your dog ages, you will see them calm down and they will be more responsive. That being said, it’s important to get a solid foundation of training down early-on so you can help them to really reap the benefits.
Train on Dog Time
It’s vital that you understand that your dog, or your puppy will live in the moment. Two minutes after they have done something, there’s a high chance that they have forgotten about it. If your puppy is doing something bad, then you need to correct that right away so that they can make the association between the behaviour and the correction. If you combine this with consistent reinforcement, then you will soon find that you can reinforce everything that they have learnt so far.
Discourage Jumping
Puppies love to jump up when greeting people, and it’s entirely possible that adult dogs will carry on this habit. When your dog jumps up at you, don’t reprimand them. Instead, turn your back and ignore them until they settle down. When they do, you then need to give them some positive reinforcement. Never encourage them by praising them up when they are in the “jumping position” and also make sure that you tell other guests to do the same.
Say No to Biting and Nipping
Never punish your pet for nipping and biting. This is a good way for you to lose the bond that you have with them. If your dog bites you then let out a sharp yell or a verbal queue. When you do, they will probably jump back and act surprised. If you can’t get this to work, then trade a chew for your pant leg or your hand.
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