What You Should Know About Puppy Behavior Training
Your little puppy is often the most cute thing on four legs. He’s cute, soft and cuddly, mischievous and playful, with boundless energy that can keep you occupied and entertained for lots of hours every day. However puppies do grow older and to become even more delightful members of your family, they should learn how to behave appropriately and it falls to you to make sure they actually do. The following are some guidelines for proper and beneficial puppy behavior training that will help you and your puppy establish the ground rules that can make communicating that much easier.
Commence When the Dog is Ready
Puppy behavior training is most effectively started when the dog is a minimum of 8 weeks to 11 weeks old. While that old saying about old dogs being unable to learn new tricks is a myth, teaching a dog appropriate behavior when he’s still young can make it easier for you to set the boundaries and for your dog to learn what he is allowed and not allowed to do. Do not attempt to teach a puppy that’s too young, or at least younger than 8 weeks, since he is going to be way too distracted by new things to understand what you would like him to do.
Accentuate the Positive
Effective puppy behavior training will depend on consistency and positive reinforcement. When a puppy learns in a firm but loving and compassionate environment, he is much more likely to perform the actions willingly.
Young puppies like to have fun, so integrate short yet consistent training periods. Make use of praise, rewards and encouragement. Employ a firm hand when stressing a command. Never shout or snap or hit because those actions will develop fear and resentment on the part of the dog. Your goal will be to help your dog understand discipline and appropriate behavior so help him do well with your caring support and respect. The more happy your dog is doing just what you would like him to do, the more assured he is going to be at performing the commands you teach.
Start Small
Always start puppy behavior training by using easy commands. Basic commands like sit, down and come are very easy for a puppy to learn and you will be pleased at how quickly he will learn how to do them. Carry out regular repetitions as a way to enforce the learning in a constructive way. This will help your dog connect a command with a desired action. As soon as your puppy learns to recognize the simple commands, it is possible to then move forward from there. Just be certain to repeat earlier lessons every so often.
Be Fair
Take into account that dogs process information in different ways and communicate differently. Be reasonable and flexible enough to understand he is likely to make mistakes. If he does, stop him gently and direct his attention to the correct behavior you would like him to carry out. Simply by being patient, you’ll be able to discover how your puppy learns and learn much more about his temperament and personality.
Are you looking for puppy training advice? Be sure to visit my site to find out more about potty training your puppy and stop puppy barking.