Puppy Training

Training a puppy should ideally start as soon as a puppy arrives at a new home. Puppy training teaches the puppy to obey simple commands while being familiarized with the new home and its rules. It helps a puppy learn the accepted behaviors and get used to a routine. Dogs learn the most while they are still puppies. Therefore proper puppy training is important to shape the behavior of a dog.

Puppy training includes both house training and obedience training. House training a puppy includes potty training and introducing the puppy to the new home. Obedience training teaches the puppy to obey simple commands and may include leash training and reducing excessive barking.

A puppy is often confused and scared during the first few days at the new home away from the mother and the littermates. Puppy training could begin with introducing the puppy to his own personal space at the new home to give the puppy a sense of security. It is a good idea to confine the puppy to a small room with his bed, toys and food and water bowls.

Potty training is an important part of puppy training as a puppy does not have bladder and bowel control. A puppy can be potty trained by layering the floor of his personal space, ideally a small room with paper. When the puppy is used to eliminating on paper, the area which is layered with paper can be gradually reduced. Potty training a puppy does not happen overnight. When the puppy misses the paper, the papered area should be increased. When the puppy is taken out of this room he should be returned to the room whenever he needs to eliminate. After a few weeks the puppy will get used to eliminate only in the assigned toilet area.

Crate training a puppy can be achieved by letting the puppy stay in a crate for a few hours a day and overnight. Leash training a puppy is training a puppy how to walk on a leash.

It is important to develop a daily routine for the puppy at an early stage. When the puppy is given food every day at the same time the puppy gets used to this routine. In addition to a food schedule, a puppy could be used to a schedule for daily grooming and playing.

Another important aspect of puppy training is puppy socialization. Poorly socialized puppies are likely to grow up to be fearful or aggressive dogs. Puppy socialization can be achieved by gradually introducing the puppy to new people and situations.

Puppy training is not an easy task. It requires a great amount of time and patience. Positive reinforcement should always be used to encourage a puppy during puppy training.