Puppy Training - When and How?

Often misunderstood and even neglected, introducing your puppy to a wide variety of people, other animals, places, activities and noises is a vital element of raising a dog. Here is why socialising puppies is imperative - and when and how to do it.

Everyone wants their puppy to grow up into a happy, well-behaved, and sociable dog. But for that, you need to work hard with your puppy from an early age. I always tell my clients that just like small children, puppies learn things very quickly, so it’s important to start puppy training when they are young to develop a strong bond and understanding.

People always ask me: what is the right age to start puppy training? Some dog trainers may say that it is too young and recommend not starting training until it is 6 months old. But my answer always is to do it as soon as you get your puppy home, i.e., at 8 weeks of age. Most new puppy owners tend to make the mistake of concerning themselves with finding the right bed, treats, vet, and accessories for their little friend. Yes, indeed it is good to think about the comfort and health of your puppy, but another important necessity is to start puppy training them to become a well-behaved and disciplined dog.

The best and easiest way a puppy learns is by association. If it does something good, reward it right away. Make sure it understands that the reward is linked to the action, which you can do by rewarding it within a second or two. Give it a treat or praise it through words or petting as a reward. Moreover, it is best to keep your puppy training sessions short, like two to five minutes, but have four to six sessions throughout the day.

Another good way to work on your puppy training is to teach in different environments, i.e., inside your home, outside in your backyard or garden, or maybe during walks. However, you need to make sure there are no distractions so that your puppy can easily grasp your actions and commands.

As important as it is to reward your puppy for its good behaviour, you should train it what is not acceptable. For example, I am usually asked about dealing with behaviours like chewing on things. I tell my clients either to ignore or use verbal commands like “No” to get its attention and establish that it is wrong. However, keep in mind not to shout at it or else it may become scared of you.

For more tips on training your puppy, you may contact Dog Harmony Training,

where our residential dog trainer in Southport can help you train your puppy.