Puppy Training: How To Make It Successful

Who doesn’t love a cute, little puppy? Getting a new puppy is a lot of fun. It gives you something to love, play with and take care of, but it is a lot of work, too. New puppies need to be trained so they will follow the commands that you give them and be better behaved. A well behaved puppy is much more enjoyable than one who does not use his manners. Continue reading to learn how you can make sure that your new puppy is well trained and will follow your commands.

First of all, you will need consistency in your training. It is important so your puppy knows what to expect from you and you will get more of what you want from your new friend. Be consistent in the words and commands you use. If you do not want your puppy to jump up on the couch, do you want the command to be “no” or would you rather it be “down”? Choose just one command for each action you want to teach your puppy. This will keep everyone involved less confused. Consistency is also important when it comes to other people who are around your puppy. Everyone who is around him should use the same commands and expect him to follow the same rules. Again, this will keep him from getting confused and help teach him much faster then if he continues to get mixed signals.

Next, the voice you use with your puppy is very important. You will need to use a firm voice, but not one that is too mean. Your puppy needs to know that you are in charge and that you mean business, but you do not want to scare him by being too gruff. This voice should be used only when you are giving him commands. Using a firm voice will be helpful for your puppy because he will know that anytime you use your firm voice, he is supposed to follow your command.

Also, use positive discipline. When your puppy displays a behavior that is appropriate, give him a lot of positive praise. You can simply tell him, “good job”, give him some extra hugs or offer him a treat. This also works when you are working on a single behavior. Do this each time he displays the desired behavior you are working on and slowly stop the praise until he does it without the needed praise.

You also need to be patient. Puppies have very short attention spans and can only learn so much at a time. Work with your puppy until he is no longer paying attention. At first, this may be no longer than a few minutes, but as he ages, he will be able to pay attention for longer and longer periods of time.

Training your puppy to follow commands and be well behaved will make your life with him much more enjoyable. Use the tips shared here and your puppy will know who is boss!