Got yourself a fur baby? Finally bringing home that cute puppy is surely a joyous moment. But, having a new family member can be stressful, too! That’s why training your dog is a must – as early as possible.
In their first few weeks, pups are eager and exploratory. Dog owners should use this precious period for dog training. With your pup’s enthusiasm, the training will be much easier for you and your new family member. Don’t know where and when to start? Read on to know more about dog training.
The Right Age to Train Your Dog
We can’t promise you that training your dog will be as easy as 1-2-3. Each dog has his own personality and traits. But, with guidance, the training process should be easier and enjoyable. Here’s a typical dog training timeline:
8-9 Weeks
Start training your puppies as soon as you get them home. Most pups are around eight to nine weeks old by then. Training doesn’t start with the first things you need to teach your puppy. It’s crucial to establish routines first.
Pups like familiar and predictable routines. Establish a time for eating, sleeping and walking. Introduce your pup to his food and water dish as well as his doggie bed/crate. It’s also important to potty-train your puppy this early. Start socializing your puppy with other family members. All these are essential in helping your puppy settle in a new home.
After helping your puppy to adjust to these things, you can start with obedience training. Start with the sit, stay, lay down and come commands. Remember to give these commands gently! At eight weeks, you can start crate training your puppy.
10 Weeks
By ten weeks, you should continue all previous training. Be creative because you might bore your puppy! Young ones have a shorter attention span so always do something new. If you were using particular treats in the first few weeks of dog training, you can mix it up with different treat and toys for the next weeks. As your puppy continues to grow, you should also teach more advanced things.
Leash training is essential to all dog owners. You wouldn’t want your four legged friend to be left alone and bored at home. Not to mention, you wouldn’t want vet visits or simple walks to become a nightmare. You always want your puppy to associate the leash as something positive. So, it’s time to teach your dog to walk on a leash without pulling.
12 Weeks
As your dog continues to grow and have more experiences, training your dog to be calm is essential! Playful and energetic dogs are adorable. However, we all need some quiet time – dogs included.
To do this, you need to strengthen your dog’s sit training. During the dog’s obedience training, sit only means to sit when commanded. However, at twelve weeks, dogs need to learn to sit and stay seated.
For the dog’s physical and mental relaxation, teaching your puppy to go and rest in the doggie bed helps! When a dog learns how to stay calm, there is impulse control. This is also how dogs learn when biting is a no-no.
14-16 Weeks
After the outburst of energy and learning how to stay calm, your puppy starts to act like a pre teen. Soon, he will be in the teenager stage. He may pretend not to hear you. You may encounter more behavioral problems at this stage. Don’t worry; this is all part of the normal adaptive process.
Don’t overwhelm or scare your puppy! Instead, help your puppy overcome this stage through structured walking. It’s reassuring for puppies when you both calmly walk together.
Helpful Tips for Dog Training
Start training your dogs while they are young. It is best to start training your dogs at eight to nine weeks old. Besides being easier, earlier dog training helps them socialize better and prevents behavior problems later.
Always use positive reinforcement. This encourages positive dog behavior. Reward them for every good deed. Give special treats, their favorite toys or a “good doggie!” This way, puppies learn that good behavior is rewarding.
Make dog training short but regular. Because young pups have a short attention span, you also need to work in short sessions. Short sessions produce great results when done regularly. Train your puppy for 15 minutes several times daily.
Practice in different environments with different people. If it takes a village to raise a child, then it also takes a village to raise a puppy. Sounds unlikely, right? However, training your dog involves more than just the family. Different environments stimulate your dog which helps them avoid boredom. Different people, on the other hand, develop their socialization skills.
Be patient. Dog training can either be rewarding or frustrating. Being patient is the key! Remember that the beginning is always the hardest. In time, you will have your well-trained dog and best friend.
Positive Dog Training with Positive Paws
It’s easier to establish good habits and a good relationship with your dog when you start earlier. Worried about missing this crucial period in your fur baby’s life? Get home-based training for your little bundle of joy with Positive Paws Training!
Our professional dog trainers use positive reinforcements when training fur babies of all ages. Schedule your dog training today!
