How to Effectively Train Your Puppy

Bottom Line

Training your new puppy is an essential part of responsible pet parenting. While puppies are cute and fun, they require a lot of work and attention to ensure they become well-behaved and obedient dogs. As a new puppy owner, it’s your responsibility to guide your puppy through the transition from a new member of your family to a well-trained and socialized dog. Remember, a well-trained dog is a happy dog, and it’s up to you to provide the necessary guidance and training for your new furry friend.

Tell me more

Puppy care can be challenging, and it requires patience, effort, and consistency. They continually bark, nip, and use the potty inside the house. Training your puppy can help you establish a positive relationship with your new dog and restore some order to your home. As you bring your puppy home, be sure to follow the advice in these training recommendations. If your dog exhibits these habits, obedience training may be necessary.

At what age should I begin training my puppy?

When you bring your puppy home for the first time, usually at 8 weeks old, training should begin. They can easily understand the commands to sit, stand, remain, and come at this age. You essentially begin housebreaking your dog the moment you bring him home. Puppies start learning at a young age, so if you’re a good dog parent, you’ll attempt to make your puppy’s socialization a high priority. Because young puppies have limited attention spans, training takes longer and requires more patience. Puppies can only be trained in basic tricks because of their short attention spans. Yet, formal dog training shouldn’t wait until the dog is 6 months old.

How long should a puppy be trained?

Always keep training sessions short—typically no more than 30 minutes at a time—and always wrap them up with something encouraging. If your puppy is having trouble picking up a new habit, end the training session by going over something they already know and rewarding them lavishly for succeeding. If your puppy becomes frustrated or bored, learning will ultimately suffer.

Effective tips for training your puppy:

1. Avoid training techniques centered on punishment: The most frequent errors made by dog owners are forcing their puppies to perform an action that they don’t wish to perform and scolding them whenever they don’t display desirable behaviors.
2. Start with basic obedience training: Teach your puppy basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and leave it. Use a calm, clear voice, and be patient.
3. Maintain a positive attitude: Going into training with an open mind and a positive outlook is vital since it can be a load of fun for both dogs and their parents. There’s no such thing as a perfectly behaved puppy, so don’t be ashamed if your puppy barks or poops on the floor during class.
4. The best form of training is reward-based: Rewarding your puppy during training sessions is an important part of positive reinforcement training. Rewards can include treats, praise, toys, or any other positive reinforcement that your puppy enjoys.
5. ​​Potty train your puppy: Establish a routine for taking your puppy outside to go potty and reward them for going in the right spot. Consistency and patience are key to successful potty training.
6. Teach your pet when they’re feeling energetic: Avoid teaching your dog when they are hungry or weary if you want to get the most out of them. They may become irritated and not like it.
7. Which kinds of puppy breeds are hard to train and which are easy: It’s important to understand that each dog, regardless of breed, has its own unique personality, temperament, and learning style.               

 Easier to train:

• Labrador Retriever: This breed is known for being friendly, eager to please, and highly trainable.
• Golden Retriever: Similar to Labradors, Golden Retrievers are intelligent, loyal, and responsive to training.
• Poodle: Poodles are highly trainable and excel in obedience and agility competitions.

  More difficult to train:

• Beagle: This breed is known for its strong sense of smell and tendency to follow their noses, which can make them difficult to train in obedience and recall.
• Husky: Huskies are independent, strong-willed dogs with a high prey drive and a tendency to be stubborn. They may also be easily distracted and require consistent, patient training with positive reinforcement techniques.
• Bulldog: Bulldogs can be stubborn and require patience and persistence during training.

8. Teething: Teething can be a difficult time for both puppies and their owners. But here’s what you can do during this time.

• Provide appropriate chew toys: Puppies need to chew to relieve the discomfort of teething, so provide them with appropriate chew toys to satisfy their urge to chew.
• Teach bite inhibition: Puppies explore their environment with their mouths, so it’s important to teach them to control their bite. When your puppy bites too hard, say “ouch!” in a firm but calm voice and immediately stop playing. This teaches your puppy that biting too hard ends the fun.

Vetco offers training services for puppies. Early training and socialization are crucial for puppies, as it can help prevent behavior problems from developing in the future. Our certified trainers use positive reinforcement methods to train and socialize puppies, helping them learn basic obedience commands, potty training, and leash walking. 

Puppy training can also help them learn appropriate behaviors, such as not jumping on people or chewing on furniture. The training is designed to be fun and engaging for puppies, helping them build confidence and positive associations with training.