Puppy Training 101: Your Guide to Mastering Basic Puppy Training

Bringing a puppy home will expose you to different emotions. At first, you will be overwhelmed with the excitement of having a pet and a companion that you can bond with. Over time, you learn the need to communicate effectively with your pet. Proper communication between you and your pet is essential if you wish to maintain a loving and cordial relationship for a long time. One of the very first training your new pet will have to get right is potty training. Puppies are like a blank slate, and they are always willing to learn. If you have been searching for how to train your puppy, this will be the guide for you.

Training a puppy will require you to be direct and intentional. Your puppy will see almost all interactions with you as an opportunity to learn. Doing the wrong thing can register the wrong information in the puppy’s mind hence the need to pay close attention. Your puppy begins to pick up on everything, from how you allow them to indulge in certain activities to how you walk them on a leash. All of these form the basics of what the puppy feels are acceptable or not.

Although you may feel that your set rules do not matter when looking to hire a professional dog trainer, you should note that these established ground rules will set the basics for a puppy trainer’s work.

The Best Way to Train a Puppy

Puppies can begin learning basic commands as early as 8 weeks. However, when dealing with a pup as young as this, you’ll battle with their short attention span. The younger the pup, the shorter their attention span. For younger pups, prioritize short, fun, and simple lessons. When training your pups, be sure that they are well-rested before. An upset pup will learn little and this may frustrate your efforts.

While you are excited about the idea of training your pup, remember to take things slow and easy. Learning is a process that happens over time. Before the training session begins, make sure to take your pup outside to do their business and repeat this at the end of the training session.

Your training session should also consist of lots of treats that will be used to condition and reward your pups. Puppies respond well when they receive treats for good behaviors. The treats help them to associate those good behaviors with rewards. At the start of your basic training lesson, start with a familiar area that is free from distractions. Over time, you can take the training outside. In addition to treats, you can also get some puppy toys to reward and wear down your pup’s energy in between training sessions.

The Eight to Ten Weeks Puppy Training Milestones

Eight weeks is the earliest time to get started with basic puppy training. During this period, their attention span is low, but they can pick up on the basics. To get the best results, do the following.

Draw a Daily Schedule

To get the best results, you need to repeat the training daily until significant improvements are registered. Your puppy will not automatically pick up on the instructions at first. However, over a few days, it’ll respond favorably to familiar commands.

Prioritize Crate and Potty Training

Crate and Potty training are two of the most important training your dog will need throughout its life. It will also save you a lot of stress having to clean and wash areas of your home.

Begin Socialization

Letting your pup know it isn’t the only pup in the world helps them build character and sociable skills. You can begin by visiting parks and enrolling your pup in an accredited class.

Create Alone Time

You may find it hard to detach yourself from your pup at this early stage. However, letting your pup know that it is okay to be alone can help in many ways. Remember that you won’t always be around. Help your pup to learn the very best behavior to engage in when alone. This can help you to manage your pet years down the line better when you have become super busy.

Introduce the Leash

Not all dogs warm up to leash at first. However, over time, they tend to get the hang of how things are. By introducing the leash early on, you create the perfect opportunity to get your dog accustomed to what will be a friend for a long time to come.

Teach Basic Commands like “Sit”

Your puppy needs to learn how to stay put, and this training will be the best time to get that message across. Teach your puppy to sit, and you’ll be thankful for it.