Puppy Basics
How much can a puppy learn? All that a puppy wants to learn
How long can a puppy train? From 1 minute to 20 minutes
The key word is CONSISTENCY
How much can a puppy learn? All that a puppy wants to learn
How long can a puppy train? From 1 minute to 20 minutes
The key word is CONSISTENCY
Work on the following exercises with your puppy everyday. Ideally, you should do 4 short training sessions everyday. Share the exercises with other members of your household so puppy gets consistent training from everyone.
No Pull – As you and puppy are going for a walk, always use a loose leash. Just before the leash starts to tighten from puppy pulling whisper his name and turn in the opposite direction. If he looks at you when you say his name praise him heavily as he catches up to you; keep walking. If he doesn’t look at you when you say his name, turn in the opposite direction again, but this time don’t give him a warning. Praise again when he follows you through the turn.
Housebreaking – Set up a definite schedule. Consistency is the key.
Socializing – Take puppy everywhere you can. Make him experience new things (people, other dogs, shopping carts, store doors, etc), but don’t force him to do things that are too scary to him.
Chew Habits – Puppy must have things to chew that are his own. Do not give him old things of yours (shoes, handbags, etc) to chew as he will not know the difference between the old one, that is his, and the new one that you’re still using. Keep alternating chew toys. Play with him and his toys.
Settle – Stay calm and don’t lose your temper with puppy. Whenever puppy gets too excited for a situation, use the down command as a puppy timeout. The down time gives both of you a time to relax and regroup. Your voice should be quiet, but firm.
Shush (or Quiet) – Use command only when you have physical control of puppy by his collar. Lightly close his mouth with one hand while saying the command. Praise immediately if he stops making noise; open hand but do not move it away. If he stays quiet, praise again. If he barks again, repeat the process. A puppy that is overexcited should be “settled” before the Shush command is given.
Sit – Teach at every opportunity. As puppy is sitting on his own, command “Sit” just as he begins and praise as soon as he is fully in the sit.
Wait – Puppy must wait in the area that he is left in (can not go through a door). Puppies have short attention spans, so start with short waits and move longer as puppy begins to understand what is expected.
Leave it– Use whenever puppy is getting into something he shouldn’t. To train “leave it”, set out temptations for puppy and use your leash to guide him around them while saying “leave it” in a calm, but firm voice.
Anh Anh – Means stop what you’re doing right now. Use in place of “No” as Anh Anh has a sharper tone which is more easily understood.
Drop it– Means release what you have in your mouth into my hands now.
Off – Universal command that means put all 4 paws on the floor. Can be used to curb jumping or get puppy off of furniture.
When praising remember the hierarchy - #1 Always praise with your voice, #2 Pet or touch as praise, #3 Treats – Treats will be phased out puppy becomes more proficient with a command so get him used to #1 and #2 as rewards as well.
Click here to download a MS Word Document of Puppy Basics
http://www.secondhandsnoots.org/Puppy Basics.doc
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Courtesy of Ruff Love Training --
http://www.rufflovetraining.com
No Pull – As you and puppy are going for a walk, always use a loose leash. Just before the leash starts to tighten from puppy pulling whisper his name and turn in the opposite direction. If he looks at you when you say his name praise him heavily as he catches up to you; keep walking. If he doesn’t look at you when you say his name, turn in the opposite direction again, but this time don’t give him a warning. Praise again when he follows you through the turn.
Housebreaking – Set up a definite schedule. Consistency is the key.
Socializing – Take puppy everywhere you can. Make him experience new things (people, other dogs, shopping carts, store doors, etc), but don’t force him to do things that are too scary to him.
Chew Habits – Puppy must have things to chew that are his own. Do not give him old things of yours (shoes, handbags, etc) to chew as he will not know the difference between the old one, that is his, and the new one that you’re still using. Keep alternating chew toys. Play with him and his toys.
Settle – Stay calm and don’t lose your temper with puppy. Whenever puppy gets too excited for a situation, use the down command as a puppy timeout. The down time gives both of you a time to relax and regroup. Your voice should be quiet, but firm.
Shush (or Quiet) – Use command only when you have physical control of puppy by his collar. Lightly close his mouth with one hand while saying the command. Praise immediately if he stops making noise; open hand but do not move it away. If he stays quiet, praise again. If he barks again, repeat the process. A puppy that is overexcited should be “settled” before the Shush command is given.
Sit – Teach at every opportunity. As puppy is sitting on his own, command “Sit” just as he begins and praise as soon as he is fully in the sit.
Wait – Puppy must wait in the area that he is left in (can not go through a door). Puppies have short attention spans, so start with short waits and move longer as puppy begins to understand what is expected.
Leave it– Use whenever puppy is getting into something he shouldn’t. To train “leave it”, set out temptations for puppy and use your leash to guide him around them while saying “leave it” in a calm, but firm voice.
Anh Anh – Means stop what you’re doing right now. Use in place of “No” as Anh Anh has a sharper tone which is more easily understood.
Drop it– Means release what you have in your mouth into my hands now.
Off – Universal command that means put all 4 paws on the floor. Can be used to curb jumping or get puppy off of furniture.
When praising remember the hierarchy - #1 Always praise with your voice, #2 Pet or touch as praise, #3 Treats – Treats will be phased out puppy becomes more proficient with a command so get him used to #1 and #2 as rewards as well.
Click here to download a MS Word Document of Puppy Basics
http://www.secondhandsnoots.org/Puppy Basics.doc
Click here to return to the Knowledge Base menu: Knowledge Base
Courtesy of Ruff Love Training --
http://www.rufflovetraining.com
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http://www.secondhandsnoots.org
501(c)(3) charitable organization; Illinois Department of Agriculture Licensed #14085
P.O. Box 7798 Gurnee, IL 60031 | info@secondhandsnoots.org
http://www.secondhandsnoots.org
