"Training a puppy is like raising a child. Every single interaction is a training opportunity." -Ian Dunbar
“... you must take the time and patience to reinforce the rules until your puppy internalizes them.” -Cesar Milan
Raising a puppy can be an incredibly fulfilling and happy time, as everyone knows there is nothing cuter than a puppy. However, many puppy owners find themselves at a loss after just a short time because their puppy is already demonstrating problem behaviors. Here are a few tricks I have learned about dealing with puppies:
#1 - Teach them that they get what they want when you get what you want, and what you want is a calm and happy dog. What this means is that when your puppy wants your attention, it doesn't gain it through biting, crying, jumping, or any other excited behavior, but it gets your attention through being calm and attentive to what you want. Puppies have a lot of needs and it is important for us to give them what they need, but it is also important that we teach them to communicate their needs in a calm and effective manner.
An exercise to practice: Hold your young puppy in your arms. When the puppy inevitably begins to wiggle to get down to explore, play, or find something to eat, squeeze just a tiny bit more firmly. If your puppy relaxes, immediately relax your arms, wait a few seconds and set your puppy down. If your puppy continues to wiggle, wait it out. Hold the puppy firmly and securely until it begins to calm down and immediately begin to correspondingly relax your arms. again wait a few seconds and set the puppy down. If your puppy settles down and relaxes, but then starts up again before you are done waiting, you must repeat the exercise. This is a low stress exercise that will help you create harmony with your pup, right off the bat.
**** This exercise is highly recommend for the very first time that you hold your new pup. This immediately sets the standards for your puppies interactions with you and allows you to have cooperation, rather than competition, as your very first interaction.
#2 - Show them that paying attention to you is how they get rewards. Earning your dog's attention is probably the best way you can keep your pet safe in this chaotic world. Being able to tell your dog to "stay" in the face of a car speeding by, or "leave -it" when they encounter a porcupine, is an important safety tool that is nonexistent if they do not pay attention to you.
An exercise to practice: Place your puppy's food on the ground and use body language to let it know that it can not eat just yet. This can be done by standing over the food, blocking the puppy with your hand, or giving corrections with your hand or a leash (remember to stay gentle but firm and very consistent in your communication). At this point your puppy will likely need a lot of communication so remember to be clear and to be ok with repeating yourself, we need repetition in learning, and they don't even have the pleasure of being taught in their own language! Continue the exercise and be patient until your puppy looks at you. When your puppy makes eye contact, give affirmation and immediately allow it to eat its food. your affirmation can be a nod, a smile, a pat, a hand signal, or a simple "yes!", whatever you choose to be the signal to your pup that he or she has done the right thing and can not get exactly what is wanted.
#3 - Stay positive! There is no reason for tension or frustration when training a puppy, and it certainly won't help you be the leader. If you want your puppy to choose to be with you, you need to be a source of fun. Puppies are known for their playful nature, and that is a great training tool for us. Make sure every exercise ends on a good note, and remember that there is no benefit in getting frustrated, just be in the moment with your pup and you will both be able to learn from each other!
“... you must take the time and patience to reinforce the rules until your puppy internalizes them.” -Cesar Milan
Raising a puppy can be an incredibly fulfilling and happy time, as everyone knows there is nothing cuter than a puppy. However, many puppy owners find themselves at a loss after just a short time because their puppy is already demonstrating problem behaviors. Here are a few tricks I have learned about dealing with puppies:
#1 - Teach them that they get what they want when you get what you want, and what you want is a calm and happy dog. What this means is that when your puppy wants your attention, it doesn't gain it through biting, crying, jumping, or any other excited behavior, but it gets your attention through being calm and attentive to what you want. Puppies have a lot of needs and it is important for us to give them what they need, but it is also important that we teach them to communicate their needs in a calm and effective manner.
An exercise to practice: Hold your young puppy in your arms. When the puppy inevitably begins to wiggle to get down to explore, play, or find something to eat, squeeze just a tiny bit more firmly. If your puppy relaxes, immediately relax your arms, wait a few seconds and set your puppy down. If your puppy continues to wiggle, wait it out. Hold the puppy firmly and securely until it begins to calm down and immediately begin to correspondingly relax your arms. again wait a few seconds and set the puppy down. If your puppy settles down and relaxes, but then starts up again before you are done waiting, you must repeat the exercise. This is a low stress exercise that will help you create harmony with your pup, right off the bat.
**** This exercise is highly recommend for the very first time that you hold your new pup. This immediately sets the standards for your puppies interactions with you and allows you to have cooperation, rather than competition, as your very first interaction.
#2 - Show them that paying attention to you is how they get rewards. Earning your dog's attention is probably the best way you can keep your pet safe in this chaotic world. Being able to tell your dog to "stay" in the face of a car speeding by, or "leave -it" when they encounter a porcupine, is an important safety tool that is nonexistent if they do not pay attention to you.
An exercise to practice: Place your puppy's food on the ground and use body language to let it know that it can not eat just yet. This can be done by standing over the food, blocking the puppy with your hand, or giving corrections with your hand or a leash (remember to stay gentle but firm and very consistent in your communication). At this point your puppy will likely need a lot of communication so remember to be clear and to be ok with repeating yourself, we need repetition in learning, and they don't even have the pleasure of being taught in their own language! Continue the exercise and be patient until your puppy looks at you. When your puppy makes eye contact, give affirmation and immediately allow it to eat its food. your affirmation can be a nod, a smile, a pat, a hand signal, or a simple "yes!", whatever you choose to be the signal to your pup that he or she has done the right thing and can not get exactly what is wanted.
#3 - Stay positive! There is no reason for tension or frustration when training a puppy, and it certainly won't help you be the leader. If you want your puppy to choose to be with you, you need to be a source of fun. Puppies are known for their playful nature, and that is a great training tool for us. Make sure every exercise ends on a good note, and remember that there is no benefit in getting frustrated, just be in the moment with your pup and you will both be able to learn from each other!
