Puppy Training: How to start teaching your new dog

Puppy Training How to Start Teaching Your New Dog

A new pup can be fun but also a daunting experience. Is puppy training even possible?! Just how do you teach them to behave the way you would like them to?! Here is the lowdown on puppy training: how to train your new dog…

Puppy Learning about Life

Your new puppy is learning about life. Every minute of the day they pick up cues from their environment and learn the best way to cope with each new experience, object or living creature that they encounter. Just think what they have learned so far…

• How to get enough food, when all the rest of their brothers and sisters want to eat too
• Getting mum’s attention and as much attention as possible from every dog and human who is in the vicinity
• Backing off when mum has had enough of playtime
• How to use those sharp, little teeth
• That people and other puppies mean fun, fun, fun.

Teaching your new puppy is easy, as long as you are motivated. Your puppy wants to learn so there is no better time to start puppy training than when they are young.

How do pups learn?

Puppies are like humans when it comes to learning. They use their eyes and ears to observe and listen to the world around them. They tend to react instinctively to any situation they encounter. A loud noise may have them cowering or barking to alert you. An approach from a strange dog may make them hide behind your legs. These instinctive behaviours are often beneficial for their survival.

Puppies learn from the environment around them and from your reactions. They often adopt a trial and error approach to dealing with new situations. A pup who wants your attention, for example, may try sitting quietly beside you to get attention or he may try jumping up on you. Whichever gets the most attention, he will do again and again.

Like human children, your pup’s mind and body are open to learning. It is not impossible to teach older dogs, just more difficult, so the younger you teach your pup the way you would like him to behave the better. You must decide which behaviours you would like your puppy to do and which you want to discourage.

There are four main styles of teaching and learning:

1. A positive approach to training

Positive, reward-based training is fun for all concerned. Your pup gets rewarded for all the good behaviours they perform and you are rewarded by having a motivated canine companion who wants to please you and work with you.

Encouraging your puppy to obey your commands is easy when you have a reward on offer. Decide on the behaviour you want to encourage, then reward your puppy when they perform this behaviour. If you wish your pup to sit quietly with you, then you must reward them for this behaviour.

Rewards can take many forms. Commonly used reward include:

• Verbal rewards, including praise such as “Good Boy”, “Good Girl”.
• Physical rewards such as a pat or a stroke
• A food treat such as dry kibble, dog treats or small pieces of cheese
• A toy, given for a short time for him to play with or for you to interact with him

Many dogs are motivated by food, sometimes more than anything else in life. It is easy to train these dogs with treats. If you are concerned about feeding your dog too many treats, then you can use some of their normal diet, such a dry dog kibble, and cut down on their normal meal portions. Sometimes, however, dogs need something really tasty or smelly to be motivated enough to perform some behaviours. Coming when called, for example, often needs a particularly motivating treat, such as roast chicken or cheese, to be more enticing than alternative pursuits in the park.

Puppy training: How to use motivators

Pups are learning all the time but puppy training and learning can be enhanced by motivators.

Some dogs are more motivated by toys than food. Working dogs often enjoy a ball and terriers a squeaky toy. If your puppy only has access to this toy when you are training them, then they will soon want to work to please you – and get their toy.

When they are very young most pups can be trained to obey commands with a few kind words of praise or a pat. Their desire to please is very strong and their minds and bodies receptive to our wishes. We just have to be clear on what we wish them to do and to communicate effectively with our puppy.

You may have a preference for the type of reward that you would rather give your pup for good behaviour and for obeying your commands. Some owners, for example, are against giving food treats and others know that these motivate their pup the most. Do whatever you are comfortable with. If you are unsure which motivator to use, observe your pup’s willingness to achieve the desired reward by trying out all of the above reward suggestions.

This type of training, using rewards for desired behaviour, is known as positive reinforcement and will be the kindest and probably the most efficient at getting your pup to perform the behaviour you wish them to.