Getting a new puppy can be a great way to extend your family. A dog is a wonderful addition to any home and they can provide you with unlimited fun and happiness in their lives. If you are new to pet ownership, today we are going to take a look at some helpful training tips to take on board when buying a new puppy.
Think of the name
You might think that choosing your dog’s name is the easiest part of pet ownership but this can actually be a more important decision than you think. Once you have chosen the name of your dog, this will be the main method of getting their attention during their training and in their life. Both dogs and cats react better to names ending in ‘ie’ or ‘y’ than others because the sound is high pitched. When naming your dog, choosing a name such as Archie, Harry, or Millie is a great idea and will aid with recall in the future. Once you have chosen a name for your puppy, be sure to stick to it. You need to get your puppy used to listening to a certain sound and the best way to do this is by sticking to one name or nickname.
Make the rules
It is incredibly important when you get a puppy that you make house rules straight away and stick to them. Your house is your puppy’s whole world, and it is important not to make their world smaller by denying them the ability to access areas of the house or sit on comfortable chairs. Your dog will spend most of their lives in those four walls so it is only fair to make it dog friendly and allow them to live comfortably. You may choose to have a baby gate on the stairs during the day time to keep the upstairs of the house clean, but be aware of the effect it will have on your puppy’s quality of life. Once you have come up with a set of house rules you need to stick to them.
Make a safe den
When you first bring your puppy home they will likely be a little nervous. It is important for training your puppy that you provide them with a safe haven in the house to escape to when they feel overwhelmed. Building a comfy den area in the living room will allow your dog to go there and relax when they need some space.
Reward good behaviour
Behavioural psychology is an important thing to think about when training your puppy and it will come in handy when you want to teach them good habits. Pavlov’s dog is a famous piece of positive reinforcement and it goes by a simple principle. When Pavlov wanted to train dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell, he would ring a bell and feed the dog along with the sound. After a while, he rang the bell and didn’t feed the dogs, but the dog’s had now associated the bell with food, and therefore salivated. When you train your puppy, rewarding a behaviour such as coming when called with a treat will teach your dog that it is good to come when called. Rewarding good behaviour with healthy treats such as carrot or cooked sweet potato is a great way to ensure that they learn this behaviour.
Jumping up
Dogs are naturally excitable animals and when someone new comes to the door and meets them, their first instinct is to jump up to get closer to the person to say hello. This is a cute trait for a puppy, but as your dog grows bigger it might become a risk to smaller children and adults. This is why it is a good idea to teach your puppy not to jump up from an early age. When a dog tries to jump up, turn to face away from them. You can also put your hand out in a stop motion, and also pre-empt them by crouching to say hello.
Give them exercise
Dogs need a decent amount of exercise every day. If you are to keep your puppy healthy and happy, you should make sure to take them out for walks every single day. Depending on the type of puppy you have, you might need to give them varying degrees of exercise. Smaller dogs typically won’t need too much exercise, but puppy exercise for big dogs might be lengthy. Once you tire them out this will make your life so much easier at home and will likely prevent them damaging things because they are bored!