Any age is appropriate for obedience training. It is great to start with your puppy so he doesn’t learn bad behaviors. It is also great to train older dogs. If you adopt or purchase a dog when it is older, you can train him to obey your rules and commands. It is also good to keep training your dog because even if he’s well-behaved as a puppy, if training isn’t kept up, he may revert back to bad habits. You can train your puppy at home, at an obedience training class or school, or with a private trainer. Whatever you choose, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Praise, praise, praise. The best way to teach your dog acceptable behavior is to praise him when he does something good and even when you redirect a bad behavior. For example, if your dog goes to sit by the door to signal he’s ready to go relieve himself, praise him with a simple, “Good dog.” If you catch him getting ready to go inside, take him outside. Once he goes outside, praise him. That way he learns that outside is the place to relieve himself.
- Don’t punish your dog unless you catch him in the act. Even then, keep in mind that yelling, hitting, or banishing your dog DOES NOT WORK. In fact, those are good ways of training your dog to be aggressive and disobedient. Instead, you can try squirting your dog with a water bottle, sternly saying “No,” or redirecting behavior.
- Be patient with your pet. He’ll get it, he just needs some time and some help from you.
- Identify the specific problem and get help. For instance, if your dog has a problem with chewing, figure out why. It could be just the natural puppy urge to chew. If so, provide great toys and treats. If it is due to separation anxiety, you can try crate training.
- Teach your puppy tricks like shake paw and roll over. These are fun and enjoyable for the dog and gives you a chance to praise him. They also gently remind the dog that you are the boss. There is no need for you to engage in alpha-dog behavior like wrestling and staring contests – these little tricks let your dog know you’re in charge.
The key is to be consistent and patient with your animal. Let your puppy know what you expect and make sure he follows your commands. Remember, a puppy is a pet, someone to keep you company. He also depends on you: make sure you make puppy obedience training enjoyable and effective for both of you.
