There are few things in life that are more exciting for a family than bringing home a new puppy. Everyone in the family is ready to get in on the action and teach the pup a new trick. In just a few minutes, your pup learns to sit for a treat. For some pups, lying down comes just as easily. And coming when called, no problem. Your pup comes flying when he hears his name. After a few days with your new furry friend, you know without a doubt that he is the smartest puppy in the world. Suddenly the training comes to a screeching halt. You’ve done the easy stuff…now what?
Training a puppy is not as hard as you think. Your pup can learn to do anything that he is physically capable of doing. Capitalize on your pup’s natural behaviors, sense of curiosity and desire to be with you to make training almost effortless.
Start by choosing something that comes naturally to your pup. Retrievers and Boxers are notorious for using their paws. By rewarding this natural behavior you can easily teach “Shake Hands” or a paw touch on an object. Hound puppies love to use their noses. Teach your pup to find hidden treats. Is your puppy a barker? If so, teach him to “Speak” on command. Spend some time just watching your puppy play. You’ll discover many things that your pup does naturally.
Use your pup’s innate curiosity to jump start new behaviors. Hold your palm out. Most pups will eagerly come over to investigate the situation. With a few rewards, you can quickly have your pup doing a nose touch on your open palm. Teach your pup to spin by having him follow a treat in a small circle. Rattle a box or a plastic bag then place it under the couch. Your pup will invariably stick his head under the couch to see what he’s missing. Curiosity may have killed the cat but it makes jump starting puppy tricks a breeze!
When your puppy does something that you like, reward it. Lying quietly at your side becomes habit when you reinforce it. Sitting politely for a treat or to greet a person develops into an automatic response for adult dogs when emphasized in puppy training. Cultivate the behaviors that you like. You will find that you are training your puppy without realizing it.
There are a few simple things you should know to make training your puppy easy and effective. Reward frequently with tiny treats. The treats should be soft and tasty so that your pup not only eats them quickly but is ready for more. Keep your training sessions very short. Your puppy’s attention span rivals that of a gnat. If he’s not engaged, learning is not taking place. Train frequently. Sixty thirty-second training sessions each day are much more beneficial than one thirty minute training session. Short, frequent, motivating training sessions equals fun for your pup…and we all know, puppies just want to have fun.
You’ll find training is not nearly as difficult as you thought. Enjoy the time you spend with your new puppy. Training will become a time you look forward to as much as your puppy does.
