Puppy Training Pays a Big Reward

Puppy training requires consistent work, and it should continue over the course of the dog's life. This training is most effective if everyone who handles the dog takes part in the training.

Make sure everyone uses the same commands, methods, and enforcement.

If you don't think you can do this on your own, consider basic training classes. Somewhere around 4 months of age start looking for classes available to help socialize your dog to other people and dogs.

Training classes are offered by many kennels, pet stores, and independent trainers.

Keep in mind the most important part of puppy training is the socialization part.

Adding a New Puppy to Your Home

Adding a new family member is a big change in any home, but what if that addition has needle-sharp teeth and a rebellious curiosity that ruined valuables. This can certainly result in household chaos. Read about Puppy Proofing.

Puppy training is the first step and an important one for raising a healthy and happy dog and keeping a safe and fun home environment.

Communication

Training is imperative for giving puppies their best opportunity to live a fun, healthy, and loving life.

A stable diet and clear guidance of expectations will help the puppy learn what it is supposed to do and where to do it.

Puppies communicate needs by biting, whining, and getting fidgety. Read more about puppy development here. The way the owner responds makes the difference between a healthy, obedient puppy and an unstable mess.

Puppies need consistent communication from their owners more than anything else. They need to know who is in charge, now is the time to make sure YOU are!

Learn about Alpha Dog Training here.

Chewing and Toys

If you catch your puppy chewing on something they shouldn't be, the best reaction is to shout at the object in front of the dog, rather than yelling at or punishing the dog.

If you hit or directly scolded the dog, they won't understand and you could be hurting your relationship.

The chewing problem can be solved by giving and encouraging the use of appropriate chew toys and keeping a close watch on the puppy. Buy a few similar toys, too many toys can confuse them, especially if the toys are all different.

Another tip that will make puppy training easier is to give them dog toys that look like the household things he or she likes to chew on.

If the puppy chews on shoes, purchasing a rubber toy similar to a shoe sole might be helpful. Never give an old shoe to a shoe-chomping puppy, the puppy won't know the difference between your good new shoe and the old shoe you gave him to snack on; pieces may break off and they could choke.

See my friends over at Lucys Dog House for a selection of toys or other things for you new puppy. Click on their ad here:

House Training

When it comes to house training there is no right or wrong way.

Knowing the methods available, and the reasons behind each choice, can go a long way to making sure you have a positive outcome.

For further reading on these options go to House Training. The key is to be consistent. With regularly enforced rules, litter box, crate, or paper training can be successful.

Keep in mind, which ever method you start with, any change should be done slowly so you don't confuse your puppy.

Make sure all members of the household enforce the rules whenever possible.

Accidents happen, having a procedure for clean-up makes it a little easier to deal with.

For more information on this part of puppy training visit my partner site www.planeturine.com

Its All Worth It In The End

Puppies require time, energy, and money. Food and trips to the vet for check-ups and shots can get costly. But effective training can reward a person with a loyal companion.

An important thing many people don't think about, or act on, is that the best way to change a puppy's behavior is to change your own.

Puppies can begin learning tricks and commands as early as 8 weeks of age; the only limitations are the pup's stamina, concentration, and physical coordination.

It is much easier to live with young dogs that have already learned basic commands. Waiting until the puppy is older and has already learned some bad habits makes the training much more challenging.

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