Five Things to Know Before Training a Puppy

Thinking about bringing a puppy into your home? Congratulations! Adopting a puppy is an exciting journey filled with joy, challenges, and plenty of learning. To help you get started on the right paw, here are five essential tips to prepare for your new furry friend. These guidelines will ensure you and your puppy have a smooth and rewarding transition. Let’s dive in and discover how to make the most of this special time together!

1. Training a Puppy Will Yield Great Rewards

Be prepared to invest time in training your puppy so it grows into a dog you really enjoy, is easy to live with, and lovely to be around. Obedient and well-behaved dogs become beloved friends for life. Find out which puppy school classes are best and enrol as soon as they will let you, after your puppy has been immunised.

2. Be Top Dog from Day One

Dogs are pack animals and look to the Leader of the Pack or Top Dog for direction and acceptance. If you are in a couple, decide who is going to be Top Dog. This person needs to take primary responsibility for training, exercising, and spending time with your new puppy.

It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when you’re working full-time and the weather turns to rubbish in the winter, or you’re not feeling well, or you have visitors, or a death in the family, or whatever life throws at you, your dog still needs a run. You have the responsibility to make it a priority to keep them healthy, happy, and more inclined to behave well.

3. Before You Start Training, Think Ahead to the Future

My tiny little Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy loved to fall asleep and cuddle on my knee, and this never changed. When he was the size of a young horse and upset or frightened, he still loved nothing better than to climb on my lap and snuggle down as much as he was able, as heavy and large as he was.

When he cried outside on his first few nights, we gave in, and brought him inside and from then on, he slept in our room. What I learned from this was the importance of starting off as you mean to carry on. Think about where you want them to sleep, not just when they are cute puppies, but when they are chew-aholic adolescents and gassy adults. Set up a comfy, warm place, just for them, as soon as is practical after your puppy’s arrival.

Calling a friend tonight, he laughingly told me he was pinned, unable to move on his bed, due to their two basset hounds lying on either side. He and his wife love their dogs. My friends with two Dobermans do exactly the same, but I never allowed my dog to sleep on the bed. If you don’t want your dog to sleep with you, make your bed a no-go zone right from the start, even when they are a cute, lonely little puppy. The same goes with couches if you don’t want them to sit or sleep on the couch.

When it comes to toileting, plan where you want your dog to go. When your puppy first arrives home, take them to your designated spot to relieve themselves and get acquainted with the area so your puppy begins to learn where it is appropriate to go to the toilet.

4. Be Gentle, Firm, Consistent and Committed

Read up and invest the time in training dogs and you will be well rewarded. Talk to your breeder as well, or the SPCA if that’s where your dog has come from. Different courses offer different techniques, but none of them recommend hitting dogs. There is no need to hit or yell at dogs; use positive reinforcement instead. Lavish praise when they obey you. Begin the bare bones training gently from Day One and get to a course as soon as possible to make all your lives easier.

5. Socialisation

Think about how you want your dog to react to visitors to your home. Your choice of breed will play a role here. Some breeds are natural guard dogs, others are more absorbed in members of the family. Once your pup has announced there is someone at the door, how do you want them to behave?

If you don’t want them to jump up on people, show them from the start. Supervise your puppy’s interactions with others, especially children. Children can be cruel to pets, especially when they are out of parental view. I came home from work one day to find the neighbour’s kids up on their shed throwing rocks and fruit at my three month old pup. Their parents didn’t see anything wrong with it, and we had no idea how long it had been going on, but it explained why my lovely-natured dog was never again completely at ease around strange children. Wherever possible, show children how to interact positively and kindly with dogs.

Do your best to nip destructive or mean behaviour from both people and dogs in the bud early on. Love and protect your pup and be rewarded with a positive, loving dog.