Welcoming a new puppy in your home can be incredibly exciting and fun. Many owners feel happy seeing their new little friend running around the house.
But the challenge comes when you think about the training part of having a puppy. Since the coronavirus is around, hiring a professional to come to your home and train your puppy can be too risky. The same goes for taking your puppy to a training school. Therefore, you are going to have to do the task yourself.
But don’t worry, you can be up for the job easily after noting down these four tips.
Consistency Is the Key
Training your new puppy at home is an excellent way to establish some good habits in a comfortable environment. Many puppies have trouble learning in training schools because there are so many people and other dogs, making them feel very nervous.
But while you are teaching your dog how to do things, you need to be very consistent. That is the only way your puppy is going to learn anything. That is why you need to stick to the training program until the end. If you keep changing it up, then your pup will have more trouble learning.
Use Treats to Motivate
Many reward-based programs have outstanding outcomes, which can be really useful for teaching your puppy some tricks.
It’s a good thing to keep in mind that dogs also respond very well to reward-based training, and you can probably get a lot further if you treat them for every good thing they do.
That is why you might have seen that people in pet shows give their cats or dogs a light treat after every trick to keep them motivated for more.
But you should keep in mind not to overfeed, as that can lead to many problems like weight gain.
Have the Right Items
During the training phase, you need to have a lot of items in your house. The first and most important thing would be a Puppy Potty Pad. They are crucial because they can keep the dog beds and other areas of your home clean.
Another thing you need to have is a grooming kit. Your puppy may not be the most hygienic dog around, which is why you will need to give it plenty of baths.
You might also need small fences that your puppy can’t jump over. These are great to keep your pup in one place of the house, rather than having it wreak havoc in your home.
Keep Your Puppy Busy With Toys
Puppies have a natural instinct to gnaw on objects. But since your puppy is yet to be trained, it will start chewing up everything in your home. That is why you need to buy a lot of toys that your puppy can chew on. However, you must be vigilant because some of these toys might injure your puppy’s teeth or gums.
Other than regular chew toys, you can also look into things that can be stuffed with goodies like dog biscuits or peanut butter. They can be great for keeping your puppy busy for a while.
Essential Things You Need for Training Your Puppy
Training puppies is extremely important to keep them busy and their mind active. Training can help add structure when living with their dog, allowing them to be happy and healthy. When training your dog, it is vital that you have some basic things so that your job is much easier and more fun.
Rewards
The most well-known and common item that can help you train your dog is rewards. Having the right kind of rewards and treats can help keep your dog’s motivation high so that they repeat the right action repeatedly. When you train your dog, ensure that you have their favorite treat with you so the training can go smoothly. Some dogs are picky eaters, so you may need to be creative with the reward you give. It is best to pick their favorite food as a reward.
It would help if you also had a treat bag or a training carry-all to carry all these treats. This allows you to train your puppy when on a walk. When choosing a training bag, pick one that is washable and comes with various pouches to store treats, clickers, and other items.
Clickers
Clickers are another way to reinforce and correct positive behavior your dog displays during training. You can easily find clickers at your local pet store. There are usually available in a variety, so you can find small handheld ones or ones with a wrist strap so you can hold them comfortably. Some straps even have clickers, which can help reduce the number of things you need to carry. You can also get an app for clickers.
Long Leash
A long leash is a must-have if you plan on training your dog on walks. Investing in a high-quality lead and harness can give your dog some freedom while ensuring they are safe and by your side. Ensure you pick one that is made of high-quality material, such as leather. This is because they are flexible and easy to hold.