Training Your New Puppy: 4 Things to Keep in Mind
Is there anything more exciting than bringing a puppy home? We don’t think so. These tiny little furballs are a source of constant joy and entertainment. More importantly, as they grow up, they become your companion and friend, being there with you and for you every step of the way. But raising a puppy can take a lot of work. There are tons of things a puppy needs to live and thrive as a pet. Proper training is one of them.
Depending on when you bring your puppy home, chances are they have spent their life until then only with their mother and littermates. So, they need to be trained to become a happy and healthy member of your family.
Training a puppy can seem quite overwhelming, especially if you have never done it before. So, to help you, we have listed a few tips that will make the process much easier.
Set the house rules early on
Before you bring your puppy home, make sure you decide on the house rules. You need to set the rules early on so that your puppy can be trained to follow them without any confusion. Are they allowed in the kitchen? Are beds and sofas off-limits? These are some things that you should keep in mind.
Keep the sessions short
Puppies, much like kids, have very short attention spans. So, you need to keep your training sessions short, at least in the beginning. Limit the training to 5 minutes every day. Focus on one skill at a time and move to the next only once they have mastered that. For instance, if you start with teaching them how to walk on a leash, move on to other things, such as recall, later. Use positive reinforcements, such as treats and praise, after every session.
Remain consistent
When it comes to training puppies, consistency is key. Set a routine. Pick a convenient time and place and stick to them every day. If you use a specific word to communicate a command, make sure you use the same word all the time. You should also ask your family members to refrain from using other words for the same command as it can confuse the little puppy.
Make sure they are comfortable
You need to remember that your home is an unfamiliar environment for your puppy. So, it is important that they become comfortable and feel safe in it. Let them take their time to warm up to you and your family. Don’t force them into doing things. This is even more important for puppies that have lived in a shelter or had a rough life.
Training a puppy isn’t the easiest of tasks, which is why it is important that you have the right tools and resources – in addition to a lot of patience. Collars and leads are probably two of the most important things you should have that will help you through the process.
If you are wondering what are the best dog leads for training, let us help you. We have an extensive selection of products, including snap leashes and slip leads, which are an excellent training tool that can help you teach your dog how to behave while walking on a leash. You can also find nylon slip collars for dog training, which, as the name suggests, can easily be slipped on and off your dog’s neck. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.
