Bringing a new puppy home is exciting. The first few days are often filled with snuggles and laughs as the puppy begins to explore their new world. As the puppy settles in, you should decide when to start its formal training. First-time dog owners do not realize how soon they need to get started with puppy training and how beneficial it can be for the pup. Dog Training Knoxville TN can help you build a positive, life-long relationship with your dog, among other benefits.
You can start training your puppy as soon as it gets home. Most puppies start learning from the moment they are born. Newborn puppies have very short attention spans, although they can start learning simple commands like ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stand’ and ‘stay’ as soon as they are 7 to 8 weeks old. When you start training at this stage, you must use gentle teaching techniques, and the training sessions must be brief. For instance, food-lure training can be an exciting way for your pup to learn simple commands as they grow older.
How To Get Started With Food-Lure Training?
You can use small chunks of food to motivate puppies to perform a certain task. If food doesn’t motivate your little canine friend, try their favorite toy instead. Your puppy is prompted to give the correct response if the reward is pleasing. For instance, if you hold food over the dog’s nose and move it backward slowly, you can expect a sit response. If you draw food down towards the floor, you can expect a ‘down’ response, and bringing food back up can get you a ‘stand’ response. If you pair a command phrase with every action and give a reward for every appropriate response, the puppy will soon learn the meaning of every command.
You do not need to follow a set schedule for puppy training. You can integrate these tasks into daily activities throughout the day with small sessions spread out. Also, make sure that your pup is trained in each room so that it can learn to sit, stand and lie down anywhere.
What Can Be Done If The Puppy Is Too Excitable Or Distracted?
Training should start in a quiet and peaceful environment with minimum distractions. The reward should be very motivating so that the dog focuses completely on its trainer and the reward. It might sometimes be helpful to train the dog right before mealtime when they are the hungriest.
When To Start Socializing Your Puppy?
Socialization must start as soon as the puppy comes home or when it is 7 to 14 weeks of age. Puppies familiarize themselves with new people and other dog species, and you can introduce them to new situations during the socialization period. Dogs are very curious to learn, exploratory, and uninhibited during this time. It is essential to take advantage of this enthusiasm. Also, ensure that you protect your puppy from aggressive dogs and make sure that their experiences are fun, positive, and fearless.
Should I Consider Training Classes?
Pet owners who are new at training can start a training program with a few simple steps. It takes a lot of time, repetition, and perseverance for any puppy to respond to your commands predictably. Consider puppy training classes that use positive training techniques if you have a busy schedule or you prefer having your dog trained by a professional.
Training classes, however, serve many functions. A dog trainer can show you various puppy training techniques and how you can incorporate them for the best results. They can provide valuable advice on puppy training problems and may also help you advance your training to more difficult exercises. A puppy training class is a great place to meet and socialize with fellow puppy owners and see how different puppies behave.
Young puppies learn to socialize with various people, dogs, and other stimuli in a conducive environment. Additionally, you will be able to tackle problems even before they begin or deal with them as soon as they begin rather than having to find solutions after they have developed. Your puppy may also make some new friends. You can then plan social play and exercise sessions with its puppy friends. The peak socialization period for a dog ends by 3 months of age. Hence, puppy socialization classes are most valuable for puppies who are 8 weeks of age or older. Most dog trainers ensure that all the puppies who have enrolled in the classes are healthy and vaccinated, so you don’t have to worry about your dog catching an illness.
Your puppy can start learning basic cues, leash training, and general handling at 7 – 8 weeks of age. When the puppy is 8 – 10 weeks old, you can begin with crate training. Puppies can become mouthy after they turn 10 – 12 weeks old. Hence, this is the right time to teach them not to bite. Maintaining a schedule is essential for potty training. Your puppy needs to learn to go to the bathroom by the time it is 12 – 16 weeks old, but since dogs learn differently, you may have to manage your expectations to avoid frustrating your pup.
At 6 months, puppies enter the adolescent stage. You should continue puppy training during this stage to cement good behavior in more public and distracting settings like a dog park.
There are many fun and easy ways to start puppy training when they are young. They are learning all the time anyway, so take advantage and add some useful training techniques throughout the day. If you begin training your puppy at 8 weeks old, you must exercise patience. Think of your puppy as an infant; puppies are very impulsive, have little self-control, and have short attention spans. Puppies will eat whatever they like, whenever they like. They may go wherever they wish to and play and chew on anything. But when you have their attention, you’ll be shocked at how much they can learn.
Are you looking to start training your weeks-old puppy or a new older dog? Visit https://www.ridgesidek9tn.com/ for at-home training tips or to speak to a professional dog trainer.
Ridgeside K9 Tennessee Dog Training
1700 Jacobs Road Loudon TN 37774
865-285-0303
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