Basic Dog Training
Getting Started
Whether it is an adult dog or a puppy, consistency is the most important element in the very beginning. This may mean having a discussion with the entire household prior to bringing the new pet home to ensure everyone understands the rules and phrases you wish to use with your pup.
Keep treats accessible at all times when you bring your puppy or dog home so that you can reward every positive behaviour that you see. This could include silently watching a dog being walked outside the window, coming when called, or walking nicely on a leash. Positively reinforce these behaviours with a treat and verbal praise. If you’d like, a clicker can be used as quicker, positive response for good behaviour before issuing a treat. Read more about the clicker below.
Timing the Response
Whether it is rewarding a behaviour your want to continue or punishing a behaviour you want to stop, timing is everything. For example, if your dog is excessively barking and you call them over to take them inside, you have punished the recall and not the barking. Your response will target the last behaviour that your dog exhibits. For this reason, a clicker is a popular training tool as it gives a faster positive response for behaviours your dog does correctly while you take a moment to rummage for a treat.
You can correlate a positive association with the clicker by clicking it once and offering a treat. Repeat this as many times as necessary so that when you click the clicker, your dog instinctively looks to you for a treat. If you accidently click the clicker, remember that you owe your dog a treat so that they continue trusting that the sound equals a treat.
Desensitization
When you bring a new puppy or dog home, everything is new, and sometimes that can be frightening. Desensitization helps puppies and dogs become comfortable with new experiences by gradually exposing them to handling, sounds, and situations. Regularly touching their paws or mouth can make grooming easier, while exposure to noises like vacuums or traffic can reduce fear of storms and fireworks.
Socialization
Although similar to desensitization, socialization teaches your dog how to interact in different environments. Taking them for walks in different places, practicing riding in a car, and allowing them to meet children and other animals gives you the opportunity to reward when they behave calmly and appropriately.
Housebreaking a Puppy
The easiest method for housebreaking a puppy or young dog is to use a kennel. Dogs tend to avoid eliminating in their den (when it is the proper size), which means the puppy will strengthen bladder muscle control. When you cannot keep a sharp eye on your puppy, keep them in the kennel. Never punish your pet for making a mistake in the kennel or on the floor.
Use the kennel to establish a housebreaking routine. This typically looks like this:
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First thing in the morning, take the puppy directly outside and praise them after eliminating.
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After breakfast, wait 5-10 minutes and take them outside again.
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Throughout the day, take them outside every couple of hours until 8-12 weeks old, then gradually increase this duration.
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At night, remove the water dish an hour before bedtime, and take them outside once more before putting them to bed.
If your puppy is playing outside, rather than doing their business, bring them in after 5-10 minutes and take them to their kennel so that they don’t eliminate on the floor. Bring them back outside after 10-20 minutes to try again. Bringing them out on a leash may also help, as that restricts the play they can do. Removing the leash to play after they eliminate is another positive reinforcement!
Remember, if you cannot be at home during the day or you have something to do that takes your attention away from your puppy, place them in the kennel until you can return.
Leash Training
Leash training is an important skill to teach your puppy early on so that you can enjoy a lifetime of walks together. Begin by attaching a leash to your puppy’s collar or harness. Let them drag it around the house or fenced backyard with supervision to desensitize them to the weight and feel.
Now, you can practice walking side by side with the leash. Keep your retractable leash short, or hold the extra length from the standard flat leash in your hand to practice. Praise and reward as you walk together, and stop completely if the dog or puppy starts to pull. Resume again once this pulling behaviour ceases.
If pulling becomes a problem, consider using an anti-pulling harness or collar. A Petland pet counsellor can assist you in selecting the right one for your dog.
Recall
Perhaps the most important command you can teach your new puppy is to come when they are called. To begin, choose a consistent word, phrase, or whistle to recall your dog. As mentioned before, ensure everyone in the household knows the recall term to make this training a success.
Now, it is time to choose a game!
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Run and Follow. Clip your dog to their leash. Say or whistle the recall phrase, then run backwards and reel in the leash. Once the dog is in front of you, give a treat and lots of praise. Repeat this game daily.
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Hide and Seek. Once your dog is familiar with the recall phrase or whistle, hide in a different room and use it. After your dog finds you, give treats and lots of praise.
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Gimme Gimme. Involving your whole household, have everyone stand in a large circle, holding high-value rewards. Take turns saying or whistling the recall phrase. Give the reward and lots of praise.
As a tip, practice recall randomly during play using treats and praise to continuously reinforce the command, even after it has been learned. Avoid using recall as punishment or only to end fun activities, such as going back inside.
The Basic Sit
To begin, choose a consistent word or phrase for your dog to associate with sitting. As mentioned before, ensure everyone in the household knows the sit command to make this training a success.
To teach your dog to sit, hold a small, soft treat an inch or less above your dog’s nose. Slowly make an arc with your treat hand from your dog’s nose toward the tail. Your dog should follow the treat with their nose. As they start to sit, give the sit command. When their rear hits the ground, immediately feed and praise.
If your dog is not following the treat, you are holding it too high. Lower the treat and try again.
Excessive Chewing
“Mouthing” is a puppy’s tendency to bite hands, feet, clothing, or shoes as they explore textures and relieve gum discomfort while their adult teeth grow in.
As a new puppy owner, mildly correct your puppy if they bite too hard. A sharp “hey!” works in most cases. Don’t be too harsh, as this is a phase that will diminish as they age. At this point you are training your puppy to know when the mouthing is too hard, not eliminating the behaviour.
Even in adulthood, dogs need to chew. It releases tension and relieves boredom. This is not a behaviour that can be trained out of a dog. If your dog is not provided with their own set of soft, medium, and hard toys to chew and destroy, then they will seek out your personal belongings to fill this need.
If, despite offering a variety of toys, your dog’s chewing turns highly destructive, ask your Petland pet counsellor for other options, or visit your veterinarian to possibly identify a stressor or health concern with your pet.
Excessive Barking
Nearly all dogs bark, but some dogs bark more than their owners would like. When barking becomes a nuisance, consider why it is happening. Are they anxious, bored, or territorial? Sometimes the best place to start is to address the underlying cause.
Various bark-control devices, including spray, ultrasonic, vibration, and static, are available. These devices may activate automatically or be operated manually. They are designed to interrupt or discourage barking and, when used, they should ideally be combined with training that rewards quiet behaviour.
CHECKLIST FOR TRAINING
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Treats
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(Optional) Clicker
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Kennel
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Collar or harness
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Leash
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(Optional) Anti-pulling harness or collar
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(Optional) Bark control device
Please ask your pet counsellor what other items pertain to your particular pet’s needs.