Training your puppy is a crucial step in making sure they turn into a well-behaved, friendly and obedient dog.
To get the best from your pup, it’s important to be aware of which training methods are most effective, the attitude you need to adopt as a dog owner, and the indispensable tips for a happy, healthy and house-trained dog.
With this in mind, we spoke to Maria Wickes, head of Dogs Trust Dog School, to get some great advice on how to train your puppy – or dog for that matter, as you can certainly teach an old dog new tricks – and the pitfalls to avoid…
1. Don’t use a punishment-based training method
Some of the most common mistakes dog owners make is trying to force their puppy to do something they don’t want to do, or punishing them when they don’t exhibit desired behaviours.
2. Reward-based training is most effective
The important principle of training at Dogs Trust is that they use reward-based methods to train all dogs. Research has shown that using reward-based methods are more effective and less likely to be associated with problem behaviours.
This type of training does not rely on making dogs worried or frightened, so there is less danger of causing problem behaviours. This approach also means that dogs have better welfare, enjoy their training and form a better bond with owners or carers – so why would we do anything else?
3. Keep a positive attitude
Training can be huge fun for both dogs and their owners, so it’s important to go in with an open mind and a positive attitude. No puppy is perfectly well behaved so there’s no need to feel embarrassed if your puppy barks or wees on the floor during a class – these things happen!
4. Start with the basics
The training we do at Dogs Trust is based on teaching the basic behaviours that dogs and owners need day to day in domestic life. Whether we are working with dogs in our adoption centres and preparing them to go to their forever homes, or teaching owners in Dog School classes, we are focused on doing a thorough job of training the basics which will help owners be able to go about their lives with their new best friends.
When you get a puppy, it’s so important to tackle the basic training first and focus on building up that amazing bond with your pet. House-training is one of the first things dog owners can teach their dog to help them get used to home life.
All dogs can be taught to go to the toilet outdoors, but this is not something most will do automatically – they need us to show them that this is the right thing to do, and to get them into good habits.
5. Be patient
It’s important to be patient and not expect too much too soon – every dog is different so will learn things at their own pace.
All puppies need patient and consistent house-training – it’s very normal for a puppy to take several months to be fully house-trained.
6. Train your puppy when they are feeling lively
To get the most out of your dog, we would advise not to train your dog when they are tired or hungry as they may become frustrated and won’t enjoy training.
7. Train in a quiet space to start
Start your training in a quiet space with no distractions and build up to more busy places when your dog becomes more confident.
8. Teaching your dog how to relax is important
Another important part of training your puppy is teaching them to learn how to settle. As part of your family, it’s important for dogs to learn to relax, lie down, and have time on their own. It’s especially important for them to do this when you’re busy at home, with guests, making dinner, cleaning the house, or outside with friends at the pub or café. It’s hard for your dog to learn to be settled when there are distractions, lots of activity or opportunities for attention so it’s best to begin practising somewhere quiet.
9. Tips for nervous or shy dogs
Some dogs can be nervous or shy – whether that’s around other people or dogs. Some tips to help your dog overcome their fears and learn that the world isn’t such a scary place include:
- Being calm and positive with your dog. It’s ok to reassure your dog and talk to them to help them feel more comfortable.
- Not pushing your dog into seeing or doing things they show fear about, this will only make them feel worse.
- Trying to ensure their encounters with unknown things are positive each time.
- If your dog is scared of new people, politely ask strangers not to approach or touch your dog.
