The basics of dog training:
The training of your new puppy or dog will ensure a happy life with your new companion for years to come; calm over chaos! Dogs need to be taught what’s expected of them when living in a human environment. We teach our children as they grow; so must we teach our dogs.
Practice relationship/leadership exercises with your dog. He needs to understand that he does not rule the roost. What does this mean? You never give your new dog free reign of the house when you first bring him home. Crating the dog for housebreaking is one of the first things you need to do. Remember, dogs are social creatures so do not place the crate in an area where he’s isolated from the family. Crating can help prevent accidents and keep your pup safe, especially when you’re not home or unable to supervise him. How long should your dog be crated? The general rule is his age plus 1. So, if your dog is 2 months old, the maximum time he can be crated is 3 hours. However, keep in mind that the more often you take your pup outside to “potty”, the less likely he will be to have an accident in the house. Make sure to give him at least 30 minutes of play time out of the crate after he’s finished eliminating.
Sit is the first, most basic and easiest behavior to teach. It’s also part of leadership exercises. Teach your dog to sit before putting his food bowl down. Once he remains seated, give him the OK to eat. Use a release word such as OK, freedom or release. Sit before opening the door to go outside. You exit first, leading your dog. The dog does not lead you. This applies to entering the house, as well. Keep in mind that puppies have a very low threshold, so be quick to release and then you can gradually add duration to the sit.
When your dog is displaying an undesirable behavior, think about what you want him to do instead. Jumping up on people or kitchen counters- give the cue to sit. The moment he complies, reward with a high value treat, and lots of praise. He will soon learn that sitting is a very rewarding behavior.
Train with positive reinforcement using rewards. Most dogs are happy to work for food. Pets and praise are also forms of positive reinforcement. Never yell or physically punish your dog. You don’t want him to fear you; you want him to respect you and look upon you as his leader. You will know your dog has mastered a behavior when he complies 90% of the time.
You can add on other behaviors once he’s mastered “sit”.
All behaviors should be taught indoors without distractions. Then you can transition to working outside with distractions.
Keep your training sessions short, about 5 minutes three times a day is the rule of thumb. Food treats should be small, about the size of a pea, as you will be using many treats during training. Use something your dog values highly such as cheese or small training treats you can purchase at a pet supply store.
When in doubt, consult with a trainer, and remember the most important elements of training are patience, persistence, perseverance and consistency. When you are inconsistent, your dog will get confused and never grasp what is expected of him.
Happy Training!
