Where to Start with Obedience Training

Did you just bring home a new pup?  If you’ve just gotten a dog, then you should know that, while providing your puppy with its basic needs is central, good behavior and socialization are also important. This is why it is important to start obedience training early for your puppy. Aside from helping strengthen the bond between you and your pet, it can also offer other benefits. When it comes to training your dog, it helps to have the right behavior and manners, and this will also help them avoid troubles or accidents. But most pet owners have the same question: where should you start with obedience training?

Ideally, obedience training needs to start as early as possible. This will help you train your puppy into becoming a well-behaved dog. Teaching your puppy while it is young is easier because it will be able to absorb learning much quicker, saving you time, inconvenience, and effort. Generally, most pet owners can start training their puppies as early as when they are 2-3 months old.

Obedience Training

To put it simply, obedience training is a method in which you learn your role and responsibilities as a pet parent. It is your duty to teach your pet all the skills and behaviors it needs to have. This way, your dog will be able to interact with others wherever you take it. Obedience training is a great method of teaching your dog the right habits and behaviors and is also a way for you to avoid future problems or negative habits.

You can start by training your dog and teaching it simple commands like sit, stay, and stand. You can later train it to perform more complex tasks and help it learn how to become patient, calm, and handling other situations.

The Basics

Build Your Relationship and Learn Your Puppy’s Personality

Training your puppy won’t be easy, so you need to make sure that you’ve built a solid relational foundation before moving on to training your puppy. The first step is to build your relationship and learn more about your puppy’s personality so you know what type of approach you should take when it comes to training. Do simple tasks with your puppy. This way, you can learn about its personality and adjust to it. For example, if you notice that your puppy is more of the timid type, then try to use a calmer voice when you are training or trying to teach commands. This will also determine the type of trainer it needs, as well.

Be Confident

Show your puppy that you know what you are doing. Lead it and it will follow you. Keep calm and show your confidence to your pet so that it will be motivated to follow you.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Dogs love attention, so make sure you give your pup positive attention. Avoid constantly scolding your dog when it does something bad or ignoring it when it is following your instructions. You can use treats as rewards, which can act as positive reinforcement, along with praises. Do this whenever your dog follows your instructions or does something that you like.

Take Them to Training Class

If you are still wary about training your puppy on your own, you can get a trainer or sign up for a training class. These types of classes can help you and offer various tips on how you can train your puppy to be well-behaved. This also allows for extra socialization, along with learning some of the most basic and important commands.