Dog Behavior Training Tips For The New Pet Owner
If you have children the discussion about getting a puppy has no doubt cropped up time and time again. You have also no doubt discussed the responsibilities your child or children will have to assume because you know what it takes to look after a new pup.
It is a good idea to get the entire family involved right from the beginning even before you bring the new puppy home. Let everyone understand that there will have to be rules not only for the dog but for the family too.
As soon as the new pup is brought home you should start with its behavior training. Don’t wait until it starts to develop habits and then try and break them.
If this is the first time you are bringing a puppy into your house there are a few items you will need to take care of. Firstly inside the house you will need to designate a space where the dog will eat and sleep. Secondly it’s advisable to make space outside where the pup can go to the toilet.
Once the place for the puppy to sleep, eat and toilet has been decided and the family is in agreement on each of their roles with regard to the training of the puppy you need to decide who will be in charge of the dog. Someone has to take sole responsibility to training the right behaviors while everyone else fulfills a backup role.
To start off with the right kind of behavior training, you will need to get the simple things right first. Of utmost importance is being consistent. If you reprimand the dog one day for doing something wrong but ignore it the next time it will just confuse it.
Some think that the growl method of training is silly or not useful, but watch a mother dog with her pups and you will soon realize that the puppy’s actions are curbed by a snap or growl. We are not saying to nip at your pet but a low growl or a sharp, “No” will cause the puppy to discontinue its unwanted behavior.
Behavior training should be done in the moment. This means that should your puppy start to do something you don’t want it to do like chew on a slipper, for instance, you will need to enforce discipline right there and then. The dog will not learn if you wait until later and then try and teach it not to chew on shoes.
From this point on, your dog will respond to a sharp “No,” knowing that what it is doing needs to stop.
Having patience is imperative in order to be in control while you train your dog. The level of time spent with the dog will pay off in the long run with a well behaved and respectful animal.
