Are you preparing to adopt your first puppy? There’s no doubt you’re filled with excitement and can’t wait to bring home your fluffy bundle of love, but training a puppy isn’t always the cakewalk people assume it will be. Puppy training can take many weeks and months and requires know-how and patience on your part. So, is there any way to make puppy training easier? We’ve got some essential training tips that can make the beginning stages much smoother.
1) Puppy Proof the Home Before They Arrive
Before you even bring your puppy home, it’s important to puppy-proof the house. This means removing anything that they can get into that would be unsafe and dangerous to them, or that you don’t want to be ruined. Puppies are notorious for chewing, so consider removing items that you don’t want to be chewed. You can bring them out later after the puppy phase has passed.
Some people also find baby gates handy in the home so that puppies can stick to particular areas during training.
2) Have a Plan for Housebreaking Your Puppy
For most people, housebreaking will be the top priority when they bring their puppy home. It’s a given that there will be a few accidents in the house, but ideally, they will be kept at a minimum and housebreaking will take effect quickly.
There are different techniques and styles for housebreaking, and you may need to try a few different tips before you find the ones that work. While going through this stage, puppy training pads like these available through Time for Paws can be extremely helpful. These pads are meant as a training tool that gives puppies a designated spot to pee that will absorb the mess and keep it off the carpet or hard-surface floor. Time for Paws sells different-sized training pads to accommodate all breeds.
3) Invest in a Good Quality Dog Crate
Crate training isn’t a must but most dog owners will be glad they did it. Providing your puppy with a good quality dog crate means they will have a safe and secure spot that they can go to anytime they want. When in their crate they need to be left alone so they know that is their quiet area.
Having a crate also means there is a safe spot for the puppy to be while you’re busy and can’t keep an eye on them. They can be used when it’s time for their nap, while you’re at work or during the overnight hours.
4) Focus On the Basic Commands First
It can be very tempting to want to teach your puppy everything at once, but this will only end up overwhelming them and frustrating you. Instead, focus on the basic commands first. The basic commands are sit, stay, and come. You will also need to teach them their name. Once the basics are perfected, you can slowly introduce more commands and instructions.
Final Thought
By using these tips, staying consistent, and showing plenty of patience, you’ll be well on your way to having a well-trained and happy dog that is part of the family.