Everyone who loves dogs enjoys bringing home a new puppy. There are a few days of bliss when it feels like there’s nothing to do but take the puppy out and shower it with love. It’s a wonderful bonding time, often spent watching the little puppy sleep at your feet or in your lap.
Unfortunately, the cute, sleepy puppy doesn’t last long. Before you know it, you have a larger puppy that needs to learn some manners. This is when the true journey of puppy rearing begins, and owners find themselves dealing with the challenges of owning and training a new puppy.
The Basics of Puppy Training
When you first start training your puppy, you won’t be teaching her advanced tricks or commands like you would with an older dog. Instead, you’ll focus on the basics of being a well-behaved puppy. Skills such as house training, greeting people, and being socialized will lay the foundation for a wonderful companion. These are the first steps toward teaching essential commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come.”
Teaching “sit,” “stay,” and “come” can be relatively easy, but it does require patience and should be done in a positive manner. If you teach these commands negatively, your puppy will associate learning with something unpleasant, which will undermine your efforts.
It’s important to focus on one command at a time, ensuring it’s established with accuracy before moving on to the next. Jumping ahead before your puppy is ready will only confuse her, and you’ll end up backtracking more than if you had established the first command properly.
Sit!
“Sit” is one of the first commands you’ll teach your puppy, and most puppies will be happy to sit for you with little difficulty.
The key to teaching a puppy is having the right treat. You’ll want something soft, cut into small bite-sized pieces. The puppy should not need to chew on the treat, as this will distract her attention. I’ve found that turkey wieners, cut into small bits about the size of your pinky, work wonderfully. Their smell is very enticing, and puppies often work harder for the treat. Rollover is another great treat to use during training.
To teach “sit,” hold a treat between your thumb and fingers, making sure the puppy cannot snatch it from your hand. Move your hand toward the puppy’s muzzle and then raise it slightly. The goal is to bring her head up, causing her back to lower into a sitting position as she watches the treat. Just before she sits, say the command “Sit” firmly.
Say it only once and avoid using the same tone of voice that you use for praise, as it may excite her and confuse her. Once she’s in the sit position, praise her and reward her with the treat. Practice this until she understands the command.
Stay!
“Stay” can be one of the more challenging commands to teach your puppy, and there are several ways to approach it. Here’s my preferred method.
Once your puppy can sit on command, it’s time to teach her “stay.” Start by placing her in the sit position, then treat her as usual. Place your empty hand in front of her and say “Stay” firmly. Take one step back. If she stays, step forward, touch her collar, and praise her calmly, saying “Good dog.” Don’t get overly excited, as she should remain in the “stay” position. Treat her after the praise and then say “release” to signal the end of the command.
If she doesn’t stay, simply move her back to her original spot and give the command again. Only reward her when she successfully completes the task. Gradually increase the distance between you and your puppy as she becomes more successful with the command. Always move back to her to treat her, and avoid giving the “come” command, as this could teach her to break the “stay” prematurely.
Come!
“Come” is one of the most important commands you’ll teach your puppy. Unfortunately, many owners don’t realize its significance until they see their dog darting down a busy street after another dog or person.
When teaching “come,” you don’t need to start by placing your puppy in a sit or stay. In fact, it’s better if she’s involved in something fun. Once she’s playing or otherwise distracted, say her name clearly. When she looks up at you, give the command “come” in a happy, engaging tone. Bend down and encourage her with your hands, but never repeat the command. She will likely scamper over to you, at which point you should use the treat to guide her into a sitting position. Don’t use the “sit” command—just move the treat until she sits, then touch her collar, as we often use “come” before leashing the dog. Praise her and reward her.
If she doesn’t respond, go over and distract her, gently guiding her to you. Don’t repeat the command; only say her name if needed to regain her attention. Once she’s successfully come to you, give the “release” command and allow her to return to play.
Repeat the command when she’s again involved in something interesting. This teaches her that “come” must be obeyed no matter what she’s doing.
