How to Train a Puppy?

How to train a puppy successfully? Puppy training tips such as crate training a puppy or using a dog training leash. Training a puppy takes patience and commitment; the reward is a well trained dog.

If you have a new dog in the house, you may be wondering how to train a puppy. There are various opinions on training a puppy from crate training a puppy to simply being 'on site' for observation and correction.

It's hard to know what may be best for your home and family. There’s no easy approach to training a puppy. It requires time and attention.

So. if your life is very busy, if you’re gone for extended hours, or if you have other needy animals, a puppy may not be the best choice of pets. On the other hand, with patience and patterning, you can end up with a wonderful companion who knows the house rules and is a great addition to the family.

Bringing a pup home is like bringing a new baby into the house. Everyone needs to adjust a bit, and any other family members (including pets) have to be given introduction periods. You need to know your other pet's temperament in this change; the grumpy older animal won't accept the new addition as quickly as a perky younger one. No matter what, you as the key person in your pup's life are a guide to what's good, what’s bad, and the behavior you expect. You need to be the leader of your 'pack'. It's a big task!

There are a lot of behaviors you will need to work on with your puppy. Chewing is one, walking on a leash is another, but by far housetraining is the biggie. Puppies need boundaries, consistent schedules, and input to become successful.

Your praise means a lot to your dog; as do rewards (such as treats and play time). The impact of positive feedback is far more permanent than negatives (sound familiar?). This is a baby. And while there are traits in dogs on which we can depend, you still have to recognize that mistakes are natural for a while.

So, start out with simple things. Work on one behavior at a time repeating your efforts until you see results. Then start on another behavior. While it is possible to teach more than one thing, the amount of time the training takes increases. It’s good to make a list of your priorities. As the pup gets older, it will be able to accept more training (puppies do have short attention spans; just like children).

Please remember to be realistic in your expectations. Puppy will not sit, stay, come, and bark to go outside from day one. If you remain diligent with your direction it will pay off. Note that the rest of the family have to follow your lead otherwise the dog will get mixed signals.

• Consistency
• Frequency
• Clear communications - do not keep repeating a command (for example, don't say "no, no, no" - say "no" once and then wait)
• Repeat and practice daily
• Make the training fun and interesting; and keep it relatively short to start
• Your puppy needs to believe that you are in charge: it will follow and try to do what you want and expect if it believes you are its leader.

In answering the question of how to train a puppy, the biggest answer is with love and patience. A puppy becomes a member of your 'pack'; whether that pack is one person or a large family of 20. Dogs generally aim to please. But do your research about breeds, personalities, etc. before embarking on this journey. Remember this can become a 20 year commitment. You want to find the best puppy for your lifestyle and family.

And don't forget that along with training your puppy, you need to take care of your puppy: from teeth, to paws, to skin and coat, to weight and to eyes and ears - all need to be healthy and maintained. We recommend the Ear Dr., which is a natural herbal remedy for dog ear mites and ear infections.

Ear car is especially important for puppies, who love to roll around in the grass and dirt and can easily get dirt and debris in their ears; those ears are the perfect place for bacteria to grow and thrive - make sure you regularly clean your dog's ears and check for health issues.

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