Dogs are humankind’s most loyal companions. Welcoming a new puppy into the family is an exciting time, if not a bit daunting. Puppies are known to get up to some mischief, so it is important to start training them early on. If you have never trained a puppy before, it can be really hard to know where to start or what you should even be doing.
Lauren Swist is an aspiring nurse who offers dog training services while she pursues her nursing degree. Today she shares her tips for how to train your new puppy when you have no experience.
- Start with short sessions of 15-20 minutes once or twice per week. Long training sessions can be really stressful to a young puppy, and can actually be counterproductive.
- Find a quiet place that is free of distractions to train your puppy.
- Don’t go crazy on the treats. Dogs are very food-motivated, but remember to not overfeed during your training sessions. Instead of food you can use a favorite toy or give them praise.
- Start with basic commands. Establish a foundation of the basics before moving on to more complicated commands.
- Use the positive reinforcement method. This will be more effective in the long run. Instead of punishing a dog for misbehaving, just try to ignore them when they misbehave while rewarding the good behavior. They will understand eventually.
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