After you have chosen your puppy’s name, bed, and collar, you need to consider how to begin training your new little bundle of joy. Establishing yourself as the pack leader to your puppy from the start will get you off to a good start. If you want your puppy to be a healthy, well-balanced dog, you need use his natural instinct to follow a leader. Puppy training doesn’t start when your puppy is bad; it needs to begin from the moment you pick them up.
Proper Puppy Training
When it comes to proper puppy training, being the pack leader doesn’t mean ordering the puppy and making them behave immediately. A pack leader projects calm-assertive energy for influence. A puppy’s mother grabs the puppy by the scruff of the neck to teach him boundaries. She doesn’t bark and get loud with the puppy.
Making your puppy wait is another method of asserting your authority. You should not pet him when they are excited and hyper. Make your puppy calm down to get picked up and loved. Before you feed your puppy, he should be calm. When you give him a treat, make him work in some way. Even the psychological work of waiting will establish you as the leader.
Puppies need lots of exercise to utilize their excess energy. A good pack leader understands the needs of the pack. When a puppy acts badly, it isn’t intentional. It’s typically an indication that his needs are not being met. A puppy who is destructive may need more stimulation and work. If he is soiling in the wrong spot, he may need to go out more often or have a health problem that should be investigated.
The First Few Days of Proper Puppy Training
Bringing home a brand new puppy is one of the most exciting times in their lives for many families. They love to watch and play with their new cuddly friend and experience the joys of having a new companion. But the first few days at home with a new dog are also extremely important for proper puppy training. The tone and expectations you set over the first several days will establish ground rules over the lifetime you own your pup, so it is important to take special consideration.
There are a few things you might want to remember when you first bring your new puppy home, including the fact that he has just been taken away from his mother and siblings. Be gentle and kind to your new dog while puppy training, but always remember to be firm and not waver. That is often where training goes awry.
During the First Days of Puppy Training
- Create a safe haven for your new puppy. Have a space that is all his with his food and water bowls, crate or bed and toys scattered about. You will probably want to paper the floor of this space.
- Often with your new puppy, but make sure to do so gently and quietly. While it is important for you to create a bond with your new dog, also try to be attentive to when he wants to sleep. New puppies sleep many hours of the day.
- Set a routine with your new puppy and your family. Determine who will be feeding him, who will be walking him and who will be cleaning up after him and try not to deviate from this schedule for a few months until puppy is completely comfortable in his new surroundings.
By setting puppy training ground rules immediately and sticking to them (such as your puppy only sleeps in the crate, never in someone’s bed), it should be an easy transition for both your new puppy and your family.
Get Started with Being the Pack Leader
Once you have established yourself as the leader, you can formulate a plan to teach your puppy simple commands. Be in touch with your puppy and respect their needs. Provide balance and consistency for a positive relationship with your canine friend. Get started on the right foot with puppy training when you start off as the pack leader.