It is important to start training your new puppy as soon as you bring it home. Training can be done yourself or a professional can be hired. Local dog training classes are often available. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a trainer.
Training starts from the moment you bring puppy home. Crates, pens and baby gates can be very beneficial aids for training puppies, or adopted dogs.
Be consistent and have all the family on board with routines, cues and acceptable behaviour for your family environment.
Example - If you don't want an adult dog on the lounge. It starts from now, no puppy on the lounge. If you are prepared to allow a dog on a blanket on the lounge. Start now - Reward puppy for being on the blanket.
Use positive reinforcement by rewarding the behaviours you like and ignore or redirect the unacceptable behaviours.
Example - The puppy is chasing, biting, grabbing your slippers, dressing gown or clothing. STOP MOVING. Most puppies will find this boring and go and find something more interesting. Carry toy or tug in your pocket and redirect onto the toy. Have a little game of tug. Distract the dog from the unwanted behaviour. If the puppy continues, it is put in the puppy pen/crate. With a nice chew/food/Kong. Chewing is calming/rest and sleep.
When training behaviours, SIT, DOWN, COME and MAT TRAINING also called GO TO PLACE. Sessions should be short 3-5 mins a few times a day.
Sit
To teach your puppy to sit using positive reinforcement, first, get tasty treats. Find a quiet area. With a treat In your hand. move your hand slowly from the puppy's nose up over its head. As the puppy follows the treat, its bottom touches the floor. Mark immediately with a marker word. NICE / GOOD / TREAT. Followed by giving the reward (treat)Repeat a few times., gradually phasing out the Lure in hand, same hand action and introduce the verbal cue. SIT just before puppy sits. Deliver reward from the other hand.
Down
To teach a puppy down. With positive reinforcement, with a high value treat between your fingers. Place it on the puppy's nose. Lower your hand in front of the puppy down past the chest, hold the treat on the floor wait do not allow puppy to have the treat at this stage. Be patient and wait until puppy drops down immediately “Mark” with your marker word NICE /GOOD / TREAT. Give the treat between the pup’s paws on the floor. Gradually phasing out the Lure in hand, same hand action and introduce the verbal cue DOWN or DROP just before puppy goes down. Deliver reward from the other hand.
Come
To train a puppy to come using positive reinforcement, use a cheerful tone to say a cue like COME or HERE and immediately reward them with a high value treat, praise or a favourite toy when they arrive. Keep training sessions short and fun. Start at a short distance and gradually increase the distance as your puppy succeeds. Consistency is key. Always make the recall a positive experience and never punish your puppy for not coming as this will create a negative association with the queue.
Mat Training / Go To Place
Refer to our training video under Resources