Puppy Training 101: Potty Training, Crate Training, And More (+ FAQs)


puppy training 101

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Training a new puppy can take a lot of work and can take some time. It can be difficult to know where to start. But while training a puppy can be a difficult task, it can be easier than you may think.

There are a lot of excellent tricks that will help your puppy’s training go smoothly.

Dogs are incredibly smart companions and can learn to do many things. It’s important to train your puppy on going to the bathroom, crate training, and leash training, and other types of obedience training.

The puppy training tips below will help you learn the basics of training a puppy. Training your new pet will help you make sure that you’ll live in bliss when incorporating a new puppy into the family.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the essential basic tips for training your new puppy.

puppy training 101

Tips for Potty Training a Puppy

Potty training a puppy is one of the most important ways to train your dog. While a course such as this one may be just what you need to get a thorough understanding of potty training a puppy, below, we’ll list a few great tips that will help you get started.

Here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when going through potty training with your puppy, whether you’re potty training a puppy in an apartment or a house.

1. Pay Attention

The first important thing to remember is to pay attention to your dog. While training your puppy to go to the potty, you’ll want to be aware of what your dog is doing while inside the house.

A dog that gets quiet can be a sign of trouble. Also, don’t let your dog wander around the rest of the house. Your pet may get the notion to do its business while you aren’t looking.

Consider tethering your dog closer to you or closing doors and passages to the rest of the house, to keep your pet closer to you.

A misstep or accident can set the training of your pup back, so be ready and watchful at all times.

2. Don’t Punish Your Dog for Accidents

It may seem like a good idea to reprimand your pup when an accident occurs, but it is not a good idea. Dogs don’t always make the connection in their minds between the punishment they receive and the bad deed that they have done.

In some cases after punishment, they may just believe that you don’t want to “see” what they have done and will instead start to go behind the couch or to a hidden spot to do their business.

When it comes to the training of your dog, negative reinforcement pales in comparison to the effect that rewards and positive reinforcement have on your pet.

3. Set a Schedule

When training your dog to go to the potty, it can be an immense help to get onto a set schedule with your training.

Feed them at the same time every day. Then, a couple of hours later, take them out to use them bathroom at the same time as well.

By staying on the same schedule, they will learn when the best time to go to the potty is.

It will also help you as the trainer to keep track and manage your dog better. You will know when your pet will probably be needing to go to the bathroom. This schedule will make accidents less likely to happen.

4. Reward and Praise

Like we mentioned before, negative reinforcement and punishment aren’t incredibly efficient when training your puppy.

It is better to use positive reinforcement. This positive reinforcement can include praise or rewards.

When your pet has gone to the bathroom correctly, this is the perfect time to lay it on thick. Praise your pet like there’s no tomorrow, and your pet will get the idea that using the bathroom in the right place and time helps them receive love and affection.

You may also want to give your puppy a delicious treat (such as a Greenies Pill Pocket Soft Dog Treat) which will reinforce the positive behavior in their minds.

Click here to read even more tips on How to Potty Train a Puppy.

Tips for Crate Training a Puppy

Sometimes you need your puppy to get into a crate and behave. Proper crate training will allow your puppy to get into a crate or cage when needed, whether you’re leaving home or having guests over. House training a puppy is well worth your time.

Believe it or not, it can be easier than you think to train your dog for this behavior. Your puppy can even come to see his time in a crate as relaxing and comfortable.

Here are the top tips for helping with crate training your puppy.

1. Choose Your Command

When crate training a puppy, the first thing you’ll want to do is pick a command that will let your dog know that it is time to go to the crate.

You may wish to use a command such as “kennel” or you may come up with another choice that works for you. This command will help your dog to associate the kennel with the command, so your dog will know exactly what to do when he hears the command.

This command is the foundation of building a great crate training routine for your puppy.

Make sure to be consistent when you use a command and stick with it. This consistency is the best way to be clear and make your dog learn fast.

A Petmate Two Door Top Load Kennel may be a good choice for your pup.

2. Meals in the Crate

Another good idea is to start letting your dog have its meals by or in the crate. This technique will allow your dog to associate the happiness of a great meal with the crate.

This positive association will help your dog feel a sense of comfort when by the crate. Your dog will then start to build up a tolerance of the kennel space.

Dogs find it hard to resist good food, and they will begin to learn that to get good food they need to be in the kennel. This technique is a good way to speed up the progress of your dog’s crate training.

3. Extend the Time

When beginning to crate train your dog, you should start with a short introduction to the kennel.

As you continue to train your dog, slowly start leaving them in the crate for longer and longer intervals.

This technique will prevent your puppy from getting overwhelmed too quickly by long times in the small space. Your dog will slowly learn to become more comfortable with the crate.

4. Make it Familiar

When crate training your dog, it is good to create familiarity. It is important to make the box familiar and comfortable for your dog. Consider keeping the crate out among the rest of your furniture instead of hiding it away in a closet.

By allowing the kennel to be open and around your living space, you will enable your dog to get familiar with it while not using it.  It can also be an excellent idea to put a blanket or a toy in the crate to allow for some additional comfort.

Once your dog starts to see the crate as a part of the home, it will be much easier to train your dog to stay in the crate when necessary.

Click here to read even more tips and to view our page on Crate Training 101.

Tips for Puppy Obedience Training

When it comes to obedience training, there are several excellent ways to make training your new puppy a breeze.

A course such as this one will give you a thorough understanding of dog obedience training, but we’ll give you a few tips below that will help you get started with the basics.

Obedience training is incredibly important and can be very helpful when living with a young puppy who thinks its okay to bite people.

Here are some of the primary tips that will allow puppy obedience training to go smoothly.

1. Be Consistent

The most important thing to keep in mind when training your dog for obedience is to remain constant at all times.

Be sure to give your dog positive feedback at all the same times and for the same reasons. When using words and commands, stay consistent.

Any behaviors that you don’t want should receive a solid “No!” every single time so that the dog learns what to expect.

2. Give Rewards

In the beginning, you should for anything that the dog does that is desired. When a dog sits or when it goes to the potty correctly, you should give him or her a doggy treat to reinforce the behavior.

You can also perform this positive reinforcement by rubbing its belly or by just giving your puppy a lot of praise.

Blue Wilderness Blue Buffalo Dog Treats are a nice little reward to give your companion when he or she follows your training.

3. Mealtime Association

If there’s a behavior that you would like for your dog to do, one simple trick that you can do is to give it a meal during or shortly before or after the chosen behavior.

This activity will allow your dog to associate the meal with the behavior that it has done and will make it happier to do the behavior in the future.

4. Short Sessions

When going through training sessions with your puppy, you should keep each session short and crisp. Puppies can get bored very quickly, so it’s best to not work on training for long stretches at a time.

Instead, do a bit of training for no more than 10-15 minutes about three times a day.

These short sessions will be just enough to keep your dog’s attention span and to keep boredom at bay.

Later, you can gradually increase the length of the session, but it is best to start short and sweet.

Tips for Leash Training A Puppy

Leash training is also essential for your puppy. It’s important that your dog gets exercise every day so that your dog will remain healthy. Of course, daily walks are great for your health too.

Fortunately, there are a lot of tips for leash training your puppy that will make the training process a lot easier.

Here are the best tips for leash training a puppy.

1. Choose the Right Collar

First, you’ll want to choose the right type of collar for the right type of dog.

If you choose the wrong collar, your dog can be uncomfortable and unhappy. If your dog doesn’t like the collar, he will be more frustrated when trying to be leash trained.

Make sure the collar isn’t too heavy and that it is light. A light collar will allow your dog to not notice the collar as much. He will be less worried about having it on.

For extra tips on choosing the right collar for your dog, check out the Dog Training Collar Buyer’s Guide.

2. Use Treats and Rewards

Treats and rewards are also perfect for motivating your dog to develop proper walking habits. Don’t yank on the leash but instead simply reward your dog when he comes to you and is walking properly.

Hold a toy or treat up to get them to walk in the right direction. When they are walking correctly, use treats often to solidify the behavior.

3. Let Your Dog Get Comfy with the Leash

Another useful trick is first to put the leash on your puppy and then let him or her get comfortable with it.

  1. First, put the leash on the collar.
  2. Then let them wander around the house for a few minutes getting comfortable with how it feels.
  3. Once the dog has had some time to experience the leash themselves, you can proceed to take the leash in your hand and start the training.

This extra step will allow your dog to have a bit more comfort before starting the training.

A leash such as Petroad’s ColorPet dog leash has features that make it work well for training your puppy.

4. Short and Fun Training

Make sure that the training sessions are short and as much fun as possible. Go to a fun place and give lots of praise while walking.

You may want to begin by just walking around the house with your puppy while letting him or her walk beside you.

You don’t need to go on terribly long walks to start but should instead start slow with shorter training sessions. Your dog will slowly warm up to the leash and the collar, little by little.

Click here to read even more tips and to view our page about How to Leash Train a Puppy.

FAQs

What is the best age to start training a puppy?

A puppy can begin learning basic commands and techniques as young as 7 or 8 weeks old. Formal training for dogs is often started around six months of age, however.

How do you train a dog to sit?

There are several methods for teaching your dog the “Sit” command.

One of the best ways is by using a treat and giving it to your dog when he or she puts their bottom to the floor. Here’s how:

  • Hold the treat just out of reach above your dog’s head and behind their nose, so they must look up.
  • When it is out of reach just enough, the dog will be forced to put their bottom to the ground to reach the treat.
  • When your dog does this action, give him or her lots of praise along with the treat.
  • The dog will begin to learn, and the response will be quicker after more attempts.
  • Finally, start saying the words “Sit” during this exercise and dog will learn to associate the word with the action.

Eventually, you will be able to say only the words for your dog to sit.

When should you take a puppy to obedience classes?

Formal obedience training for dogs is often started around six months of age.

When should you start teaching your puppy commands?

You can start attempting to give your dog commands at a very young age. A puppy can begin learning basic commands and techniques as young as 7 or 8 weeks old.

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