First Things to Teach to Your Puppy
Welcoming a puppy to your home is exciting: buying a comfy bed and choosing a stylish collar, imagining your long walks in the nature, wondering what dogs in the neighborhood would become best friends of your newest family member. There are two types of first-time dog owners: one reads 25 books and watches at least 250 YouTube videos before the puppy is even born; other keeps it easy but once the puppy is home, helplessly wonders “and what’s the next step?”. Regardless of what your current stage is, you’re in the right place if you want to raise your dog to be your perfect everyday companion.
When to Start the Training
When your puppy steps into your house, they already start learning what is allowed, what is fun, where to find safety and security. Don’t think of training here as of fixed-length sessions where you do exercises. Instead of this, guide your dog and watch them for rewarding good behaviours and interrupting destructive ones. Show them their food and water bowls, bring them to their bed, sit down and let your puppy explore the space a bit. If you catch them chewing on your shoes, interrupt this immediately. If they get scared of the vacuum cleaner and run to you, show them that there is nothing to be scared of when they are on your side.
Training starts at the moment you pick your puppy up and you should not let them destroy your shoes because you haven’t trained “stop it” yet. Use the training opportunities that your puppy offers you.
Tolerance to Distractions
One of the first things you should teach your puppy is to tolerate distractions. Puppies are curious and easily distracted, which makes it challenging to keep their attention on you. Other than that, many young dogs struggle with switching off and chilling in busy areas like coffee houses or public transport.
Socialise your puppy by bringing them to the train station, shopping mall, office, etc. Think of activities you want them to take part in in the future and show them that, for example, colleagues in your office are not there for playing with them all day. With practice, your puppy will learn to stay relaxed and focused on you, even in distracting situations.
Calmness at Home
Teaching your puppy to be calm at home is another essential skill to focus on. A calm puppy is less likely to engage in destructive behavior, and it will make your life much easier.
Start by creating a designated area for your puppy, such as a playpen. Encourage your puppy to spend some time in this area every day, especially when they are feeling overwhelmed or excited. Practice leaving your puppy alone for short periods, gradually increasing the time as your puppy gets accustomed to being alone.
Respect for Your Things
Lastly, it is crucial to teach your puppy to respect your things. Puppies love to chew on things, and they are not always able to differentiate between what is theirs and what is yours. To prevent destructive behavior, teach your puppy what they can and cannot chew on.
Provide your puppy with toys and chews that are appropriate for their age and size. When you catch your puppy chewing on something they shouldn't, calmly redirect their attention to an appropriate toy or chew. With consistency, your puppy will learn what is theirs to play with and what is off-limits.
Conclusion
While teaching tricks and commands like "sit" and "down" is usually what people think they should start with, it is much more important to show your routine to the puppy. The only verbal cues I insist on teaching to a puppy, are: their name, recall word, “Stop” and a release word that means that they are free to take a treat or step outside. Other things are non-verbal and I would rather call it “communicating to” rather than “training” a dog.
Remember to be patient and consistent, and your puppy will thrive under your guidance.
