When you bring a new puppy home, you’re at the beginning of a lifelong relationship that’s going to bring you and your furry friend unlimited joy. It’s no walk in the park, though. You’ll need to work hard in the beginning to end up with a well-behaved and happy adult dog. The first three months are vital when it comes to all types of training. Patience, positive reinforcement and consistency will be your three most powerful potty training tools.
Proper training instills good habits and helps build a bond between the two of you based on trust and respect. It usually takes around four to six months for a pup to be fully house-trained, but it can take up to a year for some. Size is often a decent indicator of how frequently your dog will need to eliminate. For example, small dogs need to urinate more frequently because they have small bladders and a faster metabolism.
Most experts recommend starting the potty training process at around 12 weeks old. Before this point, dogs don’t have enough muscle control to hold it in. Even though they’re animals, puppies are still self-conscious when it comes to toileting. So make sure you don’t get angry or punish your pup for accidents, because it’s likely to make training harder. Rewarding good behavior has proven to be the most effective way to approach house-training.
When your pup first arrives, it’s a good idea not to let them roam freely around the house. Keep them in one room or a spacious crate while they’re learning, and gradually give them more freedom as they learn they need to go outside to potty. Being consistent about the essential aspects of their daily life, such as food and sleep, will help make them more obedient and trusting overall. Follow these steps when you start potty training your new puppy to give them the best chance of winning:
While your puppy adjusts to its exciting new life in your home, crate training might be a good way of gradually introducing them to more freedom. It helps you keep track of progress and build trust in each other.
Puppies instinctively prefer not to eliminate where they sleep, so as long as they’re old enough to hold it in, the crate method is an effective way of learning the signs your pup wants to go and preventing accidents inside. Here are some basic guidelines for crate training:
Accidents are inevitable and should be expected for up to a year. Provided you stick to a strict schedule and take them to the same spot at regular intervals, setbacks will be minimal. Remember to be confident and firm but fair. The puppy will respond to your manner, so if you’re assured and consistent, they’ll be the same. When accidents happen, tell them no in a strong but calm voice and take them to their toileting area.
Potty training can be a rewarding challenge and there is a formula to getting it right. As long as you follow the recommended advice and keep rewarding them for a job well done, you’ll be able to potty train them as fast as possible. If you and the rest of the family feel ready to bring a new addition into the household, find puppies today.
Getting a new pup is so much fun because they’re cuddly, adorable and cute — regardless of the dog breed. However, when it comes to what makes a breed perfect for your home, there’s plenty to consider. Well-behaved and happy dogs don’t just magically end up that way; they’ve been consistently and successfully trained. Getting from puppy-hood to that stage isn’t always easy, but you can choose a popular breed that’s more receptive and eager to please.
Temperament and intelligence are two parts of a dog’s personality that influence how easy they will be to train. Learning the basics of friendly dog behavior is easy enough for most dog breeds, provided the owner is consistent and precise in their approach. However, when it comes to dog training for advanced skills, such as spending time with children, guarding the house or running, and learning new tricks, you need to look into specific characteristics of each breed.
Bernese mountain dogs are mild-tempered, friendly giants that take to training like a duck to water. They adore being in the great outdoors, and provided they’re given at least an hour of exercise each day and get plenty of human interaction and socialization, they’re unlikely to act up. As a large working breed, they’re gentle, easygoing and tolerant.
Havanese dogs are incredibly eager to please and feel an immense sense of gratification when they delight their owner. This makes teaching them tricks and commands super-easy because they’ll relish the praise they receive for a job well done. These little guys are trainable, smart and funny, with an appetite for being the center of attention.
For a terrier, borders are laid-back — but they’re still balls of energy that require plenty of activity. They’re affectionate, mild-tempered and keen to please their favorite people. Aside from when they’ve caught sight of small prey, they’ll come when called and do as you ask them.
The English springer spaniel has been bred to hunt all day and work incredibly hard on the field. Nonetheless, when they’re home or with people they trust, they’re enigmatic and mild, with a strong urge to make their owners happy. With clear instructions and positive reinforcement, these dogs are very simple to train.
We wouldn’t recommend a Doberman for a new puppy owner because they can become challenging and destructive if they get bored or lonely. They require intelligent handling, but an experienced dog trainer can get these pups trained as guard dogs for the home, search and rescue or become a canine athlete.
The small but mighty papillon is a tiny bundle of energy that needs plenty of stimulation to keep them happy. They’re alert, friendly and eager to make their humans proud of them.
As the most popular puppy breed in the US, the Labrador has earned its reputation as the ideal family puppy companion. They love people, other dogs and pets and very rarely show any signs of aggression. These incredibly bright dogs need lots of exercise, and they repay their owners with obedience.
Rottweilers need to be socialized, given lots of mental stimulation and under no illusions as to who’s boss. An experienced trainer can teach these sturdy working dogs to become obedience competitors, therapy dogs, service dogs, herders and police dogs.
Pembroke Welsh corgis are happiest when they have a job to do. They adore their family and become protective — they might even try to herd you! The Pembroke Welsh corgi is an intelligent breed, is good with children and one of the easiest dog breeds to train.
Miniature schnauzers are smart pups that find learning commands and tricks easy. However, this small dog requires the best dog training to stop them from barking excessively and plenty of exercise to keep them entertained.
For a first-time puppy dog owner, the golden retriever is the perfect addition to your family. These dogs are joyful, loving and intelligent.
Famous for its prowess as a police dog, the German shepherd dog is a highly intelligent dog that can learn complicated tricks and behaviors. These pups can start learning their name and basic commands as young as three months old.
The boxer is an even-tempered canine that enjoys learning commands and rising to a challenge. They’re patient and protective, making them great additions to families with children.
As one of the smartest dog breeds out there, the border collie is an excellent choice for an experienced dog owner. They also require high levels of stimulation to prevent them from getting bored and bring out the best in their obedience and athleticism.
Standard poodles are fabulous when it comes to obedience and intellect. They love tracking, hunting and agility courses, and in return for plenty of exercise through dog sports, they’re loving and easy to train.
Designer dogs are usually the result of breeding two pedigree breeds together to get the best of both worlds. They often present hybrid vigor, which means they demonstrate enhanced traits from each parent. Designer dogs are often clever and take well to consistent training sessions.
If you’ve decided which puppy breed is the best suited family pet for your needs, visit our website to find puppies for sale today and choose a brand new furry member for your household.
You build a routine with a new puppy for the same reason you schedule a child’s day or structure your own time at work. When your fluffy new friend knows what to expect, they’ll feel confident and secure. If you’re consistent, they’ll be more likely to listen to you and it’ll be much easier for you to teach them how to behave. Everyone in the household can benefit from understanding their role in the cuddly canine’s routine.
That said, puppies are just so darned cute and cuddly that you might be inclined to let them get away with the odd slip-up here and there. Just be aware that you’re setting them up for life in these early months. If you allow naughtiness at the beginning, they’ll think they can get away with it when they’re bigger and not as adorable!
Bringing a new addition to the household is super-exciting, but it can soon become super-stressful if you don’t plan and prepare. To establish good behaviors, training should begin as soon as you get home. As the old saying goes, start as you mean to go on. Puppies are smart and sassy — don’t let them pull the wool over your eyes or they’ll run rings around you.
You shouldn’t expect miracles or perfect obedience from a puppy, but establishing a routine is the ideal way of beginning the process. You don’t need to map every minute of every day, but by focusing on the stand-out areas, you give yourself and the new pup the best chance of becoming a harmonious team.
Although you’ll be tempted to play and cuddle with your new pup all day, the first few weeks is the most crucial time to be strict. You won’t be able to teach them everything you’d like them to know in this short space of time, but you’re establishing that there are clear rules and expectations. Being dedicated to the schedule doesn’t mean you can’t have fun either — playtime and fun times are integral to a dog’s well-being.
Puppies need to eat more than adult dogs, so do plenty of research on the best food and feeding schedule for your particular breed. With set mealtimes, your adorable new pup knows when to expect food and is less likely to beg between meals.
Take them to the toilet every two to three hours in the exact same place. By being as consistent as possible, you’re showing them that eliminating isn’t something they can do anytime they feel like it in any place. If they do go in the wrong place, just tell them no in a firm but controlled voice and take them to the toileting spot. Calm consistency is always the best approach.
Bonding with your pup, taking them for walks and getting them plenty of toys to play with are essential activities. Make sure each day has a variety of exciting and energy-burning ways for them to pass the time. A tired and content puppy is much less likely to be ornery than a bored one!
You won’t be able to get into formal training while you’re in the process of establishing a routine, but you can teach them some basics every day. Use simple keywords like yes, no, good and bad clearly and consistently so the dog can learn to associate the same meaning with that every time. They’ll be eager to please you as long as you provide enough praise and rewards.
If you’re ready to bring a new pup into your household, find a puppy online today.
