Training Tips #2: First Steps

Some owners give up on the training process because they convince themselves that their dog just can't learn it. This is almost never the case. Think about it, between seeing eye dogs, police dogs, and dogs in the movies, the species can sure learn amazing things. So if you're dog is struggling with a simple "stay" or "sit," the truth is, it's probably not the dog that's struggling - it's you. If a dog can learn to sniff out drugs and bombs, your dog can definitely learn some simple obedience. Besides, dogs enjoy being trained. They look for ways to please their owners and love the challenge of learning new things.

Socializing
In Training Tips #1, I wrote about the first steps when bringing home your new dog. Mainly, not to overwhelm them and to take things slowly at first. But when your puppy or new dog gets adjusted to the home environment, meeting new people and new dogs is extremely important. My Denver Veterinarian is adamant that the more your puppy socializes with other dogs and humans, the less likely they are to develop behavioral problems later in life. When your puppy meets new people, have them hold him so that he begins to understands that humans are friendly. Your puppy should get its second round of vaccinations before coming into close contact with other dogs. While your puppy's immune system is still developing, it is more susceptible to catching viruses from other dogs (other dogs you own are an exception to this rule because you can be sure that the other dog has had his vaccinations). I waited until my veterinarian in Denver gave me the two-thumbs-up (about 12-weeks old) before introducing my new puppy to the neighborhood dogs.

Beginning to Learn
One of the most difficult aspects of training for new dog owners to learn is that scolding is okay. Sometimes it's difficult to speak harshly to an innocent puppy, yet it is absolutely necessary to establish your dominance. Learning what "No" means is the fist thing puppies need to learn. A simple technique is to give your puppy a slight tap on the nose while sternly saying "No" when they begin to engage in bad behavior like chewing a shoe. Soon you puppy will learn that the word "No" and that the action of getting tapped on the nose means to stop doing something.

When a puppy nips or bites someone, it is in indication that they believe they are dominant over the person they nipped. This is another instance where it is crucial to give a tap and a loud "No" so your puppy learns at an early age that nipping is not okay. A common mistake first time dog trainers run into is thinking that the gentle nipping is "puppy play" or just "cute." If this habit is left unchecked it can develop into a biting problem at a later age.

House Training
House training should be a top priority in the training process to avoid carpet stains and constant clean-up. Just like we aren't born into this world potty-trained, puppies will come to your house with no concept of where and where not to go to the bathroom. The good news is, relieving themselves outside is actually in a dogs nature. If a puppy were to continue to live with its mother, it would begin to imitate how its mother relieves herself outside. Soon it would naturally learn to be completely house trained. But because you are now your puppy's mother, you're going to have to do the teaching. The staff at my Denver Animal Hospital recommend two techniques for house-training your puppy. For the first technique, when you see your puppy go into that hunched position and you know they are about to go, immediately pick him up and take him outside. This method will help your puppy learn quickly but the downside is that you must always be watching. Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan always says that rewarding your puppy with a treat after it relieves itself outside will help your puppy learn even faster. The second method is a bit more complicated but requires less watching. You should cover the floor where your dog plays with newspaper so that your puppy gets used to going on the newspaper. Over the course of a few days, gradually make the newspaper surface smaller. Eventually, when your puppy is only performing is natural duties in one area, move that newspaper outside. Your puppy will then learn that it should only relieve itself out side. The best strategy is to actually use these two methods simultaneously. So set-up the newspaper but if you catch your dog about to go, pick him up and carrying him outside. Good luck!