Bringing a new puppy into your home is an exciting time filled with cuddles, playtime, and lots of love. However, it’s crucial to establish boundaries and rules from the get-go to ensure your furry friend grows into a well-behaved companion. Here are five essential puppy training tips to help you navigate the early stages of puppyhood and set the foundation for an amazing relationship for years to come.

Puppy Training Tip 1: Control is Key

Just like toddlers, puppies need boundaries to thrive. Always keep a leash on your puppy when they’re out of their crate to maintain control and prevent them from getting into mischief. 

Training your puppy is similar to teaching manners to a curious human toddler. They can wander off and get a million different things – some of them can be incredibly dangerous for your puppy. 

You can protect your puppy by keeping them close and monitored. By doing this, you can prevent accidents like eating small objects, eating a potentially poisonous houseplant or tearing up a rug. This not only keeps your puppy safe but also helps establish you as the leader of the pack.

Much like human toddlers, puppies thrive within a routine; they flourish in a structured environment where boundaries are set. A fundamental aspect of instilling good puppy manners is ensuring they understand the importance of boundaries. 

A simple way to do this is by keeping a leash on your puppy and tethering them to you whenever they are out of their crate. 

This simple act serves multiple purposes—it helps maintain control over your puppy’s movements and prevents them from getting into mischief (i.e. puddles on your floor or a pile of poop hidden in a corner.)  

By consistently using a leash, you are not only keeping your puppy safe but also establishing yourself as a leader in their eyes. As the puppy grows older and learns more of what is expected of them they can be trusted to be off leash.

As your puppy matures and gains understanding, the sense of leadership you’ve established becomes even more important, paving the way for them to eventually be trusted off-leash.

This leadership is crucial for your puppy’s development, as it helps them understand their place within the household.  Being a conscious leader helps to foster a sense of trust and respect towards you as their caretaker. 

Tethering them to you not only keeps them safe – it’s very helpful in keeping them on track for potty training as well!

Because you always have your puppy near you, you can pick up on the signs that they have to toilet much quicker.

Look for indications such as: 

• Sudden Activity: if your puppy has been quiet or napping for awhile and they suddenly pop up and begin running around, they most likely have to go to the bathroom. You can help potty train them quickly by taking them outside after waking them up from a nap, taking them out of their kennel or feeding them
• Restlessness: if your puppy is unable to settle down to play or sleep they may need to go to the bathroom
• Barking or Whining: Some puppies vocalize to communicate they have to go. If your puppy stops playing and begins whining or crying, try taking them outside to go to the bathroom
• Sniffing and Circling: one of the most common indications that a puppy needs to go to the bathroom is they frequently sniff and circle looking for the perfect stop. If you see this behavior- take them outside immediately!
• Nosing or Pawing at the Door: Some especially smart puppies will nudge and paw at the door they know leads outside to communicate they have to go. 
• Behavior changes: if your puppy was happily chewing on a toy or chasing a housemate and they suddenly stop and begin to exhibit any of the signs above they may need to go to the bathroom

By keeping them on a leash close to you and looking for indication they need to go potty- when you see any of the above …take them out immediately. 

Keep up with watching them and soon you will be well on your way to training and bonding with your puppy in just a few days to weeks!

Puppy Training Tip 2: Elevation is Earned 

Teaching puppies what is right and wrong with their behavior is one of the most important things you can do for your puppy. This is where you will shine as a leader in their life. 

Now each household has a different set of rules, and that’s ok. Your puppy can learn to be flexible and learn to adapt to their environment with your help. 

One of the touchiest subjects can be the couch (or just furniture in general.) 

While you may allow your puppy to jump on and off the couch whenever they want to- not everyone will be pleased with them doing so in their house. 

If you plan to travel to other people’s houses with your puppy, it’s wise to remember this. 

Training your dog to avoid furniture is a great way to ensure you’re a welcome guest in someone else’s home, rather than a terrible nuisance. It also helps instill respect for the boundaries you establish with your puppy.

For example, if your pup starts jumping on the couch or a chair just gently move them to the floor.

Play with them on the floor for a while.  This is a good time to work on some of your puppy’s basic commands like “sit” or “down.” 

Once they’ve settled down, invite them back onto the couch with a simple command like “load up” or “come up”. This helps reinforce your authority and teaches your puppy acceptable behaviors.

Similarly, if your puppy displays undesirable behaviors like nipping or chewing on couch pillows or blankets, gently guide them back to the floor until they calm down and demonstrate better manners. 

By setting this straightforward puppy training rule, where good behavior earns them the privilege of joining you on the furniture, you’ll significantly enhance your experiences traveling with your dog, ensuring a pleasant time for everyone involved.

Puppy Training Tip 3: Playtime on Your Terms

While playtime is essential for bonding with your puppy, it’s essential to establish boundaries. 

Set clear rules for play and be ready to halt the fun if your puppy crosses the line. Make sure everyone in the house is also part of this and knows what is correct and what is wrong. 

For instance, if your puppy nips you during play, calmly turn away and ignore them to show that this behavior is not acceptable. Your puppy’s greatest desire is to be part of what you’re doing and be interacting with you. 

If you stop playing and ignore them they realize that what they just did isn’t going to get them what they want most.

Once they stop nipping, ask for a simple command like “sit”  then release them from and reward them with a bunch of love and praise. 

This also can work for other bad habits, such as jumping. If they start jumping, stand still and ignore them until they settle down. 

Side note: It’s also important to teach children how to interact calmly with the puppy and to disengage if play becomes too rough. Children are often themselves just learning the boundaries of acceptable behavior and can get too excited. 

If both the children and puppy are excited, an accidental nip or scratch or other injury is a very real possibility.

By maintaining control over playtime, you’ll ensure a positive and enjoyable, and most importantly SAFE experience for everyone.

Puppy Training Tip 4: Handling Exercises

Handling exercises are super important! It’s all about making sure your puppy feels comfy with being touched. 

Why? 

Well, think about it. When they’re used to being handled, it makes life easier for both of you. Dogs are often touched or handled by strangers in sometimes scary situations, like at the veterinarian’s office or at the groomers. 

Being in a strange place and being handled by new and odd smelling humans is enough to scare any pet. 

To put this in perspective: think of how scary being at the dentist office can be when the dentist is scraping away in your mouth! You often feel scared and helpless in a situation like that- much like how dogs feel at the vet when they get their temperature taken or are given their vaccines.

So, how do you get them used to being handled? Easy! 

Practice gentle touches on their ears, feet, and mouth when you are at home and just watching TV. And here’s the fun part: give them yummy treats while you do it! 

This way, they learn that being touched equals tasty rewards and positive memories. 

Once they are used to this, slowly add in strangers touching them. If someone asks to pet your dog, hand the stranger a treat then ask them to touch your dog’s ear slowly (only if it’s safe and you are certain your dog will accept this). Then have them give your dog a treat. 

This training helps them chill out during stressful moments, like trips to the vet. Think of it as making many positive deposits into your puppy’s experience bucket. 

Sometimes you have to make a negative withdrawal from the dog’s experience bucket for things like routine vaccines or a blood draw for a heartworm test. By having many positive experiences built up, those few negative experiences will not seem too bad. 

So, remember by starting early with these handling exercises, you’re setting them up for a life where grooming and vet visits are no biggie!

Puppy Training Tip 5: Be Consistent

When it comes to training your puppy, including everyone in the family is crucial, including you! 

One big secret we all need to remember is to always be consistent. That means sticking to the same rules and expectations every time, whether it’s you, your kids, or anyone else in the house. 

For example, if someone says “no” to jumping on the couch unless asked to, everyone should say “no” every time the puppy tries to come onto the couch on their own.  

It might seem like very tough love, but trust me, it helps your puppy understand what’s right and what’s wrong. It also helps bond the family together in the shared adventure of puppy training. 

Some children are scared of puppies and dogs. You can help empower them by letting them help teach your puppy boundaries and letting the children consistently see the puppy responding to requests to get off furniture. 

This lets the children know there are safe zones for them to be in; places where they can get away from the puppy. 

Oh, and don’t forget about guests! 

Guests should be told what’s acceptable for the puppy before they arrive. They should be expected to follow the rules too. 

So, stay firm and consistent with your training, and your puppy will learn quickly!

By following these six tips, you can establish a strong foundation for a well-behaved and obedient puppy. Remember, patience and consistency are key, and with time and effort, your furry friend will become the perfect companion.

Key Takeaways: 

• Set rules and boundaries for your puppy from the beginning to ensure a harmonious relationship.
• Use a leash to maintain control, prevent mischief, and establish yourself as the leader of the pack.
• Teach your puppy that privileges, like being allowed on furniture, are earned through good behavior.
• Set clear rules for play and be prepared to stop if unwanted behaviors occur.
• Practice gentle touching to desensitize your puppy to touch, ensuring stress-free grooming and vet visits.
• Stay consistent in the cues and training your puppy receives.

 

If you like this post, check out some of our other posts in our Puppy Series:

Understanding Puppy Vaccinations: A Comprehensive Guide

The Importance of Puppy Socialization and Vaccination

Understanding Puppy Development Stages