Are you thinking about expanding your family by adding a new puppy? Congratulations! Every day spent with a loyal pup brings joy and fun – but that doesn’t mean training won’t be required. Teaching your new puppy the basics can help ensure good behavior, safety for everyone involved, and a strong bond between you. Fear not; this article has everything you need to know about successful training for your pup so that they grow into an obedient dog ready to take on whatever life throws.
Contents
The Importance Of Teaching A New Puppy Tricks
Teaching a new puppy trick is an important part of the bonding process and key to developing a happy, well-behaved pup. Training your puppy provides mental and physical stimulation and can also help reinforce the bond between you and your pup. By teaching your puppy obedience skills early on in their life, you’re giving them the vital foundations to become content and aware of acceptable behaviors.
Tricks such as sit, stay, and come can also help keep a dog safer when faced with potential dangers. Additionally, teaching tricks can boost their confidence and provide mental stimulation; great for those moments when your pup has a bit of extra energy that needs to be burned off! Teaching tricks isn’t necessarily easy and will take time and patience, but it’s worth every second when done right.
Tricks To Teach A New Puppy
Sit
Teaching your new puppy a “sit” command is essential to the training process. It can be a long and drawn-out lesson, but the ultimate reward of having your puppy successfully sit when asked will make it all worth it! One trick to teach them this skill is to use treats as a reward when they get the command right. Give your puppy verbal praise and positive reinforcement when they complete each repetition correctly.
With patience and persistence, teaching your pup this trick can become easy over time! To start teaching them, stand next to your puppy with a treat and slowly lower it towards their nose. As you continue lowering, their bottom should automatically lower and eventually touch the floor; at this time, you say “yes” or “good” and give them their reward for succeeding.
Give Kisses
Teaching your puppy to give kisses is a great way to encourage playful and loving interactions with humans. When introducing this behavior, it is essential to start slowly, perhaps by gently rubbing the pup’s snout and rewarding them for any sign of interest. As the pup becomes accustomed to the activity, you can slowly increase the duration of contact and reward more vigorously when they respond positively.
Additionally, verbal praise can help reinforce positive behaviors. To prevent inadvertent nipping or biting in response to kisses, don’t let any part of your body linger too close to your mouth; rather than asking for a ‘kiss’, opt for sweet phrases like ‘gentle kiss’ or ‘give me a love bump’. Once established, kissing can be an adorable way for the two of you to interact with one another!
Fetch
Teaching fetch is an excellent way to get your new puppy acquainted with the world around them. As a game, it provides a chance for your pup to bond with you while they learn more about their environment. To teach them the game of fetch, start by introducing them to a toy reward so they associate playing with something fun and exciting.
With patience, consistency, and some yummy treats, your puppy will soon play fetch like a pro! Once they understand that something positive comes from bringing you the toy, help them understand what ‘fetch’ means by repeating the command phrase while they bring it closer. Be sure to reward their hard work with lots of love, hugs, and treats, making them more eager to continue learning.
Shake
Training a puppy to shake can be one of the most rewarding skills you and your pup learn together. Known as “pawing” in the dog world, shaking is an effective way to help reinforce commands and rules. To teach this trick, have your pup sit while you offer them a treat. With your other hand, gently hold their paw, then say the command word “shake”.
When they raise their paw, give them verbal praise and feed them the treat. Once your pup learns to raise its paw confidently when instructed, you can wean off the use of treats for positive reinforcement. Doing so helps them associate the command and action with being rewarded in other ways, such as affection or playtime. With practice, patience, and plenty of positive reinforcement, you will soon have a pup that knows how to shake on command!
Go Potty
Teaching a new puppy to go potty is a necessity that requires patience and practice. One trick that can be useful is to take them outside at set times of the day – typically after meals and immediately upon arising – so that they remember this routine. When you go out, use one word and the same spot to reinforce the connection between the two.
Additionally, it may be helpful to reward your pup for pottying in the right spot with treats or plenty of verbal praise – positive reinforcement helps them learn much faster than scolding does. Finally, remember that accidents will happen, but as long as you’re consistent with these tips, your puppy will understand what is expected of them: That potty time should be in an appropriate place only!
Come
One of the most important commands to teach a new puppy is “come.” It is also one of the hardest because it requires your pup to return to you when the environment may provide far more interesting distractions. To make this command successful, patience and consistency are key. Start by having your pup on a leash and allow them to wander around freely.
When it’s time for them to come back, use an inviting tone of voice and offer treats as a reward for obedience. It’s helpful to use repetition so that your pup can recognize the command. The process takes time, but with consistent practice, your pup will soon master the “come” command.
Teaching Your New Puppy Tricks Doesn’t Have To Be Hard!
In conclusion, teaching your new puppy tricks doesn’t have to be difficult! With patience, consistency, and a few yummy treats, you can quickly teach them fun commands such as ‘fetch’, ‘shake’, and ‘come’. By making the experience positive and rewarding, your pup will soon learn these basic tricks and understand the importance of following instructions. With time, you’ll reflect on these early training moments and realize how far your pup has come! Good luck!
