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If you’ve just adopted a dog, or soon to be the proud owner of a furry friend, you may be on the hunt for some puppy training tips. If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Not only have I raised scores of puppies, (including Luna!) I’ve read a lot of the literature and been on courses and classes with dog behaviourists and the like, more out of curiosity than anything.
You learn an awful lot and there are different theories for everything. That in itself is helpful and frustrating. First, it’s helpful because every dog is unique, so there’s an answer out there. The frustrating part is finding it, and some dogs can just be, well, a bit weird when it comes to finding what makes them tick. My mum’s dog, Flossy, is one such dog.
A lot of the key training should be done when your dog is a puppy. The earlier the better. Even when you first get your little pooch at around 8 weeks you’ll be amazed at how quickly they can pick up some of the commands we cover below.
Before we get to those puppy training tips, let’s explore how dogs learn.
Understanding How Dogs Learn
Understanding how dogs learn is a fascinating journey into canine cognition and behaviour. Dogs tend to grasp new concepts through associative learning, a process rooted in classical and operant conditioning.
In classical conditioning, dogs link neutral stimuli to meaningful events, as seen in Pavlov’s iconic bell-and-food experiment.
Operant conditioning involves learning from consequences, where behaviours are reinforced or weakened, as studied by B.F. Skinner.
Social learning plays a pivotal role in a dog’s education. This helps showcase their ability to observe and imitate behaviours. Research, such as that by Range and Virányi, has shown how dogs learn from both their canine companions and human interactions.
Cognitive abilities contribute significantly to a dog’s learning process too. Studies, like Hare et al.’s work, highlight dogs’ problem-solving skills and their ability to understand human gestures, especially pointing.
Effective training hinges on principles of reinforcement and punishment, though the latter is an outdated approach and one I don’t agree with. Positive and negative reinforcement or punishment are tools that guide behaviour modification.
Recognising individual differences among dogs is crucial. Factors like breed, age, genetics, and past experiences influence learning speed and efficacy.
Training Doesn’t Stop When Your Puppy Grows Up
An important thing to remember is that training is an ongoing thing, especially with certain puppies and dogs.
Some dogs will take to training well and may even enjoy it (because they know the reward is coming. Some puppies will follow those lessons for the rest of their lives.
Other puppies, however, may decide they don’t quite want to listen anymore. They push back, just like teenagers raging against the machine of mum and dad. Luna did it. She forgot all of her recall training, so it was back to the drawing board on that one.
So the point is, don’t get sloppy with your training. Some puppies need it more than others and for longer periods of time.
Crucial Things To Know About Traning Puppies
So that’s the science behind how dogs and puppies learn. Here are some other crucial and practical pieces of advice:
- Making learning enjoyable is key to fostering quick and positive responses from your dog. If a mistake occurs, take responsibility and guide your dog toward the correct behaviour, turning it into a positive learning experience.
- To maintain engagement, keep training sessions short, around two minutes each, and aim for five to six sessions daily. Vary the practice locations, such as indoors, during walks, and in the garden, gradually introducing distractions as your dog becomes adept at following commands.
- When rewarding, start by reinforcing correct movements, then progress to rewarding the entire action and acknowledging your dog’s best attempts. Rewards can take the form of food (a portion of their meal or small treats), praise, or engaging toys or games. Remember, a reward is only effective if it genuinely appeals to your dog’s desires.
Do You Need Equipment For Puppy Training?
When training your puppy or any dog for that matter, you should keep it on a lead and collar, unless you’re in a safe and secure environment.
Other than that, all you need are items to reward your puppy with, such as treats or bits of kibble and dog food like Tails. Or you can reward your puppy with a toy. Some dogs really love the squeak of a ball or being able to pull apart a stringy rope.
Puppy Training Tips For 6 Key Commands
Let’s take a look at some puppy training tips for these 7 key commands.
1) How To Get Your Puppy To Respond To Its Name
Getting your dog to reliably respond to its name is a fundamental aspect of effective communication and bonding. Begin by associating their name with positive experiences. Say their name in a cheerful tone, coupled with treats or affection. Repetition is key; use their name consistently in various contexts, making sure to keep it positive.
Timing is crucial when reinforcing the association. Reward your dog immediately after saying their name and, importantly, when they respond correctly. This reinforces the connection between their name and a positive outcome.
Incorporate name recall into daily interactions. During play or walks, intermittently call their name and reward them for turning their attention to you. This not only strengthens the association but also makes responding to their name a part of their routine.
Consistency, positive reinforcement, and patience are the pillars of successful name training in puppies.
2) Training Your Puppy To Come Back
Recall, or in other words, teaching your puppy to come back to you when called, is one of the toughest things to do. There are lots of distractions and better options than what you might have to offer.
There are different methods for teaching recall. Here are two I like:
- Recall As A Game – This one you can do in your home. With two people it works best. Each person should hide in a room. Armed with treats, take turns a piece calling your puppy and reward and praise them when they come. They love this one and it really works. You can also test it out on narrow trails where your puppy can’t go off-path.
- Teaching Wait And Come – When you teach your dog to sit and wait, you can also incorporate recall by taking steps away from them and then telling them to come. Each time you can increase the distance or even move into other rooms.
This video on training your dog’s recall skills is also well worth a watch.
3) Teaching Your Puppy To Sit
Teaching your puppy to sit is a lot easier than you might think.
First, guide your dog into a sitting position by using a treat and moving it just above its nose.
Then smoothly move your hand over its back. As the dog naturally sits, introduce the command “sit.”
Timing is crucial; utter the command after your dog is in position to avoid confusion. Then give the treat so they associate the word with the reward.
Be cautious with treat placement – holding it too high or moving too swiftly might lead to jumping or backing off.
You can also practice sitting in different scenarios, like on busy streets, before crossing roads, or when greeting people.
4) Teaching Your Dog To Lie Down
This is another surprisingly easy trick to teach your puppy to do. Here’s a quick video tutorial.
As you can see, it’s similar to teaching your puppy to sit. However, you bring the treat either to their nose or to their chest (I think the chest works better). You then slowly bring the treat to the ground.
Once your dog puts all four paws on the ground, give them their reward!
5) Training Your Puppy To Wait
Once your dog has mastered sitting and lying down on command, you can add in something like the stay command.
After instructing your dog to “sit” or “down,” resist offering the treat immediately. Introduce a pause, saying “wait” or “stay”, then hold off for a few seconds before rewarding.
As well as a trick, it cultivates patience and reinforces the notion that maintaining a position leads to positive outcomes. Gradually extend the duration, creating a well-behaved and disciplined dog that responds not only to basic commands but also to the crucial skill of staying in place.
You can also mix this up by moving away from your puppy while telling it to stay.
6) Puppy Toilet Training Tips
We’ve saved the dirtiest one till last. Puppy toilet training can be tough, frustrating and smelly. But worry not. Here’s a breakdown of some top tips for potty training:
- Consistent Schedule – Establish a regular feeding and potty schedule, taking your puppy outside frequently, especially after meals and waking up. Remember they have little bladders and guts that fill up fast.
- Praise and Rewards – Immediately praise and reward your puppy for successful outdoor potty trips. Positive reinforcement promotes good behaviour.
- Supervision – Keep a close eye on your puppy, especially during the initial stages of training. If you can’t supervise, consider crate training to prevent accidents.
- Designated Potty Area – Take your puppy to the same outdoor spot each time. The scent will encourage them to go, reinforcing the association between the location and the act.
- Interrupt Accidents – If you catch your puppy in the act indoors, interrupt them with a firm “no,” then take them outside to finish.
- Patience and Persistence – Understand that accidents will happen. Stay patient and consistent with training, adjusting strategies as needed.
- Clean Accidents Properly: Thoroughly clean indoor accidents with an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate scent markers that may attract your puppy back to the same spot.
- Avoid Punishment – Never scold or punish your puppy for accidents. This can create anxiety and hinder the training process.
- Consult a Vet – If your puppy struggles with consistent toilet training, consult with a veterinarian to rule out medical issues.
Following these expert tips will pave the way for a successful and stress-free puppy toilet training experience.
