Puppy Training Tips

Did you know that February is Dog Training Education Month? Fido is a wonderful pet, but he does need training. This is important for both safety and petiquette! Read on as a Brant Hills, ON vet offers some great puppy training tips.

School should start right away. The earlier your canine pal learns good petiquette, the better! If little Fido hasn’t been housebroken or crate trained yet, start teaching these things right away as well.

Long classes will just bore your four-legged friend, so keep training sessions short and sweet. About 15-20 minute at a time is fine. Try to work with little Fido every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. It’s also important to keep your pet’s daily schedule in mind. Don’t try to train your puppy when he needs a walk or is waiting for his supper!

All dogs should know basic doggy obedience commands, such as Sit, Stay, Heel, Come, and Lay Down . Teach your pet these important commands one at a time, and make sure he masters each one before moving on.

Dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement, such as treats, praise, and ear scritches. When little Fido does something right, immediately compliment him and offer him a reward.

Speaking of rewards… treats make great training aids! Use small snacks, such as bits of kibble or cut-up hot dogs. You don’t want your puppy to eat too much: if little Fido gets full, he’ll be more interested in taking a nap than in learning.

Eventually, it may be beneficial to work with your furry buddy around distractions. However, for now, try to choose a quiet area. Your pup may not be very interested in his lesson if there’s a squirrel in the classroom!

Once your pooch has mastered basic obedience commands, you don’t have to stop working with him. Some dogs really enjoy learning new things! Move on to advanced commands, or just teach your canine companion some new tricks, like Shake or Roll Over .

Always keep training sessions positive. If you’re grumpy or worried, your dog will quickly notice your mood. The last thing you want is for him to form a bad association with training!

Please contact us, your Brant Hills, ON vet clinic, for all your puppy’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!