The Do's and Don'ts of Puppy Training

The Do's and Don'ts of Puppy Training

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Training your puppy doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to take up your entire day. It’s important to establish clear rules and boundaries early on, so your dog learns what you want him to do, and what he shouldn’t do. Here are some tips on how to train your puppy in just a few minutes a day so you can focus on spending quality time with him as well!

DO reward good behavior

Positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools. When you're training a puppy, make sure to reward him when he does what you want—with a treat or pat on the head. The key is to do it immediately, so your pup learns that being good makes him happy. (Keep in mind, though, that dog treats are different than people snacks—they're calorie-dense and full of sodium). Another trick? Use a word other than good, like yes or okay. This way you won't accidentally reinforce bad behavior by saying something like, good boy, if he just chewed up your favorite pair of shoes.

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DON’T punish bad behavior

If you’re trying to get your puppy to stop doing something wrong, don’t punish them. This can actually cause more damage than good. For example, if you yell at your puppy for chewing a shoe but then reward them with a treat when they don’t chew another shoe, they are learning that chewing shoes sometimes earns treats and sometimes brings punishment. It’s confusing to them! Instead, wait until they aren’t doing anything bad then reward them immediately. This will teach them what behaviors earn rewards. Praise: You want to praise your dog every time he does something right, so he knows exactly what behavior is expected from him. Be specific about what behavior you like too; telling him good dog isn’t as helpful as saying good job sitting down on command. Don't forget to play: Playing is just as important as training—if not more so—because it gives dogs exercise and helps keep their minds sharp.

DO use negative reinforcement sparingly

Positive reinforcement is always better than negative. If your puppy doesn’t come when called, don’t just yell at him. Take his favorite toy and move away from him; if he comes over to get it back, give it back happily. He won’t learn anything from your tone, but he will learn that coming when you call means fun! The same goes for other commands: don’t use a leash to pull your pup in a direction they don’t want to go, reward them with treats and affection instead. And never hit or kick a dog. It’s completely unnecessary and can cause serious damage to their psyche—not to mention it could land you in legal trouble!

DON’T rely on positive reinforcement only

While positive reinforcement is a useful technique to teach your puppy new behaviors, you’ll need to be firm when it comes to training, or he may run over you. Once your pup has learned his basic commands, keep practicing them often and use negative reinforcement as necessary. In other words, if he doesn’t do what you ask on command (sit, stay), then don’t give him a treat—that means it’s not time for treats yet! If he does obey, then reward him with a treat. This way, he learns that good behavior leads to rewards while bad behavior leads to no rewards.

DO consider crate training

Crating your puppy can help keep him safe while you’re away. Not only will he be less likely to get into trouble in your absence, but a crate also serves as a comfortable place for him to call his own. That said, there are guidelines for crate training—if you follow them, your pup will love his crate (and never want to break free). It’s important that dogs associate their crates with positive experiences, so it’s best to introduce them at an early age. If you have an older dog who hasn’t been introduced to a crate before, start slowly by introducing him to a small space within the larger space of his usual area; once he gets used to that space, slowly begin restricting access until he has no choice but to go into his crate when asked.

DO make sure you set aside time for training

Studies suggest that training sessions should last for about 15 to 20 minutes and should be scheduled at least twice a day. In your training sessions, focus on one skill at a time. This is important because if you try to teach your puppy too many new skills at once, he may become confused. For example, don’t train him to sit, stay, lay down and shake hands all in one session. It’s best to work on each skill separately so he doesn’t get overwhelmed. Once your pup has mastered each individual task, then you can start combining them into more complex behaviors like shaking hands while laying down or sitting before receiving a treat.

DON'T ignore a problem behavior until you can no longer stand it

it is better to correct a problem early on. Start crate training as soon as you bring your puppy home. Even though crate training can be stressful for your pup at first, letting him sleep in his crate when you are not home is much less likely to help with his house-training than doing it right away. If he has an accident in his crate, don’t make a big deal about it: just clean it up calmly and take him outside again right away to finish up his business. Consistency is key! When you catch him in the act of going potty inside, say No! firmly and escort him outside to finish his business. Never hit or spank a dog (or any animal) for bad behavior—it will only teach them that they need to fear people rather than respect them. It also teaches them that if they run fast enough, their owners won’t be able to catch them, which could lead to even more dangerous situations down the line.

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DON’T think dogs always understand everything we say

Most puppies will understand sit when you tell them to, but they might not know what it means if you say it while they’re gnawing on your new shoes. So, make sure you only teach your dog commands when he can respond appropriately, like after you’ve put his leash on, so he knows walk is coming next. The more consistent in tone and voice you are when giving commands, too, the better.

DO use a treat:

You may have heard that dogs learn faster when you don’t use treats as rewards. That isn’t necessarily true, especially with young dogs who haven’t learned much yet. Use a small treat or piece of kibble to reward good behavior and let him see that you have something special for him by holding it in your hand before using it as a reward.