Good dog behaviour is essential, especially when it comes to the relationship between us and our canine buddies. Dogs are extremely sociable animals and they thrive upon companionship with both humans and their fellow canine friends. Love and care is not enough when it comes to your dog, they also need the mental and physical exercise they crave and deserve.
The most important aspect to remember when obedience training your puppy, is keep is short, keep it simple, and above all else keep it fun!
Early Learning
The best time for a young dog to learn is when they are under four months old, as this is when their personality develops the most.
Meeting People – Early socialization with as many other species as possible will help reduce the likelihood of future problems. Taking your dog to work, in the car, or even to your friends’ home, as well as introducing it to new dogs, children, and other adults is ideal for social development.
Personal Investigation – Playing with toys will provide your young dog with physical and mental stimulation, helping to prevent destructive behaviour.
Understanding Fear – Fears that a dog can learn at an early age can become lifelong phobias, which is why when training young dogs, frightening situations should be kept to an absolute minimum.
Mental Stimulation – Active physical and mental stimulation for puppies will help them to become adept at both learning and problem solving. Puppies learn by observing their mothers behaviour, which is why, within a human family, one person should be the mother substitute. The mother substitute should be responsible for obedience training the young dog, and all other family members should participate.
Early Habits – Habits that are developed at an early age, whether good or bad, will be remembered as the dog grows older. So do not get your puppy used to being constantly carried around when it is very young, as it will expect similar treatment whenever it feels insecure as an adult.
Immediate Rewards – Rewards are crucial when training young dogs, so when the puppy obeys a command, make sure you always offer an immediate reward, such as a gentle stroking or soothing words of praise. As the dominant member in the relationship you should always be in control.