3 Most Important Puppy Training Tasks

While this is not an all encompassing list, we do believe that these are foundational skills that will ensure a healthy human and canine relationship.

1. Crate Training Your Puppy

Crate training is a great way to housebreak your puppy, keep them safe and secure, and provide them with a place to feel comfortable and relaxed. However, it’s important to do it right so that your puppy doesn’t develop negative associations with the crate.

Here are some tips on how to crate train your puppy:

1. Start early. The sooner you start crate training your puppy, the easier it will be. Puppies are naturally curious and adaptable, so they’re more likely to accept the crate as a safe and comfortable place if they’re introduced to it early on.
2. Choose the right crate. The crate should be big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. You don’t want it to be too big, or your puppy will use the extra space as a bathroom.
3. Introduce the crate gradually. Don’t just put your puppy in the crate and close the door. Start by leaving the door open and letting your puppy explore the crate on their own. Put some of their favorite toys and treats in the crate to make it more appealing.
4. Make the crate a comfortable place. Put a soft bed or blanket in the crate, and make sure it’s in a quiet, comfortable spot in your home. You can also put a ticking clock or white noise machine in the crate to help your puppy relax.
5. Start by crating your puppy for short periods of time. Don’t expect your puppy to be able to stay in the crate for long periods of time at first. Start by crating them for 10-15 minutes at a time, and gradually increase the amount of time as they get used to it.
6. Never punish your puppy for whining in the crate. If your puppy whines in the crate, don’t punish them. This will only make them more anxious and less likely to want to go in the crate. Instead, ignore the whining and wait until your puppy is quiet before you let them out.
7. Be patient and consistent. Crate training takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if your puppy doesn’t get it right away. Just keep at it, and eventually they’ll learn to love their crate.

With a little patience and consistency, you can successfully crate train your puppy and create a safe and comfortable space for them to relax and feel secure.

Here are some additional tips for crate training your puppy:

• Use positive reinforcement. When your puppy goes into the crate on their own, give them a treat or praise them. This will help them associate the crate with positive experiences.
• Don’t leave your puppy in the crate for too long. Puppies have short attention spans, so they shouldn’t be in the crate for more than a few hours at a time.
• Make sure your puppy has access to food and water in the crate. You can also put a pee pad in the crate if your puppy is still not fully housebroken.
• If your puppy has an accident in the crate, don’t scold them. Just clean it up and try again later.

With a little effort, you can crate train your puppy and create a safe and comfortable space for them to relax and feel secure.

2. Potty Train Your Puppy

Potty training a puppy can be a challenge, but it’s definitely possible with patience and consistency. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Start early. The younger the puppy, the easier it will be to potty train them. Puppies start to develop bladder control around 12 weeks old, so it’s a good idea to start training them as soon as you bring them home.
2. Choose a spot. Pick a spot in your yard or on your property that you want your puppy to use as their bathroom. Once you’ve chosen a spot, take your puppy there every time they need to go.
3. Be consistent. Take your puppy to the same spot every time they need to go. This will help them learn where they’re supposed to go.
4. Watch for signs. Puppies will often give you signs that they need to go to the bathroom. These signs can include circling, sniffing, or whining. If you see your puppy giving any of these signs, take them to their bathroom spot immediately.
5. Reward good behavior. When your puppy goes to the bathroom in the right spot, be sure to praise them and give them a treat. This will help them associate going to the bathroom in the right spot with positive experiences.
6. Don’t punish accidents. If your puppy has an accident in the house, don’t punish them. This will only make them afraid to go to the bathroom in front of you. Instead, simply clean up the accident and try again later.
7. Be patient. Potty training takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if your puppy doesn’t get it right away. Just keep at it, and eventually they’ll learn to go to the bathroom in the right spot.

Here are some additional tips for potty training your puppy:

• Take your puppy out to potty first thing in the morning, after meals, and after playing.
• If you’re going to be gone for a long period of time, crate your puppy or put them in a puppy-proofed room.
• Make sure your puppy has access to fresh water at all times.
• Clean up any accidents promptly with an enzymatic cleaner to remove the odor.

With patience and consistency, you can potty train your puppy and have a well-behaved dog in no time.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when potty training your puppy:

• Not taking your puppy out often enough.
• Not being consistent with your potty training routine.
• Punishing your puppy for accidents.
• Giving up too easily.

If you avoid these mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to potty training your puppy successfully.

3. Obedience Training for Puppies

Puppies are like sponges, they are eager to learn and please their owners. This makes them the perfect candidates for obedience training. Obedience training can help your puppy learn basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and down. It can also help to prevent unwanted behaviors such as jumping up, biting, and chewing.

Here are some tips for obedience training your puppy:

• Start early. The sooner you start obedience training, the easier it will be. Puppies are more adaptable and eager to please than adult dogs.
• Be consistent. It’s important to be consistent with your commands and rewards. If you’re not consistent, your puppy will be confused and won’t know what you’re asking of them.
• Use positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to train a dog. When your puppy does something good, be sure to reward them immediately. This will help them associate good behavior with positive outcomes.
• Be patient. Obedience training takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if your puppy doesn’t get it right away. Just keep at it, and eventually they’ll learn what you’re asking of them.

Here are some basic commands that you can start teaching your puppy:

• Sit: This is a great command to start with because it’s relatively easy for puppies to learn. To teach your puppy to sit, hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it up over their head. As they follow the treat with their nose, their bottom will naturally go down. Once they are sitting, say “sit” and give them the treat.
• Stay: This command is a little more challenging, but it’s important for keeping your puppy safe. To teach your puppy to stay, start by having them sit. Then, hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it away from them. As they follow the treat, say “stay” and take a step back. If they stay, give them the treat. Gradually increase the distance between you and your puppy as they get better at staying.
• Come: This command is important for getting your puppy back to you if they wander off. To teach your puppy to come, start by having them sit or stay. Then, say “come” and take a few steps away from them. If they come to you, give them a treat. Gradually increase the distance between you and your puppy as they get better at coming.
• Down: This command is a little more challenging, but it’s important for teaching your puppy to relax. To teach your puppy to down, start by having them sit. Then, hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it down to the ground. As they follow the treat, say “down” and give them the treat. Gradually increase the distance between you and your puppy as they get better at downing.

With patience and consistency, you can train your puppy to obey these basic commands. This will make your life together more enjoyable and help to prevent unwanted behaviors.

Here are some additional tips for obedience training your puppy:

• Break down commands into smaller steps: If a command seems too difficult for your puppy, break it down into smaller steps. This will make it easier for them to learn and understand.
• Use a variety of training methods: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to obedience training. Some dogs respond better to positive reinforcement, while others respond better to negative reinforcement or correction. Experiment with different methods to see what works best for your dog.
• Make training fun: Obedience training should be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your dog. If your dog is not having fun, they’ll be less likely to want to learn.
• Find a good trainer: If you’re struggling to train your dog on your own, consider hiring a professional trainer. A good trainer can help you develop a training plan that is tailored to your dog’s individual needs.

At Doglando we have puppy training programs that will help you with training your canine companion. With a little effort, you can train your puppy to obey your commands and be a well-behaved member of your family.