With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, it is the perfect time to adopt a new furry friend! My family brought in an eight-week-old puppy almost exactly a year ago, and though she is adorable, she was extremely stubborn to train. Here are five tips I wish I would’ve known to help make the training process less overwhelming:
Interact with Other Dogs
Introducing your new dog to other pups within their first few months can help prevent aggression and many other temperament issues, making it a very important part of their development.
Dogs who aren’t exposed to many places and animals as a puppy can have various issues when they get older. Overall, socializing is a good first step for your new doggy, and you can read more about the specifics of how to do it in this article by the American Kennel Club.
Understand Your Options
The internet is packed with information about how to train your dog so it can be difficult to know what you should actually be doing. My advice- read what you can! I was very unsure of how to approach potty training my hyperactive puppy, and knowing what choices were out there made it easier to start.
The same goes for training her to sit, stay, come, etc. There are many ways to go about these things, and it is normal to not know where to start. Understanding what options, you have can make the process easier to begin and easier for you to adapt to.
It is totally okay if your first route of training doesn’t work out! Teaching your dog, a trick or habit almost always involves some trial and error, and for me, the trial of training my dog to go potty on a pad in the house did not go well at all. However, after working at outdoor potty training consistently, she now goes to the bathroom outside every time. Remember, what works well for some dogs, may not work well with others.
Patience is key for dog training, especially when they are stubborn. I know keeping calm is often easier said than done, but it is very important in order to get the results you want. You can read here for some advice on what to do when getting frustrated with your dog. We’ve all been there, and that's okay, but it is important to keep your composure for the sake of your dog, especially when trying to teach them something new.
Treats are obviously a training necessity in order to give your dog motivation, but there are a ton out there. So, which do you get? Well, I may be biased, but Farm to Pet dog treats make great training treats! Their crunchy consistency allows them to be easily broken into smaller pieces for any size dog and any sort of training session. Also, because our treats contain just one ingredient with no added nonsense, using them ensures a healthy training session with your doggo! We suggest alternating between Chicken and Turkey Chips because switching up the flavors can help your dog stay fully engaged. Our Poultry Power Pack is perfect for this!
There is not a 100% guaranteed proper way to approach caring for and training a new puppy- each dog is different. With the right mindset, though, and the tastiest treats, your dog is sure to learn some new tricks!
Treat you Chip Lovers next week!