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How To Obedience Train A Puppy Or Dog?
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If you've just welcomed a new puppy or dog into your home, you're no doubt very excited right now! However, there might well be a few nerves mixed in with that excitement. How are you going to teach your furry friend new things and make sure they're a well-mannered pet? Relax, we've got lots of great dog obedience training tips right here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Positive reinforcement, not punishment, is the most effective way to train a dog or puppy.
- Keep training sessions short, consistent, and free of distractions for the best results.
- Puppies can start basic training from around two months old, and it's never too late to train an older dog.
- You don't need expensive equipment to get started, just a collar, a leash, treats, and patience.
Why Obedience Matters
Obedience exercises are important for all dogs. How are you going to take your dog for a walk if they don't come back when you call them, for example? How will you get them to sit and stay when they're asked to? However, the benefits of obedience training go beyond getting your dog to behave nicely. Training also provides both mental stimulation and physical exercise.
The Top Tips For Obedience Training
To make obedience training a success, it's important to bear in mind the key principles of dog training. Here's a quick summary:
Positive Reinforcement
Most trainers and vets agree that positive reinforcement works best when training dogs. Simply put, that's rewarding good behaviour and ignoring or redirecting bad behaviour.
Avoid Punishing Your Dog
Again, the general consensus is that punishing your dog won't work and could make your dog scared of you.
Keep Sessions Short And Sweet
Training sessions should be fun for both you and your dog and are best kept fairly short.
Use Treats
Treats can really help with training and a lot of dogs are very motivated by food! The PEDIGREE™ Tasty Minis range makes for perfect training treats, available in tasty flavours like Chicken & Duck.
Minimise Distractions
When you first start training your puppy or dog, you'll have a greater chance of success if you do it somewhere quiet and free of distractions. After all, you want your furry friend's full attention!
Be Clear And Consistent
It's really important your dog has a clear understanding of what is and isn't allowed. This means all the humans in the household have to stick to the same set of house rules. If you don't let your dog on the sofa, for example, and your partner does, the result will be one very confused pooch!
Be Patient
Your dog is a unique individual with a unique temperament and will learn things in their own time. With this in mind, try not to worry if they seem to take longer than you expected to 'get' certain bits of their obedience training.
How Can I Start Training My Dog At Home For Basic Obedience?
Once you bring your new dog home, it's smart to begin training immediately. There are a number of options for training your new pet. Whether you opt to train your puppy or dog yourself, take classes or hire a private trainer, you can implement these basic training tips right away to make the process easier:
- Train indoors first: Start in a controlled, familiar environment to minimise distractions.
- Teach your dog to come to you: Use a consistent command like "Come" (paired with their name) every single time so they learn to associate the word with the action.
- Reward and praise: When your dog responds correctly, praise them enthusiastically or offer a small treat to reinforce the behaviour.
- Be consistent: Even if your dog doesn't come after being called twice, calmly retrieve them and bring them to where you called from, then repeat the exercise immediately.
- Establish yourself as the pack leader: Dogs naturally follow a hierarchy, so setting clear, consistent rules helps your dog feel safe and secure.
- Use your tone of voice, not volume: You don't need to shout; the tone of your voice communicates praise or correction far more effectively.
- Keep commands short and simple: Use single words like "Come!" or "Sit!" rather than full sentences your dog can't process.
- Always end on a success: Never stop an exercise before your dog has completed it correctly, and always follow up with praise.
- Keep sessions short: Limit each exercise to 5 minutes and total daily training to no more than 15 minutes to keep your dog engaged and avoid frustration.
Is My Dog Too Old For Obedience Training?
It's never too late to train a dog whether you're adopting one from a shelter or just looking to brush up on a few things with a resident older pooch. You'll probably find your dog has a longer attention span than most puppies too.
Is My Puppy Too Young For Obedience Training?
The advice used to be that you shouldn't start trying to train a puppy until they are at least six months old, but many trainers and vets now believe you can start much earlier, at around two months old.
What Kit Do I Need For Obedience Training?
You don't need lots of expensive kit to train your dog, and these basic items should be fine:
- A collar
- A standard leash
- A long-line leash
- A front clip harness
- Treats
Are Obedience Classes Worth It?
If you have the budget, a good dog obedience school can definitely help you train your puppy or dog. Of course, not all dog obedience classes are created equal, so it's important to do your research to find a good one. In addition to looking at online reviews, it's worth asking your vet and local dog owners for recommendations.
What Do I Do If My Dog Won't Listen?
When your dog doesn't listen to you, it can be very frustrating and even dangerous. Is your dog getting enough physical exercise and mental stimulation? Might they be stressed? Are you or other members of your household being inconsistent about what the rules are? If none of these things seems to be the problem, it's worth a chat with your vet.
Conclusion
Your dog has now learned the basic commands. Obedience classes can help perfect what your dog has learned, in case they're somewhat obstinate, or simply because it's more fun learning in a group. If your dog won’t listen, no matter what, talk to your vet.
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FAQs
"Sit!" is an exercise you can start early on. Later on, you can add "Down" and "Stay". These commands will enable you to keep your dog under control, even in unusual situations, such as stopping them from running after something and getting into danger.
Limit each exercise to five minutes, and train for no longer than 15 minutes a day, as puppies and dogs live in the moment and lose focus quickly.
When your puppy or dog jumps on a person, don't reprimand them; just turn your back on them, ignore the behaviour and wait until they settle down before giving positive reinforcement. Never encourage jumping behaviour by patting or praising your dog when they're in a "jumping up" position.
A great way to discourage a mouthy puppy is to pretend you're in a lot of pain when they bite or nip you, a sharp, loud sound should work, as most dogs are surprised enough to stop immediately. If that doesn't work, try trading a chew toy for your hand.