Start out When the Dog is Ready

Puppy behavior training is most effectively begun when the dog is at the very least 8 weeks to 11 weeks old. Though the old saying about old dogs being unable to learn new tricks is a myth, teaching a dog appropriate behavior when he is still young can make it a lot easier for you to set the restrictions and for your puppy to learn exactly what he’s allowed and not allowed to do. Don’t attempt to teach a puppy that’s too young, or at the very least younger than 8 weeks, because he will be far too distracted by new things to understand what you would like him to do.

Accentuate the Positive

Effective puppy behavior training relies on consistency and positive reinforcement. When a puppy learns in a firm but loving and compassionate environment, he is far more likely to perform the actions willingly.

Young puppies love to have fun, so integrate short but consistent training periods. Make use of praise, rewards and encouragement. Employ a firm hand when emphasizing a command. Do not yell or snap or hit since these actions will create fear and resentment on the part of your dog. Your goal should be to help your dog learn discipline and proper behavior so help him succeed with your caring support and respect. The more happy your puppy is doing what you want him to do, the much more confident he will be at performing the commands you teach.

Start Small

Always begin puppy behavior training with simple commands. Simple commands like sit, down and come are very easy for your puppy to understand and you are going to be happy at how fast he’ll learn how to do them. Perform consistent repetitions so that you can enforce the learning in a constructive way. This tends to help your puppy connect a command with a desired action. When your dog learns to identify the basic commands, you’ll be able to then progress from there. Just make sure to repeat earlier lessons every once in awhile.

Be Fair

Remember that dogs process information in different ways and communicate differently. Be realistic and flexible enough to realize that he is likely to make mistakes. If he does, stop him gently and direct his attention to the correct behavior you want him to perform. Simply by being patient, you will be able to observe exactly how your puppy learns and learn a lot more about his disposition and personality.

Are you looking for puppy training advice? Be sure to visit my site to find out more about potty training your puppy and how to stop puppy from crying.

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If you try to potty train your dog to go to potty outside before it is a month old you may be wasting your time.  It’s easier and better to start potty training your puppy around two months of age.  At this point, the best approach is to work out some kind of routine with your puppy.  Haphazard training rarely works.

Determine how often you think your puppy needs to go out.  Establish a time range like every 30 minutes or every 45 minutes.  Then stick to your schedule to train your puppy.  As they grow older, the time between potty outings can grow farther apart.  It’s also a good idea to take the dog out before a meal so that you are not interrupted for a potty break during your meal.

Setting up a routine and sticking with it is the quickest and easiest way to get your puppy potty trained.  Training without a schedule can be a frustrating, fiasco.  The sooner your puppy is in a routine, the better off your puppy will be.

Some people feel that establishing a routine is just too excessive.  The reality is that it is a fairly simple thing to do, and it will help get your puppy trained.  It is the best way for your puppy to learn.  Just like potty training a child, your puppy will need to see and complete the process a number of times before it actually “clicks” that going outside means time to potty.

Sometimes you have to try to determine why your puppy doesn’t want to go outside.  This is difficult, but not the worst problem you will face.  There are other issues like puppy whining and barking.  Take one thing at a time.  Don’t give your puppy sensory overload.  Get him accustomed to pottying outside first.  This will be your most pressing task. Keep up and be persistent. In doing so, you will learn how to house break a puppy.

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Probably the most helpful tip to ease both your pup’s stress and your own is to develop a routine as soon as your puppy begins living with you. You can begin by accustoming your puppy to sleep/eat/potty routine. Try feeding your puppy around the same time every day, making for frequent trips outside afterward. He will soon adjust his body to the routine.

A good way to save your sanity is to admit right off the bat that your puppy will have accidents, and the sooner you understand this, the easier your dog potty training will be. You can help lessen accidents by storing some newspaper in a constant spot so that your pup can at least familiarize himself with an acceptable alternative when he is unable to go outside. This works particularly well if you don’t have a “doggy door” and your puppy relies on you to let him out.

The sooner you get to know your puppy’s “eat/potty” routine, the easier potty-training will become. The most easy rule to go by is to remember that by the time you’ve fed or watered your pup, he will be ready to potty roughly 15 – 20 minutes later. If you can, try to have your puppy outside at this time so he will familiarize himself with the proper “potty surroundings”.

It is important that you are careful to separate “potty time” from “play time.” As it is natural for puppies to want to explore, you should only encourage them at the appropriate times. It can be extremely stressful to wait outside while your puppy plays, only to have an accident as soon as you bring him inside.

This period in your puppy’s life is a great one to start administering praise and discipline techniques. Many people prefer the terms “good boy/girl” and “no,” which can be still be said when your dog is an adult. Although puppies need a lot of firmness, repetition, and routine remember that your pup will soon grow up, so enjoy his puppyhood while you can!

Get more great tips like this at HelpYourPets.com - Puppy Steps and while you are training your puppy learn how to protect him from injury also.

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