Time to Train
Once you have your puppy home it is time to start the training process. I find it easier training a puppy that is 16 weeks old than waiting until they are 6 months old. When your puppy becomes 6 months old, they are now a teenager and your puppy will look at you and say make me do it. I usually start training my puppy basic commands when they are 8 weeks old. I start with teaching them what sit means with a dog treat. I want to get them ready for when I do start training at about 14 to 16 weeks of age.
When I start teaching the puppy to sit I want to reward them with a treat. In the beginning, as soon as they sit I'm giving them a treat. I usually do this until I can see that they know what they are doing. Once they are sitting, I will start making them sit for a longer period and then reward them. I'm re-enforcing the word sit. Sit does not mean you get to sit for 3 seconds and go but it means to stay sitting until they are told to do something else. They usually learn this very quick. After awhile I will substitute the dog treat with a pet and telling them that they are good. This helps teach your puppy that the reward of a pet is just as good as a treat.
When the puppy becomes about 14 to 16 weeks of age, I then start putting the leash on and teaching the puppy how to heel next to me. Heel does not mean to walk behind me, in between my legs, or in front of me. Sometimes this may take some time for them to adjust. You are taking the puppy outside of their comfort zone and they are not sure how to react. Make sure to tell your puppy they are doing good.
Teaching your dog obedience does not happen all in one day. The first day just working on heeling your dog. If they are doing great then maybe tell them to sit while you are heeling them. You can't tell your dog all these new commands in one day. They will have an over load and soon this will be no fun. Baby steps are the best. It may take them longer then others but you need to be patient.
Once I have a dog heeling on leash and sitting, then I can work on teaching them what "here" means. I use the word here because I can say it louder and clearer then if I would use the word come. It is not right to get mad at your dog if they can't hear or understand you! As I'm healing my dog I will stop and walk backwards. I'll give a tug on the leash and training collar and tell them to hear. I always use my dogs name before I say the command. This helps to get their attention. The first few times might be tuff but use positive praise and encouragement and it will work. Again this will not be accomplished all in one day.
When I'm training a young dog this is what I start out with. Make sure to keep your training sessions short. Your dog has a very short attention span and if they get bored, then it is no fun. Always keep them down to 15 minutes at a time and I always end my session on a fun note. Either sitting down and playing with them or tossing their favorite toy around. I want to teach my dog that this was fun and that they want to do this again.
***Next week we will be talking about introduction to guns and birds!
Keep your questions coming!! I really do enjoy helping you out!
When I start teaching the puppy to sit I want to reward them with a treat. In the beginning, as soon as they sit I'm giving them a treat. I usually do this until I can see that they know what they are doing. Once they are sitting, I will start making them sit for a longer period and then reward them. I'm re-enforcing the word sit. Sit does not mean you get to sit for 3 seconds and go but it means to stay sitting until they are told to do something else. They usually learn this very quick. After awhile I will substitute the dog treat with a pet and telling them that they are good. This helps teach your puppy that the reward of a pet is just as good as a treat.
When the puppy becomes about 14 to 16 weeks of age, I then start putting the leash on and teaching the puppy how to heel next to me. Heel does not mean to walk behind me, in between my legs, or in front of me. Sometimes this may take some time for them to adjust. You are taking the puppy outside of their comfort zone and they are not sure how to react. Make sure to tell your puppy they are doing good.
Teaching your dog obedience does not happen all in one day. The first day just working on heeling your dog. If they are doing great then maybe tell them to sit while you are heeling them. You can't tell your dog all these new commands in one day. They will have an over load and soon this will be no fun. Baby steps are the best. It may take them longer then others but you need to be patient.
Once I have a dog heeling on leash and sitting, then I can work on teaching them what "here" means. I use the word here because I can say it louder and clearer then if I would use the word come. It is not right to get mad at your dog if they can't hear or understand you! As I'm healing my dog I will stop and walk backwards. I'll give a tug on the leash and training collar and tell them to hear. I always use my dogs name before I say the command. This helps to get their attention. The first few times might be tuff but use positive praise and encouragement and it will work. Again this will not be accomplished all in one day.
When I'm training a young dog this is what I start out with. Make sure to keep your training sessions short. Your dog has a very short attention span and if they get bored, then it is no fun. Always keep them down to 15 minutes at a time and I always end my session on a fun note. Either sitting down and playing with them or tossing their favorite toy around. I want to teach my dog that this was fun and that they want to do this again.
***Next week we will be talking about introduction to guns and birds!
Keep your questions coming!! I really do enjoy helping you out!
