Puppies and dog training guide

ADVICE ON TRAINING PUPPIES AND DOGS

 Training a puppy marks the beginning of your journey of transforming your excitable puppy into a loyal dog who will be by your side for life.

The relationship you have with your dog is like a two-way street - a connection. As in any relationship the more you give, the more you get back. That is why you too play an essential role.

WHEN CAN YOU START TRAINING A PUPPY?

Without hesitation! If you are getting your puppy from a breeder, you will most likely take him home when he is around eight weeks old. By this age, your new puppy has already developed around 80% of his adult brain and over the next few weeks his brain will continue to develop.

Your puppy is eager to learn and it's important to make sure you are confident and consistent every day.

Puppies have a short attention span and it will take repeated attempts to learn, but once they learn what is expected of them you will have a great opportunity to get them involved quickly. And remember, it's easier to do it now and not when they're a few months older, they're much bigger and stronger and already set up in their own way.

GAIN YOUR PUPPY'S TRUST    

Trust and consistency give your puppy the confidence that they can count on you, their new parent. Using their name often may seem simple but for them it is a very important signal.

Another fantastic way to gain her trust is through positive reinforcement and encouraging good conduct - rather than punishment through physical strength. Through positive reinforcement, you can create a strong bond of trust based on mutual respect and appropriate compensation.

Puppies are cute and funny but it can also be frustrating when they don't always do what you want. Aside from the fact that they don't speak the same language as us, keep in mind that they are really young and therefore easily distracted.

Be patient and consistent with your puppy. They are still learning and will eventually understand what you want them to do.

BASIC PUPPY TRAINING

Be prepared to be persuasive, to many repetitions, some treats and some well-deserved praise. Once they know how to sit and lie down on command, they will be truly proud - showing off their new skills with friends and family - and they will love all the positive attention they get.

Sitting

Hold a small treat in front of your puppy, near their nose (don't let them grab the treat from your hand) and slowly move it back over their eyes so that their nose rises. Their body should come into a sitting position naturally. As soon as he sits down, you can give your puppy the treat by praising him at the same time and use the verbal command "sit". Keep practicing until they no longer have to take the treat, just a quiet praise.

Land

Hold the treat in front of your puppy's nose, slowly move it towards the ground and between their front paws. This should encourage them to lie down to get the reward. As soon as they crouch, give your puppy the treat while praising him and using the voice command 'land'. Again, keep practicing until they no longer have to take the treat, just quiet praise.

Walk on a leash

It is essential that your puppy's basic training includes walking on a leash. Start indoors where he can feel more comfortable and you can control your surroundings.

The first thing to do is to put on the collar and immediately afterwards praise him and give him a reward so that he can realize that wearing the collar is a good thing.

Put some treats in a bowl on the side of the room and let them walk beside you on a leash towards the bowl. Next, try walking with a treat in your hand and your puppy at his side on a loose leash, using the treat to lure him.

Gradually build this process; avoid pulling on the leash as they could resist and you will find yourself playing tug-of-war with them. Once he is comfortable indoors, start training him to walk on a leash in the garden if you have one. Remember to be patient and praise them when they do it correctly. There is nothing to worry about walking on a leash, but he will not do so until shown otherwise.

The food you choose can facilitate puppy training

When choosing puppy food, look for an ingredient called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). It is a naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acid that is a key element in brain development. When included in their diet, DHA helps puppies learn and be more trainable. All  EUKANUBA Puppy and Junior foods contain adequate levels of DHA to give your puppy the best possible start during their early years and beyond.

Puppy Training Courses

Most of us with dogs in EUKANUBA have attended puppy training classes at one time or another. A good course is fun, useful, and before you know it your puppy will obediently respond to all commands ... well, almost all commands. We have created a handy guide on  what to look for in a puppy training class.

TRAINING YOUR ADULT DOG

They say you can't teach an older dog new exercises, but that couldn't be more untrue. Whether you've just adopted a new adult dog who needs some help with the basics, or a dog you have needs a little reminder - here are some tips for training an adult dog.

Consistency is the key

For any behavioral problems that may arise with your adult dog, the basic training principles that apply to puppies will still apply. Training an adult dog already trained in its own way may take a little more time and patience.

First, it is vital to be consistent with commands and praise him. It is important to make sure all family members know your training goals and how to use the commands correctly, otherwise the dog may receive mixed messages that can be confusing.

Praise rather than punish

Dogs Learn With Positive Reinforcement This means that you will only achieve your goals by praising the behavior you want to encourage and by teaching your dog what good behavior is. Punishing your dog for bad behavior can more likely lead him to behave more unpredictably and make it harder to train them the right way.