Many tutors, both beginners and experienced, think that teaching a puppy is complicated or requires specialized knowledge, but with patience and discipline, it is possible to educate a puppy in a few simple steps. Some of the behaviors taught include resting in the right places, not chewing things in the house, and behaving politely in public.
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Educating your dog is not just about preventing harm at home. The purpose is to teach dogs how to behave socially and prevent aggression, escapes, and accidents. During the first few months of life, puppies learn by observing their mother and siblings and develop behaviors such as barking, sniffing, playing, and maintaining good hygiene habits.
By the age of 4 months, dogs begin to explore their environment, but they are not yet very good at remembering commands. Once this period has passed and the vaccination schedule is complete, it is an ideal time to begin basic obedience training with simple, repetitive commands. From 10 months onwards, they will be able to remember more complex commands, especially if given positive rewards such as treats, petting, and praise.
before starting training
According to dog training expert Jesús Gómez, learning should be a fun process for both the owner and the animal. We highlight some important guidelines.
Positive reinforcement: Dogs learn best from rewards, affection, and kind words, so avoid physical punishment or yelling. When an animal is punished, beaten, or abused, it learns that behavior, but not naturally. He will do it out of fear.
Corrective action: Sometimes it is necessary to correct or reprimand the animal’s inappropriate behavior. To do this, we recommend using firm words like “no,” “stay,” and “come” to get their attention without using violence.
leadership: The dog needs to understand its place in the family hierarchy, so commands must be given authoritatively, preferably by a member of the family who is considered an authority figure by the animal.
Teamwork: Authority should come from one member of the family, but in the process of training a puppy, all family members should participate to avoid confusion.
Clarity of limits: Define what behaviors are allowed and allow your dog to internalize them.
Early fix: Detect and correct inappropriate behavior from the beginning so your dog can associate cause and effect.
Socialization: After vaccinations, take your puppy outdoors or to a park so that he can interact with other dogs and the environment.
routine: Set times for meals, breaks, walks, and training. It’s important to give your dog plenty of rest, as it’s during rest periods that dogs internalize and remember commands.
Managed environment: Training in an area with few visual, auditory, or even other animal distractions makes it easier to concentrate and pay attention to instructions.
Discipline and flexibility: Be consistent, but adjust your training if your dog has difficulty with your commands.
According to Jesús Gómez, this is one of the first commands a puppy should receive. To teach correctly, the owner must step away from the puppy and call the puppy using the “come” command or its name. Each time your puppy complies, reinforce the behavior with praise, affection, and a treat. Later, you can increase the difficulty by moving a little farther.
2. Walk with a collar and guide
— This is one of the essential training methods to avoid accidents and lost dogs when you go to the park — Gomez says.
First, you need to get your dog used to the collar at home. Animals can be tethered indoors and guided around. You can then do this in a safe place, such as a park, with snacks on hand to remind you at all times.
3. Urinating and defecating outside the home
This is probably one of the drills that will help you prevent conflicts in your home. It is important to have a specific time in mind to do it correctly. Preferably after drinking water or eating a meal. In the early stages, the walks are long, but as the animal learns appropriate places to relieve itself, the length of the walks gradually decreases.
Puppies like to chew on everything. This is one of the ways they explore their environment. However, it is important to teach them what they can chew from an early age, directing their attention to appropriate toys, and praising good behavior. When an animal bites an inappropriate object, the first thing to do is to get its attention and give it a command such as “no”, “stay”, etc.
Hold the treat in your closed hand, bring it up to your dog’s nose, and gently remove your hand. With your other hand, gently push your dog’s lower back to encourage him to sit with his back legs bent. Always reinforce commands with the verbal command “sit.”
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