Basic Puppy Training | 6 Step Method to Success

I’ll come to the point. There are really just 6 basic puppy training steps that underlie almost all basic puppy training preparation. In fact, these basic concepts, in my opinion, underlie most puppy training techniques, just about all adult dog training, and certainly any technique you’d be using in any new puppy training.

When training puppy behavior, it is important to adhere to the 6 steps outlined below and to remember that success depends on conscientious application and repetition. You can resolve even problem dog behavior with this training. (However, if your dog is a genuine problem case suffering from serious neurosis, anxiety, or hyperkinetic behavior, you may need to services of a vet or some other professional specializing in the particular difficulty you are facing.)

These steps even apply to problem dog behavior training, though in the case of true problem dogs, dogs with clear psychological trauma, we recommend the help of a pro in that particular specialty.

I’m really not trying to make exaggerated claims, and I’ll try to show how and why this is.

Here are the 6 basic tips you need to understand basic dog and puppy training preparation:

1. Note the incorrect behavior.
2. Show the dog the correct behavior.
3. Reward the correct behavior.
4. Repeat the desired behavior until it happens easily at least 90% of the time.
5. Add a verbal cue as your dog does the behavior to associate the word with the right response.
6. Use the verbal cue to elicit the behavior in your pet.

Now here is the rest of the story–or as much as we can put into a relative short blog post–you need to get basic puppy training method.

You arive at the desired behavior by capturing, shaping, or luring it. You show the dog the correct behavior with a reward. At the beginning of training, use both lots of praise and a treat. Later on, you want praise to be sufficient so that the behavior doesn’t become dependent on a treat. You can also reward the behavior with a toy, though I personally prefer a treat.

Repeat the behavior until your pet is offering it easily before you add the verbal cue, so that he will associate the word with the correct behavior response. For instance, by saying “Sit” as he does it, you are telling him that the name of the behavior he is doing is Sit. If you ask him to do it before he’s offering the behavior easily, you risk teaching him that the word sit means “stand there and look at me,” or worse, “sniff the ground and pull on the leash.”

After your dog has heard the word at least a half-dozen times during the behavior, depending on how quickly he seems to learn, then you can say the word first to elicit the behavior. Be sure that his attention is focused on you so that he actually hears the word. Keep your body position the same as it was when you were getting the desired behavior before. If you had been doing the “sit” command while you were standing and you suddenly start asking for it while you are sitting, your dog may not understand that it’s the same thing.

Give him a few seconds to respond. When he sits, click! and reward. If he doesn’t sit, use the minimum amount of assistance necessary (through body language or a lure, not through physical assistance) to get the behavior, and repeat the exercise. If you find that he will only respond if you help him, start to minimize the amount of help you give until he is sitting for the verbal cue without any help from you.

Although you can certainly teach an old dog new tricks, it is generally best to start training your canine the basics from an early age. The first few months of your dog’s life will be when you can potentially exert the greatest influence over him (or her), and this is where you have the opportunity to shape your pet into the sort of dog he’ll be as an adult. Keep in mind, as well, that dog obedience and behavior problems can be resolved as an adult, but it is potentially much easier to deal with these if you can get an early start. As an aside, we’ve had very good results with our Humane Society rescue dog, who was a terror when got him but is now an ideal, loyal pet.

The 6 basic steps I have talked about earlier should outfit you with the down to earh, basic puppy training preparation necessary to successfully grasp and implement basic puppy training and most other puppy and dog training techniques. If you are a new dog owner, this advice will see you through your most pressing training needs, generally potty training your puppy, stopping biting and chewing, reducing and putting a stop to excessive dog barking, and begging. Just remember that all new puppy training and all dog training requires patience, consistent and persistent application of the technique, and gentle, assertive firmness.

Basic dog training is simple and very effective. Please see our review of Sit, Stay, Fetch for information on a step-by-step course that will help resolve most dog training issues.

 

 

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