When you bring home a new puppy, it can be an exciting and overwhelming experience. It is important to provide your pup with love, safety, and guidance to ensure a happy and healthy life. Teaching your puppy the basics is the first step to creating a strong bond between the two of you. Here are 10 things to teach your new puppy that will set your pup up for success.
1) House Training
Teaching your puppy to be house-trained is a critical part of the early days of puppy ownership. House training is all about teaching your pup the appropriate place to do their business and ensuring that they are clean and comfortable in their new home.
The first step in house training is to establish a designated potty area outside. This should be a spot that is easy for your pup to access and one that they can quickly learn to associate with going potty. When you take your puppy outside, take them to this same spot each time, so they can learn that it is the right place to do their business.
Be sure to give your pup plenty of opportunities to go outside throughout the day. Take them out after meals, after long periods of play or sleep, and first thing in the morning and last thing at night. When they do their business outside, be sure to reward them with a treat or verbal praise to reinforce the positive behaviour.
It’s also important to keep an eye on your puppy’s indoor behaviour as well. Puppies will naturally want to explore and sniff around their environment, but if you notice that they start to wander off or look like they’re getting ready to go potty indoors, take them outside immediately. If you catch them in the act of having an accident, don’t scold them - instead, just calmly pick them up and take them outside.
Finally, accidents are bound to happen, so be sure to have effective cleaning products on hand for when messes occur. Clean up any accidents quickly and thoroughly to prevent your pup from returning to the same spot later.
With patience and consistency, you can teach your pup how to be house-trained in no time!
2) Crate Training
- Introduce your puppy to the crate slowly. Start by leaving the door open and encouraging him to explore. Place treats and toys in the crate to encourage them to go in.
- Feed your puppy his meals in the crate. This will create a positive association with the crate and make him more comfortable spending time in it.
- Make sure the crate is comfortable. Put a soft blanket or towel in the bottom of the crate and place a toy or treat inside so that your pup has something to do while they're in the crate.
- Take your pup out frequently. Puppies need to go outside every few hours to potty, so be sure to let him out of the crate and take him outside regularly.
- Reward good behaviour. Praise your pup and give him treats when he goes in the crate and stays there quietly. This will reinforce his positive behaviour.
- Don’t leave your pup in the crate too long. No pup should be in a crate for more than four hours at a time, so if you have a long day ahead of you, consider hiring a pet sitter to come check on your pup during the day.
3) Leash Training
Teaching your puppy to walk on a leash not only allows you to control their movement outside of the home, but it also helps your pup learn to trust you, as well as understand what is expected of them in various situations.
Here are a few tips to help you successfully train your pup:
• Start early. Begin leash training your pup as soon as possible – puppies are more open to learning and less likely to be scared or uncooperative.
• Keep it fun. Make sure that each session is fun and rewarding for your pup. Have plenty of treats on hand and reward your pup with verbal praise every time they do something right.
• Be consistent. Make sure that you use the same commands each time and use a consistent leash length.
• Introduce distractions. Once your pup has mastered the basics of leash walking, introduce small distractions such as other people or animals. This will help them learn to stay focused despite external factors.
• Know when to stop. Don’t overdo it; each session should be short (no more than 10 minutes) and end when your pup is still enjoying it.
Following these simple tips will help ensure that you and your pup have an enjoyable and successful leash-training experience!
4) Basic Obedience Commands
Training your puppy to respond to basic obedience commands is one of the most important things you can do to ensure their safety and good behaviour. It is also important for establishing a strong bond between you and your pup. The key to teaching your puppy basic obedience commands is consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement.
Here are some of the most common commands that you should teach your puppy:
• Sit: This command helps to establish a “default” position for your pup. Start by holding a treat above their head and saying “Sit.” If your pup is not immediately responsive, gently place their back legs into the sitting position and then reward them with the treat when they stay in the sitting position.
• Down: Teaching your puppy the “down” command will help to teach them to relax and settle down when they get too excited. Start by having them sit first, then hold a treat close to the ground and say “down” as you move it away from them. Reward your pup when they lay down with the treat.
• Stay: Staying in one place is an important skill for dogs and teaching this command will help you gain more control over their movements. Start with your pup in a sitting position and hold up a treat in front of them. Say “Stay” and take one step back. Reward your pup when they remain in the same spot.
• Come: This is an essential command for keeping your pup safe and can be used if they ever wander off or get lost. Start by having your pup on a leash and standing several feet away from them. Call out their name and say “Come” and reward them with a treat once they reach you.
When teaching your puppy these commands, it is important to keep each training session short (no longer than 10 minutes) and reward your pup for good behaviour with treats or praise. With patience and consistency, your puppy will soon be obeying basic commands!
5) Chewing
Chewing can be one of the most frustrating parts of puppy ownership, but it is also an important part of their development. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and chewing is how they learn about different textures and tastes.
To discourage your pup from chewing on the wrong things, it is important to give them the appropriate outlets. Provide them with plenty of chew toys that are specifically designed for puppies. Try to get a variety of shapes, textures, and flavours to keep them interested. When you catch your puppy chewing on something they shouldn’t, redirect them to a chew toy instead.
You should also regularly inspect your home and remove any items that your pup may find tempting. This includes anything that smells like food or has an interesting texture. Put away all shoes, clothing, and any other items that your pup may try to chew on.
Finally, be sure to provide your pup with plenty of mental stimulation and exercise throughout the day. Boredom can cause them to resort to destructive behaviours, like chewing. Provide them with daily walks and interactive toys to help keep them occupied and entertained.
6) Jumping
Jumping is a natural and instinctive behaviour in puppies, but it’s not the most welcome action when it comes to proper behaviour. To help teach your puppy to resist the urge to jump, follow these steps:
- When you come home, ignore your puppy. Don't give them attention until they have calmed down and stopped jumping.
- When your puppy jumps up, turn away and cross your arms. This will give them the signal that jumping isn't acceptable.
- Once your puppy has stopped jumping, reward them with verbal praise and a treat.
- If your puppy begins to jump again, repeat the process.
- Gradually reduce the number of treats and praise you give your puppy for calming down and staying calm. This will help them learn that not jumping is the expected behaviour.
- Reward other behaviours such as sitting quietly or offering a paw instead of jumping.
By taking the time to train your puppy to resist the urge to jump, you can ensure that you have a well-behaved pup for years to come. It may take some time and patience, but with consistent training, your puppy can learn that jumping is not acceptable behaviour.
7) Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a common issue in puppies, and it can be difficult to teach them not to have it. Separation anxiety occurs when your puppy feels distressed when they are away from their owner or other family members. This can manifest in destructive behaviour, excessive barking or whining, restlessness, and even house soiling.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help your puppy learn to manage their anxiety when you’re not around.
The first step is to make sure that the puppy is getting plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Take them for regular walks and play sessions, so they’ll have something to do when you’re not around.
You should also try to give your puppy positive reinforcement when they don’t show signs of separation anxiety. Whenever you leave the house, give them treats or a toy to distract them until you come back. Doing this will help your puppy associate you leaving with a reward, which will help lessen their anxiety when you’re gone.
It’s also important to teach your puppy that they can depend on you to come back. So, when you’re leaving, give them a treat and then leave without making a fuss. This will teach them that they can trust you to always come back.
Finally, try to set up a routine for your puppy. Having a consistent daily routine can be very helpful in managing separation anxiety. When your puppy knows what to expect, they won’t feel as anxious when you leave.
See our other blog post on Separation anxiety for more helpful tips.
8) Car Rides
Car rides can be a source of stress and anxiety for puppies, as the new environment can be overwhelming. The best way to get your puppy comfortable with car rides is through gradual exposure and positive reinforcement.
Start by having your puppy explore the car with you. Let them sniff around and investigate their new environment. Make sure to reward them for good behaviour during this period.
When your puppy is ready to take their first ride, make sure to keep it short and sweet. Take them to a fun place like the park, and reward them with treats and positive reinforcement when they enter the car and after arriving at your destination. As they become more comfortable with car rides, you can increase the duration and destination distance.
Make sure to always provide your puppy with a comfortable spot in the car that is safe and secure. Choose a location with plenty of room for them to stretch out and not be in the way of the driver. You can also use blankets or pet beds to make their ride more comfortable.
Finally, try playing calming music or a podcast in the background during the ride. The soothing noises may help your puppy relax and enjoy their time in the car. With time and patience, your puppy will eventually learn to love car rides!
9) Socialization
Socializing your puppy is an important part of their development, so it’s important to get them used to other people, animals and environments early on. This will ensure that they are comfortable around new people, animals and unfamiliar places and experiences.
When introducing your puppy to other people and animals, it’s best to do it in a calm and controlled way. Let them take their time to explore new things and people, while also providing praise and rewards when they interact positively. If they become overwhelmed or scared, remove them from the situation and try again later.
Try to introduce your puppy to different places like dog parks or pet stores, as well as different sounds like music and fireworks. The goal is to expose them to as many different things as possible so they can learn to be comfortable in any situation.
Lastly, remember that socialization is an ongoing process for your pup, so don’t be afraid to introduce them to new things throughout their lifetime!
10) Grooming
Start off by introducing them to grooming tools and techniques slowly and rewarding them when they cooperate. Use gentle, calming strokes when brushing your puppy and always reward them with treats or praise for being cooperative. Teach them that nail trims are not scary, and provide lots of positive reinforcement during the process. Gently massaging your pup's face and paws can help make the experience more pleasant for both of you. Regularly brush their coat and check for any parasites, mats or tangles. Make sure to schedule regular grooming appointments with a professional groomer who is experienced in handling puppies.