Puppy Training Tips

There are few things cuter and more exciting than getting a new puppy. The memory of bringing home your furry bundle of joy will likely become one of your most treasured memories. While you should bask in this exciting moment, it’s important that the training begins immediately. Don’t wait for your new pup to chew up your favorite shoes or add a new spot to your rug before you get started with training.

As makers of versatile, dependable, and remarkably durable and stylish pet safety gates, we want to offer some dog training tips to help you tackle training right out of the gate (pun intended).

Hit the Ground Running

Before your new pup arrives, spend some time brainstorming your house rules. Decide what your new pooch can and can’t do. What rooms and furniture will be off limits. Can he go into your office? Can she sleep on your bed? Having a defined list of rules before getting your pup can help eliminate confusion and give your new family member clear expectations. The moment your puppy is under your roof, it will be learning new things. Don’t think that you are overwhelming your puppy by trying to teach it everything you want it to know. Basic housetraining can be combined with obedience training. By starting early, you will not reinforce bad habits that you later have to correct. Remember that puppies are always learning. Use this to your advantage and make sure they are learning the right things.

Make it a Joint Effort

In connection with the last tip, get everyone that lives in your home on board with the training. Make sure that they know the rules and what you are expecting from your new pup. The more people taking part in the training, the better and more effective your dog’s education will be. If you have children, they can be especially helpful with monitoring and training the new puppy. Just make sure they aren’t encouraging any bad behaviors. 

Additionally, consider supplementing your at-home training with puppy kindergarten. An introductory training class can help both you and your puppy learn the basics — if you are enlisting the help of your children, be sure to have them tag along to the class. Not only will a class help your four-legged friend master the basic commands, but it will present an opportunity for your furry friend to socialize and learn how to interact with other dogs and people. A puppy that is well-socialized is often friendly and adapts easily to new situations.

Utilize the Treat

We all know the treat is an integral part of dog training. However, do we know that when training, you should make sure that all of your rewards should be small, tasty, and easy to chew? Extremely chewy and crunchy foods can distract your pet from the task at hand. Additionally, utilize high-value treat when necessary. Something like, say, cubed chicken or liver can make the ideal training treat.

Set Boundaries

From the earliest possible moment, make it clear to your puppy where her den is and where she is not allowed to go. Areas like the bathroom, office, and upstairs are often places homeowners want to prevent their pets from exploring. When you bring your new pet home, make these boundaries clear not just with verbal queues but also through barriers and pet gates. If you are looking for a safe and attractive retractable pet gate, check out our collection of pet gates for stairs!

Keep It Simple

While you should always be reinforcing good behavior, you should keep training sessions rather short. Around 15 minutes is a good time limit. This keeps your puppy from becoming bored or distracted. It gives them time to pause, play, and rest. When trying to teach commands, don’t overwhelm. Try just one or two, and then move on when you feel that your puppy can respond correctly roughly 90 percent of the time. With this being said, keep in mind that you can use many commands throughout the day and even when in a training session. For example, the command “sit” can be used before meals and treats.

Be Positive

As most dog owners quickly realize, dogs seem to want nothing more than to please their owners and get a wholehearted “Good boy!” When your dog is working hard during a training session, be sure to reward him with plenty of praise, pets, and treats. Doing this can create a positive aura around training and ensure that she will show up to training class tail wagging and ready to learn.

Harsh words and actions can scare dogs. While you certainly do not want to reward your pet for doing something wrong, try to ignore unwanted behaviors. If you show overly strong emotions you can frighten and confuse your dog. Believe it or not, a positive attitude can make all the difference in how your puppy progresses.

Getting ready for your new puppy? Do you have something to keep your four-legged pal safe and off the stairs? No? Well, sounds like you need a safe, versatile, and stylish dog gate for stairs. Our dog safety gates are structurally reinforced, safety tested, easy to install, and — unlike some dog gates for stairs — they don’t detract from your home’s decor. They actually enhance it! Many of our customers find that they are in no hurry to take down our retractable pet gates because they’re as cute as a new puppy!

Shop The Stair Barrier today and learn about The Stair Barrier Difference here!