How to Train a Puppy

The most exciting moment is when a puppy comes home. He is yapping and barking, jumping into arms of everyone in the family. Everyone is voicing their opinions about where will the puppy stay, who will take him out for walks and the most important part, deciding dog names to call the little one. The puppy is gladly becoming a part of your family, and you are happily welcoming him home. Over all the din and ruckus created by the new arrival, one tends to forget, bringing home a puppy is full of responsibility. You need to habituate the fur ball with the laws of the human world and your home. You have to take over the role of a pack leader and guide the puppy through the difficult terrain of dog obedience and training. If you wish to brighten up your puppy's future, then you should read the following tips on how to train a puppy.

How to Train a Puppy
How to train a puppy is a lesson that is not a bed of roses. Along with the puppy, you too have to discipline yourself. If you waiver even a bit, it will result in all your hard work going down the drain. Dog training requires patience, perseverance and dedication. Mix all these ingredients with a little bit affection and lots of love. You will end up with a puppy that is sociable, easy to handle and well-trained.

The important part to remember is, that young puppies are high-spirited. You will need to work hard to get their attention, and even more to hold on to their attention. You will need to encourage the puppy and reward him every time he follows your instructions. You have to motivate him to succeed and inculcate desirable behavior.

Trainings need to be fun and consistent. The time span of a training session should be short, and not too long. The puppy will get bored and refuse to follow you. Start with some easy commands and move on to the difficult ones. Avoid punishments and hitting your pup. If he does not understand what you are trying to make him do, give him time. After all, he is a young mutt (pun intended)!

Be realistic in your training sessions, as it will be easier to achieve for the puppy. You need to show some flexibility and a lot of patience with your training sessions. Puppy hood is a time of fun and play. Include fun and play in your dog trick lessons, your puppy will follow you readily. Remember, dogs are pack animals. You need to remain strong and confident in your training sessions. Do not let the puppy push you around. If you remain strict with your commands, the puppy will follow you as a pack leader. If you ever give up on the reins of authority to your puppy, you will have dog behavior problems on your hands. With this initial guideline to follow as an amateur dog trainer, let us continue with some basic puppy training tips.

How to Teach a Puppy to Pee Outside
Peeing is one of the foremost training lessons you should begin with. How to teach a puppy to pee outside should begin from day one. You need to watch out for signs that indicate the puppy needs to pee. He will start whimpering, sniff around and sits down for a while then suddenly get up. He may even leave the area where he sleeps or plays. This may mean he needs to pee.

You need to put the puppy on a leash and lead him to the area where he is allowed to pee. Once you have reached the spot, walk round in a circle in the same area. This is a way to tell the puppy, this is where he should eliminate. Use a cue word like 'go potty' or 'hurry up' every time you take him to pee or poop. This is the first dog obedience command your puppy will learn so make sure you keep it simple and short.

Once your puppy pee's or poops after saying the word in the area he needs to, praise him instantly. Reward him with a dog treat. Make sure you shower him with a lot of praises that shows you are happy with his behavior. But, if he does not pee or poop after circling around the area or using the cue word after 5 minutes, take him back inside. Keep him in his crate or kennel and take him back outside after about 20 minutes. After he eliminates outdoor, you should allow him to have a free time around the house. After about say 30 minutes, confine him to his crate or pen area. After about an hour, take him back to the toilet area. This is very important as puppies have poor control over their bladder.

You should take your puppy to pee or poop outside the minute he gets up in the morning. Then make sure you take him to eliminate 15 minutes after his meal. He should also be taken outside to pee or poop before he sleeps at night. During the night, you will have to get up at least twice and take him to the toilet area outside. Like kids, the puppy can't hold on to their bladder the entire night. You and your puppy will go through the trouble of getting up from sleep to relieve the pup, but this initial trouble will help you both sleep peacefully the rest of your lives. Make sure you stick to this routine while you are house training a puppy

You can even teach your puppy to tell you when he needs to go. You can tie a bell to the door handle that reaches his nose level. Every time you take him for his routine toilet schedule, make sure you ring the bell and use the cue word like 'go potty'. Continue this exercise for 2 weeks. After two weeks, you just say potty and do not ring the bell. Wait and allow your puppy to ring the bell. If he does, praise him lots and lots. If he does not shake the bell for the next 15 seconds, you ring it and say 'go potty'. Soon enough, your puppy will learn this trick and will ring the bell every time he needs to use the toilet area.

There are bound to be accidents and, if this does happen, do not punish or shout at the puppy. Clean up the area and make sure you follow the training more stringently. A new puppy should never be allowed to run freely around the house. Make sure you designate a pen area or crate to keep your puppy confined. This area or crate should be in that part of the house with more traffic. Like the kitchen, the hall or living room. This won't make the puppy feel lost and lonely.

How to Train a Puppy to Sit
Another dog obedience training tips is how to teach a puppy to sit and stay. You need to hold a yummy dog treat in your hand and bring it close to the puppies mouth. Hold it over the puppies nose and say 'Sit'. The hand containing the treat should be drawn forward that is comes directly over the puppy's head. The puppy's chin will follow your hand and his rear will go down. The puppy will sit down on his own. The minute he sits down, praise him lavishly and give him his treat. Continue this exercise several times. If you find the puppy raising his rear legs, it means the hand is held too high. You must bring it lower and allow your dog to sit. Remember, the key word is 'sit'.

After several successful attempts, spread over many days, it is time to make him sit without a treat. Do not show him his treat and command him to sit. If he obeys, you have hit a jackpot. Treat him with praises and, of course treats. Practice, practice and practice. Soon, your puppy will become an expert with the 'Sit' command.

How to Train a Puppy not to Bite
It is never a good idea to allow your puppy to bite, or even give you a slight nip. The puppy may be nipping you as play, but this is a bad idea. If the puppy is stopped from biting, it may turn into a serious problem as he grows into an adult dog. To avoid repercussions of this cute puppy game, it is always better to learn how to train a puppy not to bite.

If your puppy bites you, immediately give out a loud yell or scream. You should glare at the puppy, and walk off. After about a minute or so bring a dog toy and resume play. If he bites or nips at you again, scream out a loud 'OOUCCHH' and walk away. The puppy will wonder what stopped the fun? Also, your loud yelp will discourage him to hurt you as they do not want to displease you in any way.

If this does not work, you need to try the soda can method. Take and empty tin can and fill it with a few coins. Seal the mouth and every time the puppy bites or nips at you, shake the can and give a verbal command 'Stop'. As soon as the puppy stops biting, praise him and give him his treat.

If both the above methods fail, the scruff method can be tried. When your puppy bites you, give out a loud yelp. At the same time, hold on to the skin on his neck and give a firm scruff. Do not shake him or pull puppy up or away. Just hold him firmly, scruff and say 'No Bite'. You should let go of his neck and continue playing. After a few times, stop scuffing and just use 'No Bite' to correct him.

These were some ways how to stop a puppy from biting. If the puppy growls, or does not respond to any of the methods, speak to a professional dog trainer. This may be a dog behavior problem that needs to be corrected. The trainer or vet maybe able to tell what seems to be the underlying problem and help the dog overcome it.

These were some basic how to train a puppy tips and tricks. Make sure you follow the dog training tips consistently as it will help determine the way your dog behaves in future. A well-trained dog is always a delight and peace of mind for the owner. Hope, the how to train a puppy tips in the above paragraphs helps you get started with your bundle of joy.