Each owner wants his dog to be raised and to carry out a certain set of commands. To achieve a positive result, experts advise starting work with a four-legged friend as early as possible, best from puppyhood. Where to start training a puppy, how much time to devote and how often to conduct classes - read about all this in the article.
When to start training
If a dog is already 1-1.5 years old, then it has acquired certain habits, unfortunately, not always useful. It will be more difficult for an adult dog with whom it has never been engaged to get used to discipline, to understand what is required of it. At the same time, the puppy learns, playfully, very quickly mastering new skills, does not contradict the owner. All these arguments speak in favor of starting classes with the dog as soon as possible.
Basic rules for raising a puppy
Before you say where to start training your puppy, you should learn the following rules:
- You can start training only if the dog is healthy, cheerful and cheerful. Do not try to teach the teams a sick or tired four-legged friend.
- After the puppy got into the house, you need to give him time to adapt to the new situation, get used to new food, love his master. Experts say that five days is enough for the puppy to adapt.
- Before you start training your puppy, you need to train him to a collar and leash.
- The lesson should be held in a playful way, as with a child, its duration at a time should not exceed 40-60 minutes, otherwise the baby will get tired and stop listening, become lethargic or capricious.
- The main motive for the puppy is praise and dainty, so it is advisable not to feed it too tightly before training.
- Choose only one team for a particular action and do not change it. If the puppy has learned the command "Come to me!", He will not understand your call "Come here!".
Another important point - the result of the upbringing depends on the breed of the dog. For example, the training of a puppy of a shepherd dog, St. Bernard, Rottweiler, boxer, dachshund, poodle will be successful. Training of small breeds is always more difficult, because the nervous system of small dogs is weaker, they are more susceptible to stress, they get tired faster.
Where to start training a puppy
The beginning is the same for everyone - a puppy should be accustomed to a nickname and a collar with a leash.
The dog quickly gets used to the nickname. This does not require special exercises. It’s enough just every time you turn to the pet, clearly pronounce his nickname, repeat it during the game, feeding, petting. It is important that the puppy has positive associations with its name, so at an early age, scolding the dog, avoid pronouncing her nickname.
As a rule, a puppy gets used to a collar with a leash easily and painlessly. On the 5-6th day after the baby got to your house, just put a puppy on the collar. Depending on the character and temperament, he may not notice it at all, but may try to remove or nibble it. Distract your baby with a bright item, treat or game. Remove the collar just before bedtime. After that, we can assume that the first day of training ended successfully. On the second day, put on the collar again, you can already attach the leash and even take it for a walk.
The main thing is that the collar is soft, does not rub the baby’s neck, and the leash should be long enough so that the puppy walks with pleasure and can freely explore the world.
Main teams
How to start training a puppy, you already know - training for a nickname and a collar with a leash. What to learn further? Since the dog is still in childhood, she will not learn complex commands, and long trainings will be tiring and leave a negative impression. Therefore, you can count on the following commands:
- the first block is a place, to me, fu;
- the second block is to sit, sit, lie, stand;
- third block - aport, face.
Each block is given approximately 3-4 months depending on the intelligence and psyche of the dog. That is, the young dog performs the program by about a year and a half. If training at home allowed the puppy to master this basic level, then we can say that the owner did it perfectly.
"A place!"
Often the owners ask the question: "Can the dog sleep with the owner in the same bed?" Not! Even small dogs should know their place. The point is not only hygiene or safety, but also that the dog must understand the order and discipline.
It’s easy to train a dog. To do this, on the first day, when you bring the puppy to the house, and he gets acquainted with the territory, take the baby to his bed and calmly say “place” several times. Whenever you see a puppy already about to rest, take him in his arms and take him to his bed, saying “place” in a calm tone.
You cannot accustom a puppy to a place by putting a treat on his bed, because he will take it as a signal for action and will drag food from the bowl there.
A lesson is considered learned when the kid with the command "Place!" running where it should be.
"To me!"
This command is most often used in everyday life. Whenever a puppy runs to you of his own free will, or when you urge him to eat or play, clearly say "Come to me!". When the four-legged friend runs up, be sure to praise, pat tenderly on the withers, with a major intonation, say “Well done!”, “Good dog!”.
And if the puppy has played too much or is capricious and has not run up? Do not scold him! Just go to the dog, hold it by the croup and, pulling yourself, repeat the command. Then praise, encourage a treat.
The lesson is learned if the puppy comes running at the first call of the owner.
"Foo!"
Everything seems to be logical: the kid picked up something on the street or nibbles your slippers, you come up to him, firmly say "Fu!" and take away what is forbidden, you can even gently click the offender on the scruff of the neck. Such tactics are true. But many make the typical mistake: the puppy picked up some muck and joyfully brought it to the owner, who shouted "Fu!" He took the prey and scolded it. You can’t do this! You can never punish a baby when he runs up to you. The puppy will develop a negative reflex: he approaches the owner, and he is scolded. The dog will not understand what is to blame, but will think that the beloved owner does not want to see her.
The same mistake can be seen when a puppy makes a puddle during the day, and in the evening they will poke his nose into it and scold. Absolutely illiterate behavior! The dog does not know how to build a causal relationship, like a person. The result of this behavior will only be that the puppy will be afraid of the owner coming home.
"Sit!"
After the first commands are learned, executed immediately and in random order, you can continue the training course and go to the second, more complex block.
It is easier to teach a puppy to this team than an adult dog. The most common trick: to call a four-legged friend, show him a treat and, holding him in front of the dog's face, slowly raise it up. As the puppy lifts its head up, it will sit down, while you can gently push the palm of the dog’s backside, as if helping it to sit down. At the same time as the baby sits on its hind legs, say "Sit!" and treat them delicious.
The team is learned when the dog sits on command and maintains in this position for as long as its owner considers it necessary. It is better not to overdo it with a puppy with restraint, otherwise it will get tired and will be harmful.
"Beside!"
Training team "Close!" - One of the most difficult lessons for both the puppy and the owner. You will need to teach the dog to walk on the left side, without running ahead and keeping up. You need to start the lesson at the very end of an active walk. When a four-legged friend frolics around, take a leash in your left hand, and a treat in your right at the face level. Go forward so that the puppy runs after the treat, repeat “Next!” All the time. After a few meters, stop, give the baby a tasty treat, praise him. Do a few repetitions. Studying this team can drag on for a week or more.
"Lie down!"
The training process is similar to the training for the Sit! Team. You should take something tasty in your right hand and keep the treat at the level of the dog's face. Then slowly lower it down to the ground, while gently pressing the puppy's shoulder blades. When he lies down, hold him for a few seconds, repeating “Lie down!” And then encourage him with a treat.
"To stand!"
In order for your pet to learn to fulfill this command, you need to bring a treat or a favorite toy to his face with his right hand, and hold his stomach with his left so as to prevent the dog from sitting down or lying down. In this case, all the time to say "Stand!". It will be useful to use a treat under this command to make the puppy stand up from a lying or sitting position.
Having trained the dog in fundamental skills, you can be sure that in the future she will easily be given not only the commands of the third block, but also special service ones. To teach this dog to a novice dog breeder, a training school will help.