3 Tricks for Training Your New Puppy

Training your pup requires quite a bit of patience early on but will really pay off later. When your dog is trained, there is a mutual feeling of trust that develops and you can feel confident that your dog will act appropriately in virtually any situation. For example, a trained dog will learn to stay calm when meeting a new person and won’t overreact if you have to leave them alone for a few hours. 

If you’re in the process of training your new puppy, then here are a few tips that can help make the journey easier for both you and your pup:

• Lure the desired behavior: Once you are in a calm and neutral environment, guide your dog to do the behavior you are looking for. Many dogs are treat-motivated, so using food can be a good way to lure the desired behavior. When using food to lure the behavior, keep the food in a closed hand and use that hand to guide the dog in the desired position. Your dog will be able to smell the treat and will naturally follow the motion of the hand. It will most likely take some repetition and practice tries early on but patience pays off! Be sure to reward your pup with the treat after they complete the action. 

• Positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement is simply rewarding your dog for positive behavior. You can reward your dogs in many different forms, such as giving them treats, saying encouraging words, and giving them belly rubs. Over time, your dog will understand that the action they performed is looked favorably upon by you and will be inclined to repeat it. 

Train in the present moment: Dogs have a very quick memory so when you’re training your pup, be sure to reward them immediately after they do what they are told. If you delay by even a few minutes, your dog may not even be aware of what they are getting rewarded for!

Looking for Doggy Daycare?

If you’re out of the home most of the day and need to leave your pup with trained professionals in a fun environment, then consider enrolling them in doggie daycare. At doggie daycare, you can ensure that they will get plenty of exercise and won’t experience the boredom that comes from being left home alone all day. Regularly bringing your precious pup to doggie daycare could even improve their behavior and help them overcome things like separation anxiety and fearfulness around other animals.

Contact us today if you’re looking to enroll your dog in doggie daycare in the Argyle, Denton, and Flower Mound areas!