Entering puppy parenthood means you will be responsible for training your puppy basic commands and more to help them become well-mannered family members! But here are a few very common and easy to make mistakes you may encounter and how to avoid or fix them!
It’s always fun and exciting when a new puppy comes home for the first time! As a new puppy owner, you’re probably thinking about introducing your puppy to their new home and routine but it can be challenging when you don’t know the basic dos and don’ts of puppy training. To make sure that your pup receives the best puppy training possible, take some time to learn about some of those pesky common mistakes many new owners make when puppy training for the first time! Knowing what not to do beforehand can save you a lot of frustration and will benefit the progress of your puppy throughout their first year of growing!
#1 Not Starting Puppy Training Early On
One of the most frequent comments we hear at The Puppy Academy from new puppy owners is they wish they hadn't waited so long to start training! Don’t wait until they are older and can develop bad behaviors in the interim. Start teaching them proper behavior from day one! Young puppies may not be able to learn certain advanced skills like agility, but you can immediately start training with things like potty training, creating boundaries, and certain basic commands like Sit and Come are a good starting point! One of the best things you can do to help out the most during their first days with you (or even better, before you bring your puppy home) is to look into a professional puppy trainer or puppy training classes where your puppy can learn basic obedience. An added bonus to opting for professional puppy training is that it gives you the opportunity to ask and address puppy behavior questions directly with a trainer rather than trying to figure it all out on your own! This can relieve so much pressure knowing that you’re in good hands and have help nearby!
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#2 Choosing to Not Crate Train
In our experience, crate training is one of the most valuable assets in puppy training! It provides a safe place of their own where your puppy can rest; helps in teaching them independence and confidence in being alone, and can even speed up the potty training process! You can learn more about crate training in our “Why & How to Crate Train Your Puppy” blog.
#3 Allowing Your Puppy to Free Roam
@thatsmyboy.blue
So many new owners want to let their pups walk around and explore their new home on their own. But the reality is allowing this will more likely than not lead to your puppy getting into some kind of trouble! Unexpected potty accidents, unwanted chewing, and depending on whether or not you puppy-proofed your home, they can get into a harmful situation, are all possibilities you can face with a free-roaming puppy. Handy tools like baby gates are easy to set up around your home and create boundaries for your puppy. By doing this, you are providing structure and routine where your puppy can be monitored when playing, eating, and sleeping without the potential of them getting into something that they shouldn’t! As a general rule, if you can’t monitor your puppy, put them somewhere safe like their crate or playpen until you are able to watch them closely again.
“Giving too much space to roam can sometimes be overwhelming for a new pup. Take your time and expand the areas they’re allowed in as they grow and build more confidence in the structure you’ve set in place. ”
#4 Not Establishing a Daily Routine
During the first six months of your puppy’s life, they will be learning where and when they eat, sleep, play, train, and go to the bathroom. Establishing specific times when these things happen creates healthy behavior, and encourages their confidence and bond with you. Puppies quickly pick up on routines and what’s coming up next, so use this to your advantage! Repeated inconsistencies in their schedule can lead to unpredictable potty accidents, poor eating habits and even them showcasing more undesirable behaviors such as increased barking or nipping. Decide on a schedule early on that makes sense for you and that you can introduce to your puppy from day one so you can avoid unnecessary stress and help get your puppy on the right track the quickest!
#5 Avoid Baby-Talk
Try to avoid baby talk to your puppy. We are all guilty of this one! It’s tough when you get a new cute puppy to not squeak about how adorable they are! The fact for some puppies is that they are often a little nervous or overly rambunctious when you first get them and a high-pitched voice doesn’t help to soothe your pup. It can actually accidentally cause over-excitement and even anxiety for your little one. We want your puppy to see you as someone to lead them and help guide them, as well as love them. When your puppy encounters something scary, like a vacuum, you want to redirect your puppy with food or a toy in a confident and motivating tone of voice. Think more like a track coach motivating you to keep running. In other daily interactions with your puppy, keep a more calm tone of voice. This will help your puppy feel more stable, whereas doing a lot of excited or high-pitched baby talk can have the opposite effect.
“Letting your puppy free-feed or have access to water at all times can lead to more potty accidents. Putting your puppy on a feeding schedule and monitoring their water in-take can help make the potty training process much easier!”
#6 Don’t Punish Your Puppy for Potty Accidents in the House
Using any form of physical punishment in puppy training isn’t effective and in fact, can lead to creating a fearful pup! We’re human and sometimes when we find a potty accident in our home, it’s easy to become frustrated. The important thing to remember is: don’t get emotional, they’re only a puppy and they’re still learning! Don’t push their snout into the mess, or scold them after the fact! Truthfully, puppies don’t understand that you’re upset about the potty accident, but they do understand your emotions. Some puppies might even start to become secretive about where they eliminate and this really delays potty training! If you find a potty accident in your home, don’t scold your puppy but simply clean it up and continue providing them boundaries to avoid future unpredicted potty accidents. If you do happen to catch your puppy in the act of having an accident, keep calm, redirect their attention, and take them outside immediately.
#7 Sit, Sit, Sit! Avoid Repeating Commands
@little.fit.ollie
If you started training on your own, one common mistake new owners make is falling into the trap of repeating a command like “Sit” over and over again, then praising their puppy. Why is this bad? When you repeat a command too many times, you’re actually desensitizing your puppy to the meaning of the word. Instead of it being a direct and clear command for your puppy to follow, your puppy will start to tune it out and ignore you. Don’t beat yourself up over this! It’s a common mistake for a reason. A puppy trainer will guide you through the proper steps to teach your puppy at home how to get them to successfully listen to the command once, and then receive praise or a food treat to encourage them to repeat that great behavior.
#8 Not Socializing Your Puppy
Although socialization isn’t something you can immediately do until your puppy has received their vaccination rounds from their veterinarian, it should be one of the first things on your list once they are ready! Remember #1 Not Starting Puppy Training Early Enough? These two mistakes go hand in hand! By entering your puppy into a puppy training class, you’re essentially socializing them with other puppies and people! It’s a safe and controlled environment where they can learn how to interact with other people and puppies the right way, and have some fun while they do it!
“You can encourage your puppy to socialize with other dogs, but never force them to. Some pups may be shy and need longer to warm up, and sometimes different personality types or energy levels just aren’t a good match. ”
