Teaching your puppy basic behaviors and skills is an essential step in building a healthy and happy relationship between you. Here's a detailed guide to get you started.
The Basic Principles
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Patience: Learning takes time, so you have to be patient with your puppy. Remember that he is still young and in the discovery phase.
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Consistency: It is important to be consistent in training. That means using the same commands and rewarding the same behaviors.
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Reward: Rewards can be food, praise, caresses, or toys. Rewarding good behavior right away is essential for a puppy to make the connection between the behavior and the reward.
The Basic Exercises
1. Assis
The “sitting” exercise is often the first exercise a puppy is taught. It's a basic skill that comes in handy in a lot of situations.
How to do
- Start with a treat in your hand.
- Close your hand and draw your pup's attention to the treat.
- Move your hand slowly over his head. The puppy should naturally sit up to better see the treat.
- As soon as he sits down, say “sit,” give him the treat, and praise him.
2. Couché
“Lying down” is another basic skill that can be useful, especially for calming a puppy in an exciting situation.
How to do
- Start by asking your puppy to sit up.
- Take a treat in your hand and bring it from the puppy's nose to the ground, keeping it close to him.
- Your pup should follow the treat with his nose and lie down.
- As soon as he goes to bed, say “lying down,” give him the treat and praise him.
3. Rest
“Stay” is a skill that can help prevent unwanted behaviors, like jumping on people or chasing something.
How to do it:
- Start by asking your puppy to sit up or lie down.
- Hold a treat in your hand and say “stay” while showing the palm of your other hand to your pup.
- Back up slowly while holding your palm toward the puppy. If the puppy stays in position, go back to him, give him the treat, and praise him.
- If the puppy gets up, say “no” calmly, return it to its original position and repeat the exercise again.
4. Reminder
Recall is one of the most important skills to teach a puppy. It could potentially save his life in a dangerous situation.
How to do
Start in a quiet, distraction-free location. Hold a treat in your hand and call your puppy's name followed by “come on” or “here.”
When your pup comes up to you, give him the treat and praise him.
Once the puppy masters the reminder in a quiet environment, you can gradually add distractions.
5. Don't move
“Don't move” is a very useful command that can be used in a lot of situations, such as when you want your puppy to stay in a specific spot while you do something.
How to do
Start by asking your puppy to sit up or lie down.
Say “don't move” and back up slowly. If the puppy stays put, come up to him, give him the treat, and praise him.
If the puppy moves, say “no” calmly, return it to its original position, and repeat the exercise again.
6. Socialization
Beyond these basic skills, socializing your puppy is essential. This means exposing him to different environments, people, animals, and situations in order for him to become a confident and balanced adult dog.
How to do
Take your puppy to a variety of environments: parks, busy streets, pet stores, etc.
Introduce it to different types of people: children, elderly people, men, women, people wearing hats or glasses, etc.
Introduce it to other dogs and animals, always making sure the experience is a positive and safe one.
It's important to remember that every puppy is unique and some can learn more quickly than others. Be patient, consistent, and positive, and you'll help your puppy grow into a happy, well-rounded adult dog.
