New puppy training

When should you start training your new puppy? Training begins before he even comes home: you need to train yourself first! Outline which behaviors are acceptable and which are not, and keep in mind that it’s much easier to prevent bad habits than it is to fix them after they’ve taken root. What’s cute in a 3-month-old puppy might not be so cute in a 60-lb 2-year-old dog, so forsake the cute factor and stick with what habits you want your dog to have as an adult.

Once the pup comes home, it’s time to be fair and consistent in enforcing your house rules. We aren’t going to punish a dog (punishment is punitive and has no place in dog training) but we are going to correct him: if the rule is “no dogs on the couch” and he jumps onto the couch, simply tell him “no” and put him on the floor. If he tends to charge out the front door, simply leash him and help him learn that he has to wait for permission before going through the doorway. By instilling good behavior from the beginning, your puppy will learn how to make the right choices and earn the affection and praise that he craves from his beloved family!