At what age can I start training my new puppy?
Every waking minute, your new dog is learning new things! From the moment you first meet, every interaction you have with your puppy is an opportunity for training. You'll begin teaching your puppy as soon as they arrive at your home, working on housetraining, good manners, and social interactions. Puppies may even start formal training in some cases before they move into their new home, such as learning how to greet people and how their activities might result in rewards.
Like all animals, puppies learn by doing what makes sense to them. They will act in a way that makes sense to them. Puppies will repeat actions that produce positive results. The puppy will repeat the behavior in the future if it results in a reward, attention, a toy, a desired interaction, the capacity to explore, sniff, or run. The best method for training puppies is often positive reinforcement, which involves rewarding good behavior. Using management, monitoring, and training methods that focus on positive reinforcement, puppies can be prepared for success. Waiting until the puppy engages in undesirable behavior before attempting to correct it might result in issues like avoidance, fear, and bewilderment.
Positive reinforcement, or training puppies through praise and prizes, is generally considered to be the best method.
Find out what your puppy enjoys, then make sure she gets it whenever she behaves in a way you like! Though it's a straightforward idea, execution might be challenging. Always consider a reward or reinforcement from the puppy's perspective.
What if my puppy enjoys being petted and given attention? I lean over to put my hands on my puppy as he leaps up on me, yelling "off" as I push him off my legs. He jumps once more, and we continue.
Consider this from the viewpoint of the puppy: I'm not paying attention to the dog; the puppy climbs up; and I reach out and interact with him. Surprise! It was successful. Puppies don't misbehave in an effort to irritate us or outdo us. They simply follow what, in their opinion, is effective.
What should my puppy learn?
The greatest strategy is typically to think about what you want your puppy to do; what is the intended response to a circumstance or cue? Several instances include:
• Whenever the dog notices a person
• Upon hearing her name, the puppy
• When the pup notices an animal
• The moment the dog detects the doorbell
• The best place for the puppy to sleep or rest
• How to put his harness or leash on
• How to react to brushing, grooming, and medical attention
Once you have a clear idea of the behavior you want your puppy to exhibit, you may start teaching him modest steps in that direction. For instance, you could want your dog to approach and wait close to the person who called him when he hears his name. Combining the techniques of luring, capturing, and shaping can be used to train this reaction. This example will serve as our guide throughout.
How do I utilize luring, and what is it?
Using a reward or another predictable behavior for the puppy as a lure is known as lure training. For teaching new behaviors the first few times they are presented, luring is helpful. Once the puppy begins to display understanding, the bait usually disappears rapidly.
The bait ought to resemble a magnet to which the puppy's nose is drawn and adhered. When the lure is moved, the puppy's nose will move into the proper position, and the body will follow. The simplest lure is food. Use tiny, high-value treats the size of a pencil eraser.
The puppy's nose will move into the proper place when the lure is moved, and the body will follow the nose.
Example: My dog is close sniffing the ground. I immediately put a tasty goodie beneath his nose after calling his name. I trace a slow, steady line with the reward toward my body when his nose is drawn to it. I then take a few steps back while giving the puppy tiny licks or bits of the treat along the way.
The lure needs to be carefully raised up and back to get a puppy to sit. A puppy's rump will typically drop into a sit when his nose goes up and back.
A lick or bite should be given every few steps until the puppy reaches the destination, where another treat is given, and the lure should be placed at nose level so that the puppy can readily follow it.
What happens if my dog doesn't respond to the lure?
The puppy may lose interest in the bait or even become frustrated and try to claw at, jump at, or bite it if it is moving too quickly or is out of reach. Make sure the bait moves at a pace that is simple for the puppy to follow, that the puppy can always reach the lure without jumping or grabbing, and that you give the dog little licks or bites frequently during the activity to keep her interested and attached.
What is capturing?
When a puppy is "captured," it is executing the desired behavior naturally, and the trainer "marks" the behavior by giving the puppy a treat or a toy when it occurs. The benefit of capturing is that it educates people to consistently watch a puppy's behavior and to be vigilant for moral decisions. Every day, puppies make a lot of good decisions, even if they are initially brief. Keep an eye out for good decisions, mark them, and give rewards following the marker.
What do markers do?
A marking tells the dog that their favorite item is about to happen immediately away. For instance, a tasty food or a beloved toy. A marker is a promise to provide the puppy something they enjoy. A mere fraction of a second must pass during the marking. A marker is not the same as widespread, sustained adoration or attention. Any voice, gesture, or touch can serve as a marker. For puppies who may have limited eyesight or hearing, sounds and gestures are the simplest to learn, and touch can also be employed. Typical markers include:
The Clicker
• Brief phrase (Yes, Nice, Click, Good, Beep, etc.)
• A noise or a whistle
• A thumbs-up sign
• A light shoulder contact
A marker is a promise to pay something the dog enjoys.
To signal to the puppy that he has made a decision that will result in a treat, markers can be used in both capturing and shaping (described in more detail below). When training your puppy to answer to his name, observe when he chooses to gaze at you and come closer to you without being called. Call his name as he approaches, indicate the movement with a sound (such as a click or "Yes"), and then reward him when he gets there.
The shaping of what?
Shaping involves rewarding each accurate estimate that mimics the intended behavior in order to teach the desired behavior through trial and error. The trainer raises the bar for how near a guess must be to the objective in order to receive a marker and reward as the learner develops a better understanding of what the goal might be. Shaping can be unpleasant for trainers and puppies at first, but once everyone involved—human and canine—understands how it works, it becomes an incredibly effective tool for teaching difficult skills and a lot of fun.
You could initially mark any of the following reactions when your puppy hears his name to help you shape how he reacts to it:
• Pauses or stops what he's doing without glancing at you.
• If he was sniffing, he would lift his nose 1" off the ground.
• Adjusts the nose by 1" either on or off the ground in your direction.
You can raise the standards as the puppy gains experience:
• Gradual increases in the nose's height off the ground or its movement in your direction
• Gradually incorporate the head turning all the way to gaze at you.
• After the head turn, gradually add movement in your direction.
One intriguing result of teaching name recognition through shaping is that after the puppy recognizes the marker, he will frequently rush to you for a reward to pay back that IOU! This is useful because it completes the behavior of responding when called.
What happens if my dog doesn't react to the marker?
This most frequently occurs when your training environment is too intense or intriguing. Start your training in a calm, distraction-free environment, such as your home. When the puppy masters a new skill, practice it in new places, such as the yard, other rooms of the house, or on a walk when there are no other dogs or strangers around, and eventually practice it when others are present. Puppy school or a positive reinforcement puppy class are excellent places for puppies to practice cooperating with their family despite distractions.
Check to see if your puppy is still at least a little hungry, that he is feeling well, and that your treats are a good value if your dog usually responds to the marker by looking for one.
Should I use a cue and when?
A cue is a phrase, action, or circumstance that indicates the puppy will receive a reward if she performs a particular action. Saying "sit," for instance, suggests the puppy will get a treat or another incentive if she sits. When you are confident that you can teach the puppy how to properly earn a reward, you can start saying the cue (or making the gesture) to connect it with an action. For instance, calling out "Puppy, come!" while your dog is on a leash and in a setting with few distractions, then coaxing the dog to you.
Say the cue for any behaviors that have been recorded as soon as you think the puppy will probably engage in the behavior.
When you are certain the puppy understands how to do the behavior, add the cue for shaping.
Keep in mind that the cue indicates that reinforcement is accessible. A mark and a treat, enthusiastic verbal praise, stroking, or playing with a toy are all examples of rewards. The cue indicates that the reward will follow the behavior, but the reward can be anything the puppy finds enjoyable. Reward your dog whenever they obey the cue.
"The cue ensures that the reward will follow the behavior, but the incentive can be anything the puppy finds enjoyable."
The cue will eventually indicate that a reward is available but only for a short period of time as your puppy gains experience. The puppy's responses to signals will be quicker as a result. A more sophisticated strategy would be to increase the speed requirement after the puppy has gained experience and maturity.
What if my dog won't listen?
Cues are not orders, and expecting a dog to "follow" is a little bit archaic. Think about these potential reasons if your puppy doesn't respond to a cue:
• The puppy is preoccupied.
• The pup is perplexed.
• The puppy is unable to recognize the cue in the environment or situation that it is in.
• The puppy is unable to recognize the cue on this surface.
• There is a conflicting motivation (the puppy is focused on something else).
• The puppy is overexcited or overtired
Any of these issues can be resolved by either suspending the training session and attempting again later, or by attending to the puppy's immediate requirements to ensure his success. Young puppies require lots of instruction, grace, and constancy from their owners in order to develop their sense of trust and ability to learn.
How can I make the lure fade out?
When enticing, we utilize the treats in our hands as a magnet to direct the puppy toward the desired outcome. With the majority of puppies, after 5–10 repetitions, you can switch to using an empty hand in the same shape and motion to indicate the direction to take. If the puppy starts to lose interest, switch between holding out an empty hand and a hand filled with treats. Reduce the number of times the hand receives goodies over time until it never does. When the puppy completes the task, reward them again. To transition from lure training to reward-based training, follow these steps.
When may I no longer give out treats?
For the rest of her life, you should continue to provide your dog with a payment in exchange for her labor. She will be able to engage in more activities for a single treat or reward as she gets older, and she will be able to labor for increasing amounts of time. Plan to give goodies at every training session while your puppy is still a puppy.
How long should I devote to teaching my puppy each day?
Training takes place constantly. Every time you interact with your puppy while she is awake, you are influencing her decision-making through your reactions and your use of rewards. Individual training sessions for cues or abilities should initially just last a few minutes and can be performed several times per day. When your puppy feels more at ease, teach peaceful behaviors like lying down, going to bed, or going to the kennel. Teach your puppy fun skills like coming when called or retrieving a toy while they're more bouncy.
What should I do if my puppy is too enthused or distracted to control?
Training should start in a calm setting without many distractions. The reward of choice should be extremely compelling to keep the puppy's attention firmly fixed on the trainer and the prize. Although a little food treat works best in most cases, some puppies may prefer a favorite toy or a special canine treat. The puppy should be trained right before a planned mealtime when he is the hungriest.
Reach out for expert advice if you're feeling frustrated or if the puppy seems particularly challenging or overly excited. The more time you spend with your puppy, the more you'll appreciate it thanks to a good positive reinforcement trainer.
"Reach out for professional advice if you feel frustrated or if the puppy is extremely energetic or challenging."
When should I begin introducing my puppy to people?
Socialization should start as soon as you bring home your puppy, which is often around seven or eight weeks old. During the socialization phase, which lasts between 7 and 14 weeks of age, puppies instinctively accept new people, other animals, and novel settings. This golden period offers the chance for numerous introductions that will result in fond memories that last a lifetime. During this time, puppies are eager, curious, and uninhibited, so it's crucial to capitalize on their excitement. During this time, be sure to keep your puppy safe and make sure all encounters are enjoyable.
Why does my puppy, who is 16 weeks old, look scared?
There is a natural, healthy fear phase that starts between 14 and 16 weeks of age. A puppy may grow frightened and skeptical of unfamiliar persons, animals, or situations at this time. This process of adaptation is typical. Keep an eye out for any signs of fear in your dog (cowering, urinating, and refusal of food treats). During this phase of development, refrain from pushing or overpowering your puppy. Always let your puppy to choose the pace, especially at delicate times.
Should I think about taking some classes as well?
Yes! A solid group program that emphasizes positive reinforcement is a great approach to get you and your puppy started with training. Even seasoned trainers frequently sign up their own dogs for group sessions to benefit from this beautiful, diverse, safe setting for learning and practicing new abilities. Additionally, rather than needing to figure out how to respond to issues after they have already arisen, you will discover how to stop problems in their tracks or handle them as they arise.
Another great approach to introduce your new puppy to a variety of people, dogs, and other stimuli in a controlled atmosphere is through training sessions for young puppies. There's a chance that your puppy will meet some new peers its own age. Then, you may take your puppy to these pals' houses (or vice versa) for playdates and exercise sessions. Puppies eight weeks old and older benefit the most from puppy socialization classes. The health hazards are minimal and the potential advantages are huge if all puppies in the class have received their initial vaccines and are healthy and parasite-free.
With your veterinarian, go over the puppy training choices available in your community and the best time to sign up.
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