How To Begin Training Your Puppy To Be The Perfect Canine Companion
You can begin to train your puppy almost the moment you bring it home and sooner still, if you have bred the dog yourself.
Grooming For easy grooming sessions later, get your dog used to standing and being handled all over on a non-slip table such as a grooming table.
Any sturdy table with a suction cup bathtub mat or non-slip stair matting fixed to it can be used as an alternative.
Do not begin grooming your dog right away, but just try to make it stand as you love it on its future grooming table.
Speak gently, stroking your puppy all over.
Speak gently and give special praise to your good puppy when you handle its face (ears and mouth area) and its feet.
If the puppy objects and doesn't seem successful at being handled, make the sessions short and pleasant until it does.
Several minute-long sessions for a few days will get the dog used to this practice, and it will look forward to it.
I have spent many years sliding around with a basset all over the floor to do nails, ears and teeth because the dog was not trained to be used to standing or sitting on a table in a reasonable fashion.
The very next dog I got, taking the initiative from the very beginning to make handling and grooming a pleasant experience paid off in many ways.
I now have 4 dogs that all stand on a table for their grooming.
The only part they really don't like is the nails, but they do behave, so its done in no time at all.
We still give treats after nails, and a good loving for a job well done.
If your dog is a long coated or wire-haired breed that will need clipping or coat stripping in the future, you might want to get it used to a grooming arm on your table.
Your dog groomer in future will thank you, and if you eventually learn to clip your dog yourself, you will see the direct benefits.
Always stay by your dog when its collar is attached to the grooming arm.
Gradually over a period of several days get your dog used to you working around its ears first with dry absorbent puffs, then moist puffs, gradually over several days working toward actual ear cleaning.
Gradually get your dog used to its mouth and teeth being handled for future teeth brushing and teeth scraping.
Start with a finger toothbrush, or just with a moist cloth with a bit of "doggy" toothpaste on it.
A tiny bit of doggy toothpaste on your finger can bring around an especially apprehensive puppy.
Be ever so gentle with the puppy that is teething, and if you do see a sore mouth, just look at it that day, and don't do anything to cause sensitivity.
In a few days you will see the old tooth gone and a new one coming in its place.
The grooming table is a good place to look at eyes, ears, teeth, etc.
, to give yourself a good idea of what is normal for your dog.
Look at gum colour, whites of eyes, tissue colour inside the ear canals, skin and hair coat, etc.
Knowing what your dog is typically like in these areas when its well or in "normal" circumstances, is a good comparison for later, when you might notice a problem in these areas, indicating an issue of concern, or even medical emergency.
Obedience As Play There are many books on obedience training, and most are very good.
But long before actual training begins, you can start to train your puppy the basic commands.
Coming when called for treats and loves is the easiest of all for even a young puppy.
You can train a puppy to sit, stand, and lie down by using a treat in your hand and moving the treat to cause the puppy to do what you want when you say the verbal command.
Always say the verbal command, and always praise.
Think about the obedience hand signals if you eventually might want to enter obedience trials.
If not, you still owe it to your dog to teach it basic commands.
For example, a down from a distance could one day save your dog's life, if it is about to run out on a road.
You can simulate the exact obedience hand signals that you might later use with the treat in your hand.
These basic commands are as follows: Palm up for sit; arm moving downward with palm down for a down command; a sweeping arm motion with palm moving toward you for come; palm back toward the nose for stay; and palm down with hand gradually moving away from the dog's nose for a stand.
The puppy will think its a game, but it will be learning at the same time.
Enjoy your pup, enjoy your dog.
Our dogs are with us for a short time and there is nothing like a happy, healthy relationship between dog and owner.
Grooming For easy grooming sessions later, get your dog used to standing and being handled all over on a non-slip table such as a grooming table.
Any sturdy table with a suction cup bathtub mat or non-slip stair matting fixed to it can be used as an alternative.
Do not begin grooming your dog right away, but just try to make it stand as you love it on its future grooming table.
Speak gently, stroking your puppy all over.
Speak gently and give special praise to your good puppy when you handle its face (ears and mouth area) and its feet.
If the puppy objects and doesn't seem successful at being handled, make the sessions short and pleasant until it does.
Several minute-long sessions for a few days will get the dog used to this practice, and it will look forward to it.
I have spent many years sliding around with a basset all over the floor to do nails, ears and teeth because the dog was not trained to be used to standing or sitting on a table in a reasonable fashion.
The very next dog I got, taking the initiative from the very beginning to make handling and grooming a pleasant experience paid off in many ways.
I now have 4 dogs that all stand on a table for their grooming.
The only part they really don't like is the nails, but they do behave, so its done in no time at all.
We still give treats after nails, and a good loving for a job well done.
If your dog is a long coated or wire-haired breed that will need clipping or coat stripping in the future, you might want to get it used to a grooming arm on your table.
Your dog groomer in future will thank you, and if you eventually learn to clip your dog yourself, you will see the direct benefits.
Always stay by your dog when its collar is attached to the grooming arm.
Gradually over a period of several days get your dog used to you working around its ears first with dry absorbent puffs, then moist puffs, gradually over several days working toward actual ear cleaning.
Gradually get your dog used to its mouth and teeth being handled for future teeth brushing and teeth scraping.
Start with a finger toothbrush, or just with a moist cloth with a bit of "doggy" toothpaste on it.
A tiny bit of doggy toothpaste on your finger can bring around an especially apprehensive puppy.
Be ever so gentle with the puppy that is teething, and if you do see a sore mouth, just look at it that day, and don't do anything to cause sensitivity.
In a few days you will see the old tooth gone and a new one coming in its place.
The grooming table is a good place to look at eyes, ears, teeth, etc.
, to give yourself a good idea of what is normal for your dog.
Look at gum colour, whites of eyes, tissue colour inside the ear canals, skin and hair coat, etc.
Knowing what your dog is typically like in these areas when its well or in "normal" circumstances, is a good comparison for later, when you might notice a problem in these areas, indicating an issue of concern, or even medical emergency.
Obedience As Play There are many books on obedience training, and most are very good.
But long before actual training begins, you can start to train your puppy the basic commands.
Coming when called for treats and loves is the easiest of all for even a young puppy.
You can train a puppy to sit, stand, and lie down by using a treat in your hand and moving the treat to cause the puppy to do what you want when you say the verbal command.
Always say the verbal command, and always praise.
Think about the obedience hand signals if you eventually might want to enter obedience trials.
If not, you still owe it to your dog to teach it basic commands.
For example, a down from a distance could one day save your dog's life, if it is about to run out on a road.
You can simulate the exact obedience hand signals that you might later use with the treat in your hand.
These basic commands are as follows: Palm up for sit; arm moving downward with palm down for a down command; a sweeping arm motion with palm moving toward you for come; palm back toward the nose for stay; and palm down with hand gradually moving away from the dog's nose for a stand.
The puppy will think its a game, but it will be learning at the same time.
Enjoy your pup, enjoy your dog.
Our dogs are with us for a short time and there is nothing like a happy, healthy relationship between dog and owner.