Essential Puppy Training Tips Every New Owner Should Know

Helping a young pup grow into an adult dog is one of the joys of ownership, but it is also one of the most challenging, especially if this is your first time. Excitable and sometimes easily distracted, being able to train a puppy can be tricky without knowing some handy tips. 

Your puppy relies on you to guide them, so below are some useful ways to do this effectively. Looking after and training a puppy may feel overwhelming at first, but once you know what to do, it will be both rewarding and fun.

Training Starts from Day One

It’s important to get into the mindset that as soon as your puppy enters your home, training begins. The breeder would have done some of the groundwork, but now it’s over to you to continue their development. It’s a big responsibility, but don’t worry, every puppy owner has been in the same situation of not knowing where to start first!

The first day will be one of big changes for your puppy, so the focus will be on making them feel settled and relaxed. You should hopefully already have puppy-proofed your home and got them a decent bed or crate for them to sleep in. Crate training will be one of the first things to do (if having one) alongside setting a consistent feeding and sleeping routine, and toilet training (more on this below).

Starting from day one will mean your puppy can get used to their new environment quickly and pick up on simple things like hearing their name being called, where they are allowed to go, and the many sights and sounds around their new home. Patience and consistency from the start will make their training and development much easier. 

Keeping Your Puppy Protected As Early As Possible 

While training your puppy is a top priority, it’s just as important to think about their health and safety too. With all of the new experiences they will have, you’ll be carefully supervising them too, especially as we all know how much mischief they can get into whether you are watching them or not.

Puppies are naturally curious which sometimes leads to unexpected things like accidents whether playing, trying to explore, or becoming ill from eating something they shouldn’t have. This means visiting the vet which can become expensive. Having pet insurance that covers any unexpected emergencies and illnesses makes this more manageable so that you don’t have to pay out of pocket, which can be tricky if you don’t have the money available.

Taking out a policy early can help cover the cost of illness, injury, or emergencies, giving you peace of mind while your pup is developing and throughout their adult life. If you do spot anything unusual with your pup, your vet will always be your first point of call. Even if it may seem like something minor, it’s best to check and get an expert opinion just in case.

Socialisation Is Crucial 

All dogs need to experience the world around them, not just at home. This ensures they grow up to be well-rounded and less fearful of people, sounds and different environments. From as early as possible, socialisation is important, but it shouldn’t be rushed. Just like with all aspects of training, it should be a gradual process that slowly introduces new things.

Starting at home, you’ll want your pup to get used to not only you as their owner but also anyone else in the household whether it’s other family or friends. These are the people they will see most, so introducing everyone they are living with can ensure they get used to them. This is the same for any other pets in the home too, but try to avoid doing so all at once – it might be a bit overwhelming for them!

There are also lots of strange noises and unusual surfaces in the home, so introducing them one by one will prevent your pup from becoming anxious whether it’s the sound of the washing machine, TV or vacuum, or the slippery surfaces of tiles or wooden floors compared to carpet.

All of this exposure allows you to create positive associations for your pup so that eventually they will become used to all of these ‘normal’ things. Once they start going for walks, you’ll also want to gradually introduce car journeys, the sound of traffic and other people and dogs too.

Positive Reinforcement Works Best

As you would expect, keeping all training positive is going to have the best outcome. You want your puppy to enjoy the process and provide a good reason for them to follow your lead, and this is where positive reinforcement is one of the best methods. As per the Blue Cross, dogs learn by association, so if you reward your puppy for doing something, they are more likely to repeat that action. It’s simple and effective, and focuses on what they are doing right rather than getting wrong.

This is also why being patient is so important. It can be frustrating if your puppy doesn’t seem to be getting it, but being calm and keeping everything positive will help to build a strong bond with them. The last thing you want is for them to feel anxious or afraid around you, so make a game of it and reward them when it goes well.

Mastering the Basics – Sit, Stay, Come

All three of these words are quintessential dog commands, and you’ll say them hundreds if not thousands of times in their lifetime. They each help you to control your dog when you need them to listen, but first, you need to teach them.

Start with “sit” as it’s usually the easiest for puppies to learn and a great way to get their attention. You can then move on to “stay” once they are sitting patiently, and then “come” which is important when outside and you need them to return to you. Using treats is a great way to help them learn these commands quickly. You should also make sure everyone in the household is using the same words as this will avoid your pup from becoming confused.

Toilet Training Tips

Teaching your pup where they need to go to the toilet is an early lesson they will remember for life. It will avoid constant accidents in the home and help build a routine for them, so the quicker you can start the better. One thing to remember is that all dogs are different, so some will pick this up within a few days, and others will take longer.

Take your pup outside regularly after eating, sleeping, or playing as these will generally be the times they need to go. Just like toilet training with children, you’ll have to be prepared for any mishaps (stock up on puppy training pads just in case!) and be patient. When successful, be sure to reward and make a fuss of them, and try to use the same area each time to help them make the connection.

Managing Nipping & Chewing

It can all be very exciting for your puppy when interacting with you, and as they explore with their mouths, they may nip you or chew on things they shouldn’t. This is natural especially when teething, so be ready to counter this with suitable chew toys for them. When they do nip or chew whilst playing, try to stop the interaction to help them know it’s unwanted and reward more calm behaviour.

A Happy Dog Starts with Short, Smart Training 

With all aspects of training, you want to keep things short and enjoyable for your pup. It’s not their fault they have a short attention span when young, so manage this with shorter training sessions and try not to do too much too quickly.

Mix things up with play and praise as this will keep them engaged – the more fun they have, the more eager they’ll be to learn next time. If you do struggle with training, speak to your vet as well as other dog owners you know. They can provide invaluable advice you’ll only get with the experience of owning a dog. With patience, consistency, and a few treats here and there, your training efforts will help your pup grow into a well-behaved, confident, and happy companion.