The Importance of Puppy Training
Are you planning to get a puppy soon? How exciting! Do you already have a new puppy? Congratulations! Puppies are wonderful beings that come in relatively small packages. However, puppies grow up very, very quickly – right before your eyes at lightning speed. Read on to learn why puppy training is important.
If left untrained, little puppy problems evolve into big dog issues. Little wild, undisciplined bundles of energy are one thing. Big wild, undisciplined bundles of energy are something else again. That is why training your puppy right away – when your pup is still small – is the best strategy for establishing a wonderful human-canine relationship.
When thinking about what you should teach puppies, just think “P is for Puppy.”
Puppy Training takes Perseverance.
How does puppy training make life with your puppy easier? Puppies are blank slates who know NOTHING about the human lifestyle. They are typically energetic, wild little creatures who can be molded, or not. You may be surprised to learn that puppy training encompasses every minute of every day to sculpt your puppy into the dog of your dreams. Puppies have a short attention span and short memories. So effective training must be done frequently and consistently.
Puppy Training – Potty Skills
Potty training is THE most important puppy skill, bar none. Lack of potty training is a primary reason dogs end up in shelters. It is a very sad fact. Don’t let this happen when a few simple steps can achieve your goal.
P is for Puppy – Other Must-Learn Skills
Petting: mouthy is a no-no! And you should be able to pet your puppy all over.
Play: puppy groups are great for socialization. Interactive games with you will help you bond.
Protection: puppies need to be protected because of their small size and lack of knowledge.
Patience and Persistence: This is where human training comes in, often the hardest part of puppy or dog training! But your puppy or dog will be happier if he/she knows the boundaries.
P is for Puppy – Perspective
While it is sometimes easy to forget when we have bonded with them, but it is still true: Puppies don’t think like humans. They don’t even think like adult dogs, who themselves don’t even think like humans. Puppies think like puppies. If it feels good, they do it. Unless they are taught not to in a way they understand.
Kathryn R. Gubista, PhD is an evolutionary biologist, college biology instructor, former zookeeper, author, certified professional dog trainer with Lucky Dog Training Asheville. She has over 30 years of dog training and human teaching experience. She has developed a training philosophy and methodology based on how dogs think. It’s called The Dog’s Perspective, and is also the title of her book series and blog. A puppy training video series using that philosophy will soon be available on YouTube. For more information, contact her at TrainingLuckyDogs@gmail.com or call 828-423-9635.