They’re just so cute you want to squeeze them and cuddle them all day! Your favorite thing is taking your puppy out for walks and stopping as everyone wants to say hello. But not spoiling the little fuzzball is proving somewhat challenging. How can you not give them food when they look so cute or pull their leash back when they’re enjoying exploring so much? But deep down you do know that it’s not good for them, so it’s time to start training your puppy consistently.
You’re worried that if you don’t start sticking to your rules and training the pup may turn into a handful when they’re older. This could make it challenging to take them to friends' houses, particularly if they’re a large breed. Getting used to saying 'no' now will also make it easier further down the line. Finally, you don’t want to worry that you will lose control of the dog when you’re out in public!
Consistently training your puppy may sound straightforward, but finding that willpower when they’re so irresistible isn’t always easy. It can be made even harder if you have others in your house who are more than happy to spoil your puppy at every opportunity. Luckily, ensuring consistency when they are a puppy is the perfect time as this should mold them for life. Not to mention, their brains are like a sponge when they are young, so your pup should soak up plenty of information. The trick is training yourself to be consistent as much as training is about focusing on them!
You will need to use obedience commands and a number of positive reinforcements to ensure they stick to the rules. Also, don’t forget, it’s only too easy for dogs to unlearn all the tricks and rules you enforce when they’re a puppy, so you will need to train them consistently when they’re older too!
As is often the way with dog training, you will need to use lots of treats to reward your puppy for consistently following your rules. You will also need a calm environment to train in, away from distractions. You’ve probably already realized how easily distracted little puppies can get. So a quiet space in your house or a yard should do the job.
You will also need toys for one of the training methods. Lastly, if you live in a busy house, try and have one person who leads the training, this will prevent your little puppy getting confused.