How to Train Your Puppy to Trust You

Choose a few basic commands to start practicing with your puppy. You want to start off with ones that are easy for your pup to learn so they gain confidence. Most often, dog owners begin with 'sit', 'down', 'stay', and 'come'.

Generally, 'sit' is a good starting point for any young puppy. Use a treat to lure your puppy into a sitting position and then give them lots of praise for completing the action successfully. Repeat this process several times until your puppy is sitting without a lure.

Once your pup has a good grasp on 'sit', use the command to set up consistent behaviors in other areas of your puppy's life. Have them sit before you give them their dinner bowl or before you leave the house on a walk. Building a routine creates consistency in your puppy's life and helps them trust you further.

Work with your puppy on additional obedience commands, such as 'down' and 'stay'. Remember to keep your rewards consistent for each new command. Every training session is another opportunity to show your puppy how fair you are.

As you add more and more commands to your puppy's repertoire, continue to praise them rather than discipline them. Love and mutual respect are the best tools you have to gain your puppy's trust.

Earning your new puppy's, or any dog's, trust starts at the very first meeting. When you interact with your puppy for the first time, project calm and relaxed energy to avoid prompting an aggressive greeting. Greet the dog softly and with a calm, friendly voice.

Give your puppy time to get used to you before you try to pet them. Stay a few feet away if you can. While it may seem rude, ignoring your puppy when you first meet them is a good way to begin establishing trust.

When you do approach your puppy for the first time, do so from the side rather than directly. Kneel down and face the same direction as your pup is facing. Both approaching head on and making direct eye contact may be interpreted as an act of aggression.

Rather than reaching out immediately to pet your puppy, hold your hand out in a fist and let them respond by sniffing you. Typically, a dog will let you know they are okay with you by licking your hand. At that point, you can pet the front of their chest. It is best not to touch a dog on the head in the first meeting.

Allow your puppy to take a few treats out of your hand one at a time. After each treat, say "good dog" and give them some physical affection. Letting your puppy eat out of your hand shows you are non-threatening and a trustworthy figure.

For this method, it is best if you have already trained your puppy on a few of the basic commands so you have a base to build from. 'Sit' and 'down' will likely be enough to start with.

Either give the command "down" or place your puppy in a 'down' using your hands. If your pup already knows 'stay', great! You can use it to help them hold this position. If not, gently keep your puppy in the 'down' position with your hands.

Gently "examine" your puppy by touching their ears, teeth, tail, paws, and other areas of their body. Praise your puppy as you do so to let them know that this activity is fun and safe.

Your puppy may not like the examination, which is fair. They may try to squirm away from you. However, if they bite you, say "ouch" in a loud, high-pitched voice. This sound should prompt your puppy to stop biting. When they do, praise them.

Once or twice a day, repeat the examination process with your puppy. Show them that there is nothing to fear from you handling them. At the end of the session, give them a nice treat if they did not bite you.