Training Basics for A New Dog Owner

Training your dog properly is the cornerstone of having a well-behaved dog.

This may sound easy, but training dogs can be a complicated process and usually requires a lot of patience.

In the following article, we’ll discuss some training basics for a new dog owner to get you started.

Preparing Your Home

Untrained dogs and puppies can cause a lot of damage, which is why you’ll need to adjust your home before you get a new pet. You’re not only protecting your home but your dog as well.

Below are a few tips on how you can do this.

• Tell your family about your new dog, and make sure everyone knows what their responsibilities are.
• Set aside a special area for your new dog to rest. Make sure it’s warm and comfortable.
• Create a designated potty area.
• Put away dangerous substances and sharp objects.
• Keep your toilet bowl lids closed.
• Move your garbage bins to areas where the dog is unlikely to reach them.
• Move expensive items to areas where the dog can’t reach them.

Once you have made these necessary preparations, you can start training your new dog.

What A New Dog Owner Should Buy

Dogs are generally low-maintenance creatures, so you don’t need to buy a lot of things for them.

Having said that, you’ll need to buy a few things for your new pet to keep them safe, healthy and entertained.

Here’s a brief checklist of what you will need to buy your new dog:

• High-quality dog food;
• Food and water bowl;
• Collar, leash, and harness;
• Dog bed;
• Poop scooper and an ample supply of plastic bags;
• Some dog toys;
• Dog first aid kit;
• Grooming kit (e.g., dog brush, dog shampoo, and nail clippers).

Once you have these items, training your new dog will be a lot easier.

Basic Commands For New Dogs

When training your new dog or puppy, you will need to prioritize commands that’ll help you housebreak your new pet.

You should also consult a professional dog trainer for the best tools and methods for teaching such commands.

No matter what breed of dog you have treats make the training process a lot easier.

Here’s a brief list of commands that you should teach your dog as soon as possible.

1. Sit – By telling your dog to “sit,” you’ll be able to prevent them from jumping, running or causing trouble. Stand in front of your dog with a treat and repeat the command “sit” while moving the treat (over their head) towards their rear. This will force their head up and eventually move their backside to the ground. Once they sit, immediately give them the treat and a lot of verbal praise.
2. Stay – Like the “sit” command, teaching your dog to “stay” will keep them from getting into dangerous situations. This command is also useful when getting your dog out of the car; stay will help prevent them from jumping out and running off on their own.
3. Come – “Come” teaches your dog to come to you as quickly as possible and is a good command for emergency situations.
4. Leave it – This command teaches your pet to ignore or let go of certain things. It’s also useful for situations where your dog is interested in something dangerous or valuable. You’re most likely to be using this command while on walks or at the dog park when your dog is sniffing something interesting on the ground.
5. Shake – Teaching your dog to “shake” hands with people will allow you to socialize them around human beings. This is an essential command if you want to introduce a lot of people to your dog.

Stick With It!

Some breeds are easier to train than others (Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds are very smart and trainable breeds).

No matter the breed, you will need to be patient and consistent with your training.

For example, if your dog is not allowed on the sofa then don’t permit your visitors or family members to invite your dog onto the sofa.

Likewise, if you don’t want your dog to enter the bathroom then be sure to give them a stern command whenever they try to enter it.

If you’re consistent with your rules, your dog will eventually follow them even when you’re not around.

Along with training your dog, you should also be exercising your dog regularly.

This will help the obedience training process since your dog won’t be distracted by their excess energy.

Walks and runs with your puppy are also great opportunities for more training.

You should consult a professional dog trainer once your puppy has grown up and is ready for more advanced lessons.

This way, you’ll be able to ensure your dog’s good behavior.

Guest Post by Kevin O’Donnell is a dog enthusiast and dog rescue volunteer, he loves playing with his best friend, Buddy (a Japanese Chin/Papillon mix). www.thebarkbuzz.com