How training your puppy can benefit you

There is nothing more satisfying for a pet owner than to have a trained dog, and while it is possible to train an adult dog to learn certain behavioural patterns, it is recommended that the training begins as early as possible in the dog's life when he's still at puppy stage. The reason for this is because puppies are more receptive to instructions.

Training your puppy does not come easy but with patience and consistent practice, your puppy will acquire the needed behavior that he will carry into adulthood. If you do not have the time, patience and the skills required to train your pup, we recommend that you enroll him in a professional puppy training class near you. In the end, your puppy will be comfortable and safe around people and have the mental stimulation to lead a happy and interactive lifestyle. Below are some of the benefits you and your puppy will derive from giving him the right training.

1. Like we noted earlier, several benefits accrue from having your dog trained. For example, a trained dog will always obediently stay by your side no matter the environment you find yourself, whether you are in a public park, an event center or you are taking the side walk. But without the needed training your puppy, when it grows into adulthood, will be fearful and aggressive and you will have problem having to drag him along.

2. A trained dog helps to avoid conflict situations and unwarranted expenditure by not attacking people and other dogs. Because the dog has been socialized, it does not become anxious and uncomfortable whenever he's meeting strangers and other animals. This is why we recommend that you take your dog to training classes when you are not able to give him the obedience training that he needs. And you must do this when he is still at puppy stage because failure to do this, the chances are that he will always manifest aggressive behaviors due to lack of exposure.

3.      When you train your puppy properly, you give him the skills he requires to succeed in life and live peacefully with humans and animals. But failing to do so, the puppy will grow into adulthood with destructive tendencies. With this kind of destructive behavior, whenever the dog becomes overly anxious, he will start destroying your belongings especially your furniture especially if you are not around to stop him.

4.      One of the major problems you will confront when you first bring in a dog is    to leave him to stay alone at home. Unfortunately, you can’t always be around for the dog. But how can you trust that the dog will stay in the most appropriate behavior? An untrained dog has the tendency to become overtly agitated when left alone. And as such, it will bark and howl furiously for as long as he is left alone. Most often it will chew on your furniture. This happens because the dog is suffering from separation anxiety. But a dog that has received the proper training, especially from an early stage, will imbibe the right patterns of behavior and the training will also help to reduce the separation anxiety.

5.      Training your puppy or your adult dog to understand commands will help to keep him safe from the many hazards around your environment. For instance, a dog that does not understand your command as to the appropriate time to cross the road will run a risk of being knocked down by a vehicle. When a dog is well trained, however, they can avoid all these hazards. He will understand when you tell him to sit and wait for traffic to ease off before crossing the road. If and when your dog has imbibed this kind of behavior, he will be able to navigate his way even when you are not with him. In any case, it is also important for you to have a tracking device for your dog like the one below.

 

Training method recommended for your puppy

According to expert opinion, the reward-based type of training, known as “Positive Reinforcement” is best for you pup. This is a method of training whereby your puppy is rewarded for any good behaviour that you like. Rewarding the pup for good behavior will reinforce many more positive behaviors from him. Reward may be, but not limited to, tasty treats and verbal praises in a tone that will make the dog realize that you are pleasantly happy with him.

 

Positive reinforcement also encompasses ignoring the puppy or dog whenever it puts up with any bad behaviour like jumping on visitors to greet them. If your dog is in the habit of jumping on visitors, this is bad behavior. Following the theory of positive reinforcement, you should simply ignore him and don’t give him any attention such as shouting at him. If you shout at the dog, he reads it to mean that you are satisfied with what he just did. Instead, do not give him any attention at all. Reserve your attention for when the dog is behaving himself.