Puppies learn during every waking moment, whether you are intentionally training them or not. They are constantly absorbing information from the world and forming associations with things that they encounter, positive or negative.
Through interactions with us, puppies learn what behaviours result in positive outcomes. Unfortunately, this can quickly lead to the formation of undesirable habits.
If, for example, you give your puppy attention every time they jump, paw, or whine, they are learning that those behaviours are likely to yield desirable consequences. The happy news is that puppies can learn “good” behaviours equally quickly!
When to start training your new puppy & opening training techniques
We know that you can, in fact, teach an old dog new tricks. However, we also know that it is significantly easier to teach desirable behaviours to puppies before innate behaviours become lifelong habits.
Puppies are generally released to their new homes between 7 and 9 weeks of age. While the exact age may vary, training can and should begin on day one!
An important first step is choosing a name for your new puppy. Saying their name in a cheerful, upbeat voice and rewarding them with a treat when the puppy looks your way is an easy way to begin name recognition training.
Practice when your puppy is distracted to ensure they always have an ear open for your voice.
Remember to always use their name in a positive manner so that your puppy doesn’t develop a negative association with being addressed, which leads to selective hearing!
If you are crate training your puppy, introduce their crate as a safe, comfortable and soothing environment.
Toss treats into the crate and allow your puppy to enter and exit freely for the first several sessions, gauging their comfort with the space before attempting to shut the door.
Never force your puppy into a crate if they are resistant! In lieu of crate training, some pet parents opt for using collapsible exercise pens.
Another important dog training technique is capturing, which refers to reinforcing behaviours that dogs perform autonomously, such as sitting and lying down when tired or stretching after a nap.
If your puppy decides to rest after a vigorous play session by laying on her bed, you can mark, or capture, the desired behaviour with “yes!” and a treat.
When your puppy eliminates outside on the grass say “Yes! Go potty!” and reward them with treats. The beauty of positive reinforcement is in its simplicity: behaviours that receive positive outcomes are likely to repeat!
Be proactive, not reactive
Have you ever heard the saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? This is especially true when it comes to raising a puppy. If you can anticipate behaviours or situations that are problematic or unsafe, you can prevent them from occurring in the first place.
Set your puppy up for success with sound environmental management. Making your home puppy-resistant can seem daunting, but is only temporary and well worth it for the positive outcomes.
Keeping a lid on your trash can is an easy way to prevent your puppy from getting into the garbage. Clearing countertops of edible things helps prevent jumping up.
Crates, gates, and pens limit your puppy’s access to areas of your house that are unsafe. Provide appropriate items for your puppy to chew on so they don’t settle for your expensive furniture!
What is socialization and how do you do it properly?
Socialization is defined as “learning to behave in a manner acceptable to society.” In practical puppy training terms, it comes down to exposing your puppy to things they may encounter in life positively, safely, and repetitively.
Meeting people and animals, visiting new places, hearing different sounds, smelling novel scents, and walking on different surfaces are all ways of socializing a puppy.
Contrary to popular belief, a well-socialized dog isn’t always the life of the party or best friends with everyone they encounter. To me, a well-socialized dog has the tools and coping skills to navigate life’s challenges and take new things in stride.
Socialization done right builds confidence and resilience. I don’t necessarily want my dog to see the neighbour across the street as more attractive than me or feel she must visit with every living thing that we see on a walk.
Sometimes the best outcome of socialization is having a dog that can easily adapt to changes in their environment without becoming distressed.
When exposing your puppy to new things, always monitor them for signs of fear, anxiety, or stress. Body language cues, such as a tucked tail, hunched shoulders, and tense muscles can indicate your dog is uncomfortable.
If your puppy is panting and it isn’t from heat or exertion, she may be stressed. Never force your puppy to approach something that they are unsure of.
Always be sure to heed warning signals that your puppy is having a difficult time and allow them to retreat to a safe space, such as a home, vehicle, or crate. Too much exposure too soon, also known as flooding, can be traumatic and cause lasting negative associations.
Your socialization plan should be suitable for your puppy’s personality profile. Bold and confident puppies may be able to handle multiple outings per day and still be eager for more, while shy or timid puppies will require slow, methodical socialization.
It can be helpful to keep a journal of things that your puppy has been exposed to and take notes about things that were positive or aversive to your puppy for later reference.
Enrichment training versus utilitarian training
Enrichment is less about practical skills and more about meeting your pup’s own needs. Teaching a puppy “obedience”, or what I call utilitarian skills, is valuable, but these skills are more for us than our dogs.
There are many different ways to provide your puppy with enrichment. Allowing your pup to safely sniff and explore on walks is enriching, as are scent-based activities like snuffle mats and “find it” games.
Food-dispensing puzzle toys are great for alleviating boredom, stress, and anxiety. Flirt poles allow dogs to chase and expend energy in a non-destructive way.
Climbing on or ducking under objects offers physical enrichment as does digging in a sand pit. There are countless ways to provide enrichment to your puppy that require very few resources. I recommend the book “Canine Enrichment for the Real World”.
Next steps
Training a dog is a lifelong process and isn’t complete after puppyhood. All training requires maintenance and should be enjoyable for all parties.
Find a credentialed trainer locally that uses positive training methods that are based on science.
Fearfreehappyhomes.com has many resources for puppy owners, including a directory of Fear Free professionals in your area.
About the Author
Brett Reynolds
CPDT-KA, Fear Free Animal Trainer, Mike Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master Course
Brett has been a professional dog trainer since 2005, holding every position in the industry except for a groomer. He co-founded the first-ever The Dog Stop training facility in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, where he built The Dog Stop’s training program from the ground up.
As Director of Dog Care for The Dog Stop Corporate, Brett helps develop and implement all employee training curricula, teaching staff about dog safety, communication, behaviour, and body language.
In addition to helping thousands of pet owners better understand how dogs think and behave, Brett has been hired as a trainer for multiple film productions, a private trainer for celebrities, and specializes in aggressive behaviour in canines.
He holds several professional certifications and attends continuing education year-round to deliver the best and most current dog behaviour information to The Dog Stop family and our communities.
