The education of our dog begins at an early age. The earlier he starts, the easier it will be for him to learn to behave and be a good dog. The ideal is to teach him from puppyhood, but this is not always possible. Some of the first things a dog should learn when he comes home are: to relieve himself in the right place, not to bite objects or ourselves and not to bark excessively. The rest of the rules will depend on the limits you want to establish, for example, not to ask for food at the table, not to climb on the sofa or not to stand on two legs.
When raising your puppy, you must be clear about what things you are going to allow him as an adult and act accordingly. Maybe now, when he is so small, you don’t mind if he sleeps with you in bed, but when he grows up and weighs 40 kg, you might not be so happy. The best thing to do is to keep the same rules so as not to confuse him.
Tips for training a dog
- Patience, love and perseverance.
- Do not yell or punish.
- More ignoring and less scolding of inappropriate behavior.
- Clear orders with short words and easy-to-understand gestures. Always use the same ones.
- Congratulate him with caresses and reward him with treats to motivate him. It must be done at the right time for him to learn.
- It’s no use scolding for something he did a while later, you have to do it in the moment.
- Socialization and interaction with other dogs and people from the first day. It is also advisable to socialize with other animals, such as cats, birds or rodents, especially if you are going to live with them at some point.
- Do not overprotect him, for example, by taking him in your arms when he crosses another dog in the street.
- Do not humanize. Treat your dog as what it is, a dog.
- Respect their space when eating, sleeping, playing or exploring in the street.
- Routine walks with stable schedules.
How to raise a puppy dog?
All dogs need rules to live together at home. They must know what they can and cannot do and have well marked limits. And the best way to teach them is with love and respect, avoiding scolding them so that it does not negatively affect your relationship.
Socialization
Socializing your puppy is essential for him to be happy, both with people and with other animals. He should also get used to different situations of everyday life so that he is not afraid, for example, the street, noises, storms, trips by car or public transport, bicycles, children, etc. Expose him to something different every day, without overwhelming him, so that he gets used to it all. In this way, when he is an adult, he will be a dog without fears.
How to educate my dog to relieve itself
This is one of the first things your puppy will have to learn when he comes home. At first, he will probably have to do it at home until he has all of his vaccinations and be able to go outside. Then, we will teach him to do it in a specific place in the house such as on a newspaper or a soaker; this should always be in the same place and always available. Congratulate him every time he does well and ignore when he doesn’t.
To teach a dog to relieve himself in the street you will have to take him out very often, every 2 or 3 hours, and reward him every time he pees or poops. Sometimes they need long walks to relieve themselves outside. Reduce the interval of the outings until you establish what will be their usual schedule, for example, morning, afternoon and evening.
If he misses something at home the first few times, do not scold him; it is normal for him to take a while to understand that he must always do it outside and to control it. If he continues to do it, remember to correct him only at the very moment he does it, not afterwards, as it won’t do any good; it is enough to say “no” for him to understand that it is wrong.
Some dogs learn quickly and others take longer, so be patient!
How to educate my dog not to bite?
It’s normal for your puppy to chew on things, it’s his natural way of exploring and he doesn’t know what he can and can’t chew on. Chances are, when he gets home, he will nibble on your shoes, the corners of furniture or anything else he finds in his path.
Offer toys that satisfy his desire to chew and chew and are much more interesting than forbidden things. When he chews on something he shouldn’t, say “no” and give him his toy. Gradually he will stop chewing on everything.
How to educate my dog to stay home alone?
Sometimes both puppies and adult dogs have separation anxiety when left alone. This can lead to destructive behavior, crying and stress. It is very important to teach them from day one that they cannot always be with us and feel calm when they are alone.
The best way to do this is progressively, i.e., by going out for a short time at first and gradually increasing it. In some cases we will have to start by leaving the house for only 5 minutes; it will be enough to repeat these short trips three times a day. Each time you enter the house, greet him happily and keep him company. When you notice that he has outgrown these outings, increase the time by 10 minutes, then 20 minutes, half an hour, an hour and so on.
Likewise, it is important that the dog has a safe place in the house, a quiet place with his bed, water and toys. You can also help him with accessories such as the Kong, which will keep him entertained for a while without thinking that you are gone. Putting on the radio or TV is also very effective.
How do I educate my dog not to beg for food at the table?
This is one of the simplest things. It is as simple as NEVER giving him any food when you sit at the table and ignoring him when he asks for it. The most common mistake is to give in at some point and give him something, because then he will always keep trying. You must be very forceful if you want him to stop bothering you at the table.
How do I educate my dog not to pull on the leash?
In order for you to enjoy walks with your furry friend, you must teach him to walk on a leash. It is common for dogs to pull the leash when they go outside. You have to make it clear to him that you are in control during the walk and that no matter how much he pulls, he will not be able to go where he wants to go.
It is important that the dog enjoys the walk and can “be a dog”. That is, you should give him some leash distance and allow him to sniff and explore. Although at the beginning it is better to use a 2 meter leash until he gets used to it, we advise you to use a long leash when you are in the park or in a safe area, so that he has more freedom of movement.
The best way to educate a dog to avoid pulling on the leash is to stop him dry when he does it; you have to try to make sure that the leash is never under tension. There is no need to scold him or give him a tug, which can also cause spinal, neck or choking injuries. Just stop and wait until your dog comes back to you and the leash is no longer under tension, then start walking again.
Here are some tips on how to train a dog. Once your furry one knows basic education, you can move on to training. Take a look at our post on how to train a dog and learn the simplest techniques to teach him to sit, lie down or stay still, as well as general tips on how to teach him any exercise.
Remember that positive education or training is always better, which is based on rewarding good behaviors instead of scolding and punishing bad ones.
