How to train your puppy

Pet writer DEBBIE WOODLIFFE shares some top tips on how positive reinforcement can help to successfully train your new puppy.

Using positive reinforcement like treats, praise and encouragement can be an effective way to train your puppy, help them learn essential behaviours to see them through life and keep them safe. Whether it’s crate training or learning not to jump up, using positive reinforcement early on is crucial to raising a safe and happy dog.

Keep reading as we discuss the benefits of this training style alongside some essential puppy training tips & tricks.

What behaviours do new puppies need to learn?

There are lots of things young dogs needs to learn to keep safe, happy, and calm during their life. The Dog’s Trust has loads of advice about basic puppy training, but most dogs will need to know about:

Sitting and staying - whilst out on a walk, waiting for meals, around other people, and dogs.

Heel - teaching your puppy that they should stay close to you will help them feel safe whilst out on walks.

Recall - your puppy should learn to respond to its name and come back to you when it is called to prevent any unwelcome chasing or playing with other animals or people.

Where to go to the toiletwhilst your puppy probably won't go to the bathroom on cue, positive reinforcement can help teach them to go in the garden and not the house.

The sooner you train your dog, the better, as they won’t have time to develop challenging traits. Plus, it can help them feel safe and in control which may help to reduce anxietyrelated behaviours such as barking or biting.

Depending on your puppy's specific behaviours, you may feel that additional training is required. You may need to prevent them from jumping up onto people or help them overcome attachment anxiety, or to make them more comfortable when travelling in the car.

The same principles apply to training and rewards - just be sure not to reward or punish bad behaviour, as any attention towards ‘incorrect’ behaviour will only confuse your dog.

Should I take my dog to training classes?

Dog training classes not only teach your dog obedience, but they also help to socialise puppies, desensitise them and keep them calm around other dogs. You will also be able to receive tailored advice from a professional that can help you improve your training technique at home. So, even if you only attend a handful of classes with your dog, it can pay off in the long run.

Puppy classes are most valuable when started between eight weeks and three months of age (once vaccinated), as this is the primary time for socialisation. Many dog owners leave training too late and end up needing to correct poor behaviour.

What is positive reinforcement?

Rewarding good behaviour is a common training and conditioning technique. For example, parents give their children a tasty snack after eating all their greens, and teachers offer gold stars to the best performers in class. It can be a successful and pleasant way to change behaviour - and it works with animals as well as humans.

Giving your dog positive reinforcement, whether it’s treats, toys or praise, has many benefits:

1. It encourages them to repeat the behaviour which resulted in it.

2. It can help them to associate the treats and good behaviour with a specific cue.

3. The positivity can build their confidence

4. The encouragement can help them learn to make good decisions

The happy, cheerful tones can help them relax in more stressful situations. You also need to ensure you keep any verbal communication short and clear. So, pick concise verbal cues and use them in a calm tone:

- Sit

- Lie

- Stay

- Come

- Up

- Drop

- Heel.

Also, whilst using verbal cues, use your body language as a guide for your puppy. For example, if you are teaching them to lie down, hold the treat near their nose and sit down with them as you move the treat toward the floor. Soon enough, they will be able to associate the cue, treat and body language with the right behaviours.

When you are training your puppy, ensure that everyone else in your household is on board and using the same cues to avoid confusion. You should also ensure you aren't rewarding bad behaviour by accident like if your puppy barks a lot and you give them fuss or talk to them, they will learn that barking gets them the attention they want.

What rewards can I use?

Make sure you don’t overfeed your puppy when training as they have different nutritional requirements than older dogs. It's best to go for small, natural treats suitable for puppies aged two months and up. Types of rewards include:

- Small treats or pieces of dog food

- Petting, cuddles or fuss

- Upbeat verbal communication

- Toys

Remember to use the reward immediately after your dog performs the desired behaviour. They might not perform it correctly at the start, but you can reward them for getting closer to it or hold back the reward and encourage them to finish the training.

When should I stop using rewards?

Once your dog is successfully following your cues, slowly reduce the number of treats you're giving them. Try rewarding them every other time and decrease until they are following your orders without a reward.

By all means, continue to praise them each time, but it won’t need to be as over the top as when using praise as a reward.

Now you know how to start using positive reinforcement to train your new puppy and why it's so important. So, what will you teach your four-legged friend first?