Have you recently adopted a puppy? Congratulations! Your new pet is bound to keep you smiling with his adorable tail wags. Puppy kisses are one of the best things in life as far as we are concerned! However, little Fido’s first year is a crucial time: your canine pal has a lot of growing to do, and a lot to learn! Read on for some great puppy training tips from an Ashburn, VA vet.
All dogs should know basic obedience commands, like Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down . Start with these, and teach your pooch one at a time. Don’t move on until you are sure that little Fido has mastered each command.
Housebreaking and crate training are also important, and actually work very well together. You can start work on these immediately, while working on little Fido’s obedience training.
If you give little Fido a report card with a gold sticker on it, he’ll probably try to eat it. Therefore, you’ll need to reward your four-legged pupil with something he’s much more interested in, like praise, belly rubs, and, of course, treats. Snacks are actually a great training aid. Choose something small, like bits of kibble or cut-up hot dog pieces. You don’t want to overfeed your pup!
Always use the same phrases when training your furry student. For instance, you don’t want to say ‘Sit’ one day and ‘Sit down, now’ the next. This may just confuse little Fido, and delay his progress.
Dogs don’t have particularly long attention spans. Long classes will likely bore your puppy, so keep training sessions short and sweet. About 15-20 minutes at a time is fine.
Only work with your canine buddy when you are feeling cheerful. Dogs are very astute, and your furry pal will quickly notice if you are in a bad mood. You don’t want little Fido to form a bad association with training!
Patience is very important when training dogs. Never punish your canine companion for not learning something quickly enough. Instead, just focus on rewarding little Fido when he does something right. If you find yourself having difficulty, consult your vet or a professional dog trainer.
Please contact us, your Ashburn, VA animal clinic, with any questions or concerns about your pet’s health or care. We are here to help!
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