Everyone knows that puppies are adorable—and it’s a good thing that they are, because all that energy and inability to control their impulses can make them very difficult to live with in those early months. Early dog training in Canal Winchester, OH is not only possible, it’s also important, unless you enjoy waking up to chewed shoes and knocked-over garbage cans. Ideally, you should start training your dog from the moment you bring them home. The earlier they learn to control themselves, the more peaceful your household will be.
Why training is crucial
When your 10-pound puppy jumps up on you, it’s cute. When your 100-pound, five-foot-tall Akita jumps on you, it’s dangerous—so you need to train that behavior out of them as soon as possible. The longer you wait to address unwanted behaviors, like jumping, barking, biting, chewing on forbidden objects and more, the harder it will be to train your dog out of them.
You can train your puppy in a number of ways, but most experts suggest working with them to reward good behavior and redirect from the bad. This can be done with treats or simply saying “good dog” in a happy voice. Dogs usually want to please their owners (or at least get some tasty treats), so positive reinforcement is a powerful tool. If the unwanted behaviors get no attention, they’ll quickly decide they’re not worth it.
Never physically punish your dog. Even yelling might be construed as attention and reinforce the behavior.
Advantages of early puppy training
Why is it so important to get started early on dog training in Canal Winchester, OH? Here are some of the biggest benefits:
- Socializes your dog: Being able to get along with other dogs and people is an important part of training. This can start around seven to eight weeks, and will help your dog learn how to behave when they’re out of the house or meeting new humans. If holding your dog back on walks, when visitors come over or when you’re at the dog park doesn’t sound fun, they need to be socialized right away.
- Promotes an early and strong bond: Your dog looks to you as an authority figure and caretaker, and will generally want to do things that make you happy. The only way they can learn what makes you happy and which rules to follow is if you train them. It also gives them the appropriate physical and mental stimulation they need in order to be happy. In turn, the time you spend training your dog will deepen your bond and set you up for a lifetime of loyalty and enjoyment.
- Gets rid of negative behaviors: Of course, the biggest reason to train them early is so that they don’t turn into holy terrors. Untrained dogs often end up running the household because their owners are too afraid—or don’t know how—to say no. To avoid your tiny puppy turning into an impossible overlord, train them early.
When you need early dog training in Canal Winchester, OH, Lucky Bones Pet Resort can help. Call us today to enroll your puppy in one of our classes!
