Home » Pets & Animals » Dogs » Puppy Training

Puppy Obedience Training Advice

Ranked #11,629 in Pets & Animals, #304,556 overall

Puppy Obedience Training Tips

So now you have a brand new puppy member of the family and he is so cute and cuddly, but before you get too carried away you should now be thinking about puppy obedience training.

First of all you should decide what rules and regulations you want your puppy to abide by. For example, where is your puppy going to sleep and where will you place his bed. You should also decide whether or not you are going to allow your puppy onto the furniture.

If you make these decisions right from the start and stick to them, this will make training your puppy much easier in the long run. It is not a good idea if you let your new puppy sleep on your bed and lay on the sofa, then decide at a later date that this is not what you want him to do. This will make your puppy very confused. So set the ground rules now and then you and your puppy will both know where you stand.

Contents at a Glance

Puppy Toilet Training
Puppy Crate Training
Puppy Obedience Training For Puppy Bitin...
Puppy Obedience Training For Chewing Pro...
Puppy Obedience Training Products
Make Puppy Obedience Training Fun

Puppy Toilet Training

Puppy toilet training will be a very important part of your puppy obedience training plan. The best thing to do is to plan your routine around your puppy. You puppy cannot tell you when he wants to relieve himself so you will need to watch him carefully for the signs that he needs to go to the toilet.

If you see your puppy sniffing the floor and walking around in circles that is a sure sign that he needs the bathroom, so immediately take him outside to his toilet area.

(You can read my lens below for more Puppy Toilet Training advice)

Puppy Crate Training

Some people will dismiss puppy crate training out of hand. They image it would be cruel and inhumane to crate train their puppy. But really if done properly, nothing could be further from the truth. Dogs are den animals and love to have their own private place where they can feel safe and secure.

If you are having trouble toilet training your puppy, you should at least consider puppy crate training as this will help greatly with toilet training your puppy.

Read my lens below for further advice on Puppy Crate Training.

Puppy Obedience Training For Puppy Biting Problems

Puppies Love To Nip and Bite

Puppies love to nip and bite when they are playing, this is usual puppy behaviour which they learn when playing with their siblings. Play-fighting with their siblings is great fun for puppies and helps them to develop reflexes, co-ordination and physical skills. It also teaches them how to interact and bond with each other. This is all very well and quite natural when they are having fun and games with their litter mates but of course biting and nipping is not acceptable behaviour to humans. Puppies have needle sharp teeth and if you get bitten it can be very painful, so teaching your puppy not to bite and nip is another important part of Puppy Obedience Training.

A good way to teach your puppy not to bite is to cry OUCH!! in a very loud voice whenever you puppy bites or nips you. This reaction will startle your puppy and he will usually stop. Reward and praise your puppy when he stops biting. If he starts biting again, cry OUCH!! and get up and walk away from him. If you have a very naughty puppy that persistently bites you, get up and leave the room for a moment or two. Your puppy will be dismayed at being left alone in the room. Return to the room and if you puppy continues to bite, repeat the process and leave the room again. If you repeat this process a few times your puppy will get the message that nipping and biting is not acceptable behaviour.

Puppy Obedience Training For Chewing Problems

Puppies Love To Chew And Explore

Young puppies are like human babies in that they like to chew especially to help with their teething. So always make sure your puppy has plenty of appropriate chews and toys. If you catch your puppy trying to chew carpets or furniture, say "no" very firmly and give your puppy something appropirate to chew instead, like a puppy chew or toy. Praise your puppy when he takes the chew or toy.

The world is an exciting place for young puppies and they love to explore with their mouths. So make sure there are no small items left laying around the house, such as jewellery, money, remote controls, paper clips, rubber bands etc. Puppies can easily choke on small items.

Make sure all rubbish and waste paper bins are out of your puppy's reach. Puppies have a strong sense of smell and they love to rummage through bins.

Try to avoid leaving your puppy alone in a room where he can chew things, like the furniture or carpets and always keep a close watch on your puppy because you never know what he will get up to next.

Puppies tend to resort to chewing things they shouldn't chew when they are bored. So make sure you give your puppy the appropriate amount of exercise, depending on the breed of dog. Supply your puppy with plenty of interesting toys to play with as this will also help to avoid him chewing up the furniture and carpets.

Puppy Obedience Training Products

Make Puppy Obedience Training Fun

Be Firm But Fair With Your Puppy

I know it is all too easy to be too soft on your new puppy. Of course this does not imply that you should be too harsh either. But puppies are just like children and need to know where their boundaries lie, so teach your puppy firmly but gently what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Therefore giving your puppy good puppy obedience training now will ensure that he will grow into a well behaved dog and a much loved and trusted member of the family.

Life is to be enjoyed, so have fun with your new puppy and have lots of happy times together!