My Top 10 Tips for Puppy Training

When my husband and I got our month-old Dachshund puppy, we knew absolutely nothing about canine care. As a first time pet owner, I pored over internet forums and websites, looking for answers to everything from how to housetrain, to why my puppy got the hiccups. I soon learned that one month is much too young an age to be separated from its mother, and that Dachshunds in particular are a difficult breed to train. Undaunted, and using nothing but the information I found on the internet, I was determined to raise a healthy, well-trained dog. At eight months, Loopy is well on her way to becoming just that!

Here, out of mountains of material, are the top 10 tips that helped me the most:

1. Start Training Early

   Despite advice you may have heard to the contrary, I believe it is never too early to begin obedience training. Even if a puppy responds merely by reflex and doesn't truly understand what you are asking of her, you are forming good habits-for both you and your dog. It is much harder to break bad behaviours than to prevent them. So don't ever let your puppy chew on things you won't want her to chew on when she grows up. And think about what you will accept from your dog; where you will let her sleep, eliminate and play. The sooner you teach your puppy these things, the less frustrated you will be later.

2. Socialize, Socialize, Socialize

   The more people your puppy meets when she is young and fearless, the better. It's also good to socialize her with other dogs, although in your everyday life, who do you interact with more - dogs or people? You want your dog to be able to go places with you, and visit politely with your guests. So teach her, while she is still a puppy, that strangers are potential friends. Don't forget to introduce her to older people and well-behaved children too. Make sure her experiences are positive by having treats on hand for new people to give to your puppy. In her mind, she will associate meeting strangers with yummy things.

3. Kennel Train

   At first, it seemed like the cruellest thing in the world, to refuse our bed to a sweet, cuddly puppy, but giving her a "den" of her own where she feels secure and comfortable, even when we can't be with her has been a lifesaver. Not only did it prevent night-time accidents and allow us to leave the house without worrying about messes, but when we travel, we can leave her with friends who may not be as enthusiastic about having a dog in their bed. I realized the benefits of this when my mom looked after a friend's dog for about a week. Used to sleeping with his humans, this dog whined outside my Mom's bedroom door all night long, refusing to sleep on the little bed she had made for him. The rest of the week, she had to take him back to his owner's house every night so she could get some rest! Definitely, if you think you will ever have to travel without your dog, kennel train!

4. Daily Walks

   No matter how hard it may seem to make time for the daily walk, it is worth it. To put it simply, "A tired puppy is a good puppy" We take Loopy for at least a half hour walk each day and she literally seems to thank us afterwards by her behaviour. The walk is also a great time to bond with your dog, introduce her to new environments and show her you are her leader. Don't be surprised when your dog pulls on the leash at first, or digs her heels in and refused to budge. Be patient-you will both soon learn to love the walks!

5. Teach Basic Commands

   I am constantly surprised by how many dogs don't know the basics like sit, stay and come. It only takes a little effort and patience to teach your puppy these things and it is worth it. You can use your commands as a game, or to distract your puppy when she is misbehaving. Teach your puppy that nice behaviour, like lying down quietly, just might earn her a treat and she will start performing that behaviour without being asked.

6. Don't Feed From the Table

   You must decide right away not to do this, and be consistent, because if ever your dog is rewarded for begging at the table she will repeat the behaviour. Again, what might be acceptable for your family could be irritating for your guests.

7. Install a Doggy Bell

   This is a device that hangs from your doorknob that your dog can reach with its nose. We used a short leash with a cat bell tied around it. When you take your puppy out to do its business, brush her nose against the bell so it rings, before you open the door. Encourage your puppy to start ringing the bell on her own by giving her a treat whenever she does. Of course, take her outside immediately so she connects ringing the bell with going out. We realized that most of Loopy's "accidents" were caused by us not realizing what she wanted and her not being able to wait. The doggy bell changed all of that. I can hear it ring from wherever I am in the house and unlike barking or whining, the ringing bell has only one meaning-"I need to go outside!"

8. Don't Expect Too Much

   There will always be somebody with the claim, "My dog was housetrained at six weeks..." If that is you, congratulations. If not, don't feel bad. All puppies are different and smaller breeds can be especially hard to housetrain. I thought my dog would never get the hang of it, until we introduced the "doggy bell" (See # 7) Just keep lots of antiseptic wipes on hand for the accidents that are bound to happen and try not to lose your temper with your dog.

9. Rewards, Not Handouts

   A great tip I found was to ask your puppy to do something before giving any treats or affection. I never would have thought of this on my own, but it really helps the puppy see you as the leader of the pack and prevents her from becoming a spoiled dog. We ask Loopy to perform a simple command before giving her a toy to play with, letting her up on the couch or even petting her. The great thing about this is that instead of jumping up, barking or pawing to get what she wants, your puppy does cute things like offering a paw to shake.

10. Take Lots of Video

    Okay, so I made this one up, but you will be amazed by how fast your adorable little puppy will grow. I have video of Loopy learning to "sit", "lay down" and "shake a paw" at eight weeks old and she is so much cuter than I remembered! I guess I was so busy cleaning up her messes (see #8) that I forgot to notice. One day, your puppy will do something that will frustrate you, and you might just need some endearing footage of her to put you back in good humour.