Hi there, My name is Anna! This blog is a continuation of my podcast, Savvy Hound Training on Spotify. This post is dedicated to all the first time dog owners out there. We will be discussing house training, crate training, and basic obedience. I do not strive for perfection when training because frankly, it doesn't exist. My goal is to help you achieve the best version of your dog.
Let's begin with the basics. Owning a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. Dogs teach us a lot:How to be compassionate, how to be patient, and they show us unconditional love. They live for the smallest of interactions with people and other dogs. We should never take this important family member for granted.
HOUSE TRAINING
For those of you with puppies or older dogs still struggling with house training, I strongly suggest ditching those potty pads. The problem? By using them in your home you are essentially training your dog to potty in a specific place in your home. Once those pads are gone your dog will still remember that place as the spot to relieve themselves. My tip to avoiding this is to make a schedule for potty breaks. For younger pups, I recommend taking them outside every 2 hours as they are still developing proper bladder function. I also recommend taking pups outside after every meal. This means once the bowl is empty grab the leash and head out the door. Do not wait for the dog to digest their food. Waiting gives time for your pup to sniff around and go indoors. For those of you who are still working from home, this can be accomplished a little easier than for those of us who have to go into the office.
CRATE TRAINING
This leads to the topic of crate training. A crate should not just be used as a tool for house training, and there are many opinions out there on whether crate training should or should not be encouraged after puppyhood. I think crate training is a must and should be encouraged throughout your pup's life. The crate should be viewed as a safe space for your dog to get away from household distractions. To teach this to your pup I recommend encouraging positive association with the crate. This means feeding all meals in the crate and giving bones or chews in the crate. This will teach your dog that good things happen when they are in the crate vs the alternative of being crated only when you leave the home, which can trigger anxiety and abandonment issues.
BASIC OBEDIENCE
Now on to basic obedience. I believe that the strongest bonds are made during training. This is a time for one-on-one interactions between dog and handler. That being said training should begin as soon as you get home with your new friend. I'm well aware that training is the last thing on people’s minds the first day of having a dog but it’s honestly vital. You are setting ground rules for the home and will instill a level of respect towards you. Keep training sessions short for the most part - dogs have short attention spans (about 15 minutes). I recommend training your pup for no more than 5-10 minutes at a time. We are also talking about basic training here so this will just be sit, down, stay, and come. These are all relatively easy to teach and children should be encouraged to participate in training the new family member. Make sure training is kept fun. This means high-value treats and loads of praise. By decreasing stress during training interactions, you are fostering a bond like no other. Everyone involved should be having a good time. If you notice yourself getting frustrated in the progress walk away from training for 10 - 20 minutes then try again. Dogs are highly intelligent and pick up on humans' stress levels and this will change the way things progress. Just remember to have fun. You have just made a massive life change by bringing a dog home and things are going to be awesome! #puppy #dog #dogtraining
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