What are some good tips on how to train a puppy?

Answer 1

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Well it depends what you want to train it really?

Knowing animal psychology is a big help here, Also knowing how to use a reward system will benefit you a milestone.

Basically dogs do not know right from wrong.. even when trained... Its all about conditioning making the dog do what you want by instinct. E.G.. Dog is trained to lie down and the dog gets a reward (food of some sort) The dog will always do the command after training for the food... not because it thinks its doing right.

Shouting is a big NO NO... You will just knock the dog back steps... Correction is the key here and timing is so so so important (i cannot stress this enough) Use certain correction techniques when the dog is doing wrong.. (I use a sharp hiss to tell my dogs they are doing wrong then immediately correct the dog) If the dog is fouling in the house then a hiss while they are doing it then put the dog out (even if it is still fouling) There are so so so many techniques out there but most are just utter rubbish. If you want more help please say so and swap emails... I will then give you advise on exactly what problems you are having.

Source(s):

Working in the Royal Army Veterinary Corp as a Dog Trainer!

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Asker's Comment:

Thanks!

Answer 2

Lift the dog outside when it's crapping or pissing, basically all my dog knows lmao.

Answer 3

Wow, if this is really Owen Wilson, I'm sure you can afford the best dog trainer out there!

Answer 4

If you can, find a local breed club near you to make some contacts in your breed choice. They will be invaluable in their experience and knowledge of your chosen breed and will be able to point you towards some good training clubs around for your pup.

One absolute good tip - Be consistent from day one. Know what you expect from your dog and its behaviour and never accept anything less. Do not be fooled into the school of thought that "Its a pup, Ill train it when its older". Training starts the day you bring pup home. And RESEARCH - you can never do enough research into behaviour and breed type, keep up with the "dog world" and NEVER second guess your dogs medical state.

Answer 5

Take the dog outside to the same spot every time you take it.
Take the dog outside first thing in the morning, before and after playtime, after every time it eats, before nap-time, after nap-time, every-time you let it out of it's kennel, and before bed. Get super excited for the dog when it does the correct thing, and praise the dog for doing well. Good luck with the dog.

Answer 6

Well, sometimes it all depends on the puppy! Some are stubborn and some are willing to learn. I would say start out with the simple things first. You know, the basics...sit, stay, come, lie down, is pretty easy for a puppy. Then after you accomplish those basic skills, you should move on to the harder things. Like heel, leash breaking, couch breaking, etc. The hardest thing for me to do when I got my puppy was to house break him. If he/ she wets/poops in your house, find them, stick their nose in it and whip them with a paper. After you do that take them immediately outside. Hope this helps!!

Answer 7

Let me guess labrador? lol

Firm training is the best way to go with any sporting dog. It all depends on what kind of training you want done. Obedience, housebreaking, walking on leash, etc. All have different methods. If its obedience then i suggest getting the dog outside on a leash and working with them way better than indoors.

Rewards are a good way to get a dog to do stuff, when the dog does something good give them a treat. If its wrong tell them no and try it again.

Repetition is the key to getting dogs to understand what we want from them.

EDIT- Yes i do believe in positive reinforcement, but on the other hand it does not work for every dog. And rewarding them for bad behavior is the worst thing a person can do. Thats why i say firm but fair training. When the dog does something good reward him/her with either a favorite toy or treat. When she/he does something bad then do not reward and give a firm correction.

Never hit them hard, a slight tap does not hurt them though. And a firm vocal correction is also good.

Answer 8

Use a 'clicker' and treats (available at most pet stores). Works really well for basic training and commands like 'sit', 'lie down', 'paw' etc. I tried it on our labrador when he was a puppy and it really worked. Also came with a little book giving advice on how to use it. One trick is to hold the clicker where you want the dog to go and clearly say the command when you click it. Eg for 'down', click near to the ground and drag your hand towards you and away from dog.

Answer 9

Get your puppy enrolled in puppy classes. If the trainer is competent you'll receive the whole package, not just individual tricks. It's important that the dog is properly socialised around people and other dogs. Puppy classes should help with that.

Find out as much as you can about the breed you are going for before and after purchase. Find out what you can reasonably expect from the puppy/dog - and what it will need from you.

Answer 10

My shortest book on puppies has over 200 pages.

Answer 11

I am a big fan of positive reinforcement. Puppies LOVE praise and attention, and giving them neither is the worst punishment they can receive!! If your puppy is, for example, chewing on the couch, give them a good toy (like a kong) to chew on and praise praise praise when they chew the right thing!! If you find them on the couch again, just keep repeating, but yelling and screaming, and god especially hitting, are just ways to make your dog fear you, not respect you. The best dog/owner relationships are built this way in my opinion, good luck!!!

Never rub your animals face in or near their waste, that's horrible, and it will only make them fear you and be afraid to go potty around you, which you need them to feel comfortable to be able to train them to go outside. That is a horrible way to go about it, your poor animals :(

Answer 12

Well i got 3 tips on it really and they have all worked for me and others, 1st the corner were he usually goes cover that with paper and make a point of leeting him now thats his/hers toilet, 2nd every time you catch hi/her doing any mess grab them rub there paw and noise on it and put them outside, 3rd and last if they carry on just put them out for like and hour plus so they now that what they are doing is wrong and i guarentee with in the nxt month or so they will stop

Answer 13

give it lots of treats

Answer 14

Start out as you mean to go one. If you have friends with dogs then try and get your puppy out with them as much as possible. i've got an old dog from a rescue Centre and he is aggressive to other dogs, we will never get it out of him he is just too stuck in his ways. So make sure you socialise him properly. good luck with your new puppy. x

Source(s):

Past expeirence

Answer 15

I'm sure any puppy would instantly warm to you, Owen! One of the funniest actors in Hollywood today:-)

Answer 16

go on utube. it has everything!!

Answer 17

communication skills, voice to sound recognition (stay, sit, lay down, jump) learn from each other, how the puppy barks and when, use familiar words in repetitive situations, one on one play time, have fun,

example:
one bark ~hey!
two barks ~hurry up!
three barks ~emergency gotta go , now!
growls, stay away from my food, or away from my space!

treat? ~two ears up
who's that? ~one ear up, glares right,
no-o-o! ~ears down
clap hands, attention! ,or get out of the kitchen I'm baking,

and create a routine outdoors more so, use leash when necessary per municipal bi-law regulations, search for parks and paths, have proper tags and health requirements, avoid keeping pets in closed quarters and small fenced areas, put yourself in their paws, and realize some freedoms by nature is important, have a dog house and play areas preset, and understand that animals may make bew-spews now and then, often when left alone in household, have neighbors and friends be recognized by sight and scent, others may have pets with scents unknown (cats, birds, hormones),

follow and lead by example, there are many hidden skills to be learned,
________

Halo pet care, ;}
http://www.halopets.com/
Purina :)
http://www.purina.com/
Milkbone :P
http://www.milkbone.com/

☥♡☯☮✌
..

Source(s):

this question UK listed, Special feature in Canada, & Australia ,
also related is Jennifer Anistons question: now in "voting " stage
What is your funniest family pet moment?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…
in regards to ~Marley & Me
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822832/
..

Answer 18

dont lose your temper, leave newspaper by the door, praise him/her when they do good,have a lot of doggie treats, give them something to chew,, this is really important, lots of things that belong to them, use a stern voice if they chew the wrong thing and make it obvious what they can chew, and buy a good book on how to train your dog, i must say i have trained a lot of them it sort of comes to you as you go along,

Answer 19

Praise it and give it a titbit when it does something right. Tap it gently on its back with a rolled up newspaper when it does something wrong.

Source(s):

Works!

Answer 20

Well first things first, it totally depends on the breed as to how you should train it.
With all dogs, no matter what breed however, the most important thing you can do is SOCIALISE.
seriously.

Any dog, if properly socialised, can generally get on, or tolerate/ignore most other creatures. Dogs are versatile and intelligent.

Whilst socialising, ground rules are important, these can be reinforced with food (most large dog breeds prefer this method) or/and praise, which many of the smaller breeds cope with.

No matter what you're training your dog to do however, negative reinforcement is a definite no-no. Hitting, kicking hard (a tap with a foot for larger dogs is fine) or in any other way physically hurting your puppy will cause bad attitudes towards certain objects, people or situations which can result in fearful aggression.

As a 'famous dude' though, I think you don't really need any of this advice..you just want to push your movie into the spotlight some more ;)

Source(s):

lots of reading

Answer 21

Buy a book on dog/puppy training!

Answer 22

How To Train A Puppy

Having a new puppy in the home excites everyone especially children but make sure you got the puppy for a good reason and not just on a spur of the moment feeling. Like they say dogs are for life not just for Christmas. A puppy can bring lots of happy memories and times but they have a lot of training and work involved to, they are not all fun and no work!

A puppy's temperament depends on where the puppy has been brought up and what type of breed he is. German shepherds, Rottweilers, bull dogs and boxers are all guard type dogs so tend to be very loving and protective. Border and bearded collies tend to be herding dogs and reared on farms and tend to be quite enthusiastic and never sit still (be aware because they are reared on a farm they may be a little bit nervous around modern day technologies, such as bridges, loud noises etc). Labradors, gun dogs and pointer are all hunting dogs so expect them to be full of energy and laughable moments. Of course these are just general expectations every dog has its day...and its personality!

Training a puppy is something that can be achieved in a matter of weeks depending how much time and attention you spend on it. You don't need to train for hours and hours a day, a few minutes several times a day is all it takes. The first thing you need to train your new puppy in is obedience, commands like sit, come, heel, stay and fetch are basic enough for them to learn. As they get older you can incorporate commands like paw, roll over and play dead! Training a young puppy is not as hard as you may think as they are like a blank sheet of paper waiting to be written on. The way they are taught and what they are taught will stick with them and will influence them later on in life, although training isn't forever so you need spend a few minutes every day just to keep reminding them what to do.

There are not so nice consequences involved when puppies aren't trained, for starters your house will constantly be a teething ground for them and your furniture will have massive holes in it. Puppies are like babies and need to be taught the difference between right and wrong, to do this you need some puppy dog training!

Many handlers experienced or in-experienced are turning towards training products and aids but training can be done without these methods. Just a bit of good old hard work! A puppy may take several months to training but when it is complete the rewards will be well worth it, but don't forget to stay up on your training for several minutes each day or your dog will slowly forget and you'll have to start all over again, with an even bigger task, training an older and sometimes bigger dog!

Source(s):

My source :- http://www.katie-kanga.co.uk/how-to-trai…

Answer 23

Always be patient, make sure you and the dog have a good bond together. Teach the puppy the five basic commands first, before training anything else.


Good Luck!

P.S I like to watch your movies. You're a great actor.

Source(s):

Professional Bullmastiff Breeder

Answer 24

Wipe its **** with sandpaper if it craps in the house.

Answer 25

well obviously first you want to potty train it so here's what you do: when he is "going bathroom" in the house you pick him/her up and put him/her in the place you would like him/her to go to bathroom for example my dog goes to the bathroom in my backyard. *DO NOT TELL HIM/HER ITS BAD UNTIL HE HAS BEEN IN YOUR HOUSE FOR ABOUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS* after 2 months then tell start telling him/her no or what ever word you wish to use to let him/her hes/shes being bad. (NOTE: don't use the same word to often if hes/shes a naughty pup because they'll think its there name) if he/she is a biter then when ever they bite you hold there moulth closed (NOTE: not to hard or tight just enough to keep him from moving) look him/her in the eye and say no,ouch or which ever word you choose to let him/her know they've been bad. Since all puppies do bad things because they are testing to see what they can/cannot do you'll need to train them there as well. I use a water bottle and just spray my puppy when hes bad well saying no he knows what hes aloud to do and not do now. to stop him/her from eating furniture just put hot sauce on there (not to much) unless the puppy likes really hot things they wont be biting the furniture anymore. now for tricks. tricks are easy puppies will do anything for food/treats etc to teach him basics like sit,wait,laydown,etc just offer treats, for example to teach him to sit tell him to sit push his/her butt down and say sit then give cookies soon enough they will know what the word 'sit' means. I hope I could have helped and i wish you and your new puppy happy times and a great life.


here are some sites that can help as well:
http://www.dogtraininghq.com/
http://www.perfectpaws.com/pupstuff.html
http://dogs.about.com/od/purelypuppies/P…

Source(s):

I am sorry for the long awnser but it should help with everything and i really do hope that you and your new best friend are a happy couple.

(also I know this isn't part of the question but i just wanted to say me and my pup snoopy enjoyed marley and me kinda cried at the end but great movie)

Answer 26

First steps in puppy training


Step I - getting the puppy's attention

The only way your puppy will ever learn to respond to your commands is if you can first attract his attention and encourage the pup to home in on YOU. A young pup will generally look at you and prick his ears up when you speak to him. It is vital that you are able to keep this attention in order to proceed with further training.

Once your puppy really knows his name, attracting his attention is easy. It is amazing how many adult dogs do not know their names. Their owners would not agree, but ask them to call the dog when he is not already paying attention to them and see if he responds. How many times does the owner have to call the dog's name before they are acknowledged (and how loud do they end up shouting?). Eventually, many people will resort to words like biscuit or walkies to get attention. These words, said in an excited tone get a response, so why not the dog's own name? The truth is, all too often, nobody has ever taken the time to really teach the dog that it's name has any importance, but words like biscuit are very important.

Puppies respond to almost anything said in a friendly tone, so it is easy to assume that they have recognised the name when it is jumbled up with a whole load of other words. Time spent now on teaching your puppy his name, and practicing attracting his attention is an ideal base for future training.

Teaching your puppy his name

Several times a day, take a few minutes to reinforce your puppy' s name. Arm yourself with some titbits and toys and put your pup on his lead. The lead is helpful to give you some gentle control over the pup' s movements - should he decide that something else is more interesting, you can stop him from wandering off without having to chase him. You are in charge. Use your titbits and toys to attract the pup' s attention, call his name, and reward him for looking at you. Next, hold the titbit up to your face so the pup has to look up at you when he responds to your calling his name. Repeat this several times and the pup will soon learn that, when he looks up at you, he is rewarded.

At the same time as you reward the pup with a food treat, also use verbal praise, tell the pup he is good. As you progress, the sound of your voice will be the reward, the occasional titbit merely a bonus. Repeat the exercise using a toy to attract the pup' s attention. Call his name and squeak a toy, or tap a ball on the floor. Hold the toy up to your face, call the pup' s name, then throw the toy gently (remember, he is on the lead so don't throw the ball too far!). Allow the pup to chase the toy, and gently guide him back to you to continue the game.


Experiment with different toys, treats and tones of voice to learn what works best for your pup. Always reward your pup when he responds to his name and he will come to know that that specific sound reallv is his own name. An example session with 'Buster' the puppy:

Owner puts Buster on lead, takes piece of cheese from polythene bag behind back, holds cheese between thumb and forefinger, shows it to Buster but does not give it to him, brings hand with cheese back in towards body and calls 'Buster' in an upbeat, happy voice. Buster follows the cheese and looks at trainer. Good boys, Buster, give cheese
Repeat 34 times

Future repetitions: hold cheese up to face, so Buster must look up at you replace food with squeaky toy, ball bounced on floor, chew tapped on floor etc.

Once you can be confident of getting your puppy' s attention and holding it for a few moments at a time, you will be able to start incorporating recalls and positions into your training sessions.

Step 2 -teaching your puppv to sit

Whv? A dog in a sitting position is more relaxed and attentive than one that is bouncing around. The dog can pay attention to you and take his cues as to what to do next from you when he is sitting quietly. You can slip a collar and lead on, examine him and groom him easily from a sitting position. The sitting position is ideal for the dog to greet people. A puppy leaping up on visitors is cute, but a 30 kg muddy monster may not be so welcome!

How? With the pup on his lead to stop him wandering off, attract his attention with a toy or tit bit and slowly raise the reward above his head. The pup' s head should follow the treat and, as the head comes up. the bottom must go down, placing the puppy naturally into a sitting position. At the exact instant that the puppy' s bottom touches the ground, give him the food treat and praise him, but DO NOT SAY SIT

Repeat the exercise a number of times, until the pup understands what you expect from him. Some pups catch on very quickly, others will take a little longer. Once you are sure that the pup will sit as you raise the hand with the treat, start saying 'SIT' as you give him the treat at the exact moment he assumes the sit position so he can associate the action with the word. Do not be tempted to use the command before you are confident that the pup understands what you want from him. Remember, at this stage, the pup does not yet know what 'sit' means - it is just a noise.

If you use the word repeatedly while he is jumping around, he will learn to associate the word with what he was doing when you said it. 'Sit' could come to mean leap around and play, not park your bottom on the ground! Dogs understand body language far more readily than they understand our verbal form of communication. In time, you will be able to phase out the hand signal and use the word 'sit' alone, but do not be in too much of a rush to do so.


Get into the habit of giving only one command. If you have to keep repeating yourself, you are either not keeping the puppy's attention or he does not understand what you want. Go back to the beginning, show him again, and reward him every time he gets it right.


As soon as your puppy has caught on to the idea of sitting when he is asked, it is a good idea to get into the habit of asking him to sit and briefly attend to you before he gets anything he wants. In dog language, this is simply good manners. Ask the pup to sit and attend to you briefly before you feed him, play a game, groom him, put his lead on, give him a cuddle or proceed with other training.

Teaching the puppy to lie down

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Why?
This is an ideal position for the dog to be in while you examine him or administer first aid. A dog which is lying down is less reactive to what is going on around him and is far more likely to STAY in position should he need to be left for a few moments. An instant DOWN from a distance can be a life saver if the dog is heading for danger such as an approaching train when he is running close to a railway line, a horse galloping down a bridleway etc.
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Method
Start with the puppy paying attention to you in the sit position. Using his favourite titbit or toy, hold the treat level with the puppy' s nose and slowly lower the reward down in front of the puppy. On reaching the floor, drag the treat towards you, in are in front of the puppy. The puppy' s head should follow the reward and he will slide into the down position.

Praise the pup and give him the reward at the moment that he assumes the correct position. It may take a few attempts before the pup catches on and understands what is required of him before he earns the reward. Some puppies, particularly of the smaller breeds, do not lie down properly using this method. If this is happening, try sitting next to the puppy and using your legs as a 'bridge' to draw the treat under.

The pup will follow the treat under the tunnel and will be encouraged to lie down. Make sure he received his reward at the exact moment when he lies down. Practice and good timing will reward you both. As with teaching 'sit', do not use the command until you are sure the puppy understands what you want from him.

Teaching the puppy to come when called



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Why?
Very young puppies tend to follow their people around, and it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of security that this will continue forever! Sooner or later you will take your puppy for walks somewhere with many interesting distractions and for the safety and sanity of all concerned it helps if you are confident the puppy will come back. Many dogs are never allowed to run free as their owners are afraid they will not come back when called. This is very frustrating for the dog and makes it difficult for them to express normal canine behaviours.
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Method
Your puppy will be eager to return to you if you make sure that you are the most exciting thing around! This is very easy in the house with no major distractions but can be a little more difficult in the park where there are other dogs to play with, or even at puppy playgroup! Enhancing your puppy appeal may involve titbits, toys and your voice.

Remember that your puppy' s line of focus is very low to the ground, so don't be afraid to get down to his level - bend or kneel down and tap the floor, shake a toy or clap your hands. As with any training exercise, always gain the puppy's attention before issuing any commands. Have his interest focused on you and, once you are sure he is coming towards you call his name and the word 'come'. Lots of praise is needed every time the puppy comes to you, even when you have not called him. If the puppy becomes distracted before he reaches you, back away from him, making lots of exciting noises to attract his attention.

Do not be tempted to go after him - this will turn into a terrific (for the puppy) chasing game and he will probably win! Always praise the puppy when he comes to

Answer 27

Puppies live in the moment, and have a real pack identity. Take them outside before they go and make sure that you do this a few times every day and night and then reward them when they go. This makes it a habit and lets them practice over time. As they grow, they remember and control better.

When you take them outdoors for the training, show them it's not playtime by assuming the pack leader, alpha male attitude; be stern until they do the right thing, and then be happy to reward them.

Also, thanks for all the great work you do, the entertainment and comedy. You are greatly appreciated and I'm glad to get this opportunity to let you know.

Ta Ta For Now.

Answer 28

Patience
Perseverance
Consistency

...and never show fear...

Answer 29

ONE THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND, IS NEVER TRAIN BY MEANS OF 'FEAR'.
LATER, IT WILL OBEY YOU, BUT FEAR YOU, +CAUTIOUS TO LOVE YOU.
ANIMALS HAVE NOT LOST THEIR SENSITIVITY WHICH HAVE BEEN PART OF THEIR SURVIVAL "KIT". YOU GIVE THEM ASSURANCE ETC. AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU LOVING OBEDIENCE AND COMPANIONSHIP. THAT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. I HOPE IT WILL BE YOURS.
KINDLY FIRM, IF. NECC. AND REWARDING WHEN THAT IS DUE.

Source(s):

EXPERIENCE

Answer 30

be consistent with your punishment/praise. Like children, they need a role model. Remember...your puppy doesn't speak human..merely listens to your tone of voice...so make sure you sound like what you are saying(if that makes sense!!)a deep firm 'NO' would be interpretted as a growl...a high and happy 'good dog!' is a playful yap...know what I mean.have fun speaking doggy!!xx

Answer 31

Love and praise. Dogs give unconditional love and deserve it back. I use repetitive behaviour and then give tons of praise when they get it right. They love to please and will do anything for the right owner. Good luck :-) Unfortunately we don't have a dog at the moment as we don't have a garden but it works for our cats too :-)