The Foundation for Successful Puppy Training
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by: chrisbloczynski
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When your dog is a puppy, it seems like you have all the time in the world to teach him right from wrong. You figure "lessons" can wait while you simply get to know each other, which can involve a lot of petting, playing, giving treats "just because", letting the puppy get away with jumping on the furniture, and so forth.
Of course, your puppy is adorable. And of course you want to shower him with love. But take a second to think about what your puppy is learning from your behavior: you are a bottomless source of all the things he wants. Well, what happens when what he wants isn't so cute, and you aren't happy about it? You're upset, he's upset, and things become confusing. For puppies, confusion leads to anxiety, and anxiety can lead to poor behavior.
The foundation for training your puppy begins with the right tools. Let's take a look at some of the tools you'll want to incorporate into your puppy-training regimen.
The Crate
Crates are a great idea for your puppy - they are wonderful tools for housetraining, and they give your dog a space of his own. To choose one that's best for you and your dog, consider your circumstances. Do you have a small or medium sized dog with whom you want to travel with frequently? Will the crate provide enough room for your puppy when he's fully grown?
Lot's of puppy owners consider foldable crates to be the best option... they're handy because they can be easily dismantled when they aren't in use.
The Collar
Today, most dog trainers agree that basic manners training should be done with what's called a "flat buckle collar". This kind of collar is made out of leather, nylon, or cotton, and closes with a buckle or a snap. This all-purpose collar usually has a couple of metal loops on it - one for tags, and one for the leash to attach to.
You can measure your puppies neck to determine the appropriate length of collar you'll need to purchase. If your puppy is liable to grow big quickly, you might pick up a collar that leaves him some room to grow!
The Leash
Basic puppy training will require a couple of different sized leashes. For most of your training purposes, you'll need to have one standard 4- to 6- foot leash. For distance training (commands like "Come here, boy" and "Bring the ball"), you'll also want a longer leash... somewhere around the length of 12-feet should do the trick.
I advise against using retractable or chain leashes to train your puppy. Retractable leashes can hurt you or your dog if they get tangled up in the line, and chain leashes are distracting because of the noise they make.
Training Treats
Most dog trainers use edible treats for basic reward training. The thing to consider with treats is that you'll need LOTS of them to constantly reinforce your puppy's good behavior... choosing the wrong treat can lead to weight and health issues.
Here are a few things you can use as basic puppy treats: pea-sized chunks of hot-dog or hard cheese, small bits of cold cuts, bite-sized whole grain breakfast cereals (like Cheerios... no sugar, though!), fresh popcorn, or even baby carrot sticks (keep these in the fridge.)
These four tools are indispensable (and relatively inexpensive!) for properly training your puppy. You can visit your local library or look for more training tips for these tools on the internet. With the right tools and the right information, you'll have your new puppy behaving better than any dog on the block in no time at all!
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About the Author
This article was proudly written by Chris Bloczynski. Chris writes about puppy training and puppy care at his web site, PuppyPetCare.com.
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