How to Make Your Puppy’s Training Stick

Have you recently added a new puppy to your household? Congratulations on your new addition! Puppies are loads of fun. They’re also quite a lot of work! One of the most important aspects of raising a well-mannered and well-adjusted puppy is making sure little Fido gets proper training. The question is, how do you make your puppy’s training stick? There’s no sense in training your puppy only for your hard work to go to waste.

Use these simple tips to make your puppy’s training last a lifetime:

Keep it up.

The first and most obvious way to make little Fido’s training stick is to keep it up over the course of their puppyhood. You can’t train your puppy for a week and then expect him to be be set for life. If your canine pal isn’t reminded of their commands and put through their paces, they’ll forget it! You’ll need to keep up with commands and training as your puppy enters adulthood, too. It’s simply the best way to make sure you have a well-trained dog on your hands throughout life.

Be consistent.

Be consistent with your language, hand signals, tone, etc. as you work on teaching little Fido how to be a Good Boy. If you’re not consistent, he or she will get confused. Dogs don’t pick up nuances of language. You can’t tell your puppy to “sit down” one day and then command him to “sit” the next. Make sure all members of the family use the exact phrasing and tone when giving the little guy commands. This consistency is key to making little Fido’s training stick!

Use positive reinforcement.

Our furry pals tend to respond much better to positive reinforcement than negative reinforcement. Praising your cute pet for a good deed is a more powerful and effective training method than reprimanding them for a bad one. That’s not to say you can never tell your dog “no.” You should, and it’s another key part of training. Just keep in mind that reinforcing good behavior with treats and praise tends to have a more lasting effect than punishment or verbal reprimands.

Hire a professional.

You don’t have to tackle little Fido’s petucation alone if you don’t want to. Professional dog trainers and animal behaviorists specialize in teaching dogs manners. These experts can make your life much easier. Ask your vet about training options near you, and do some research online to find a training program that suits your needs.

Call your vet in Newburgh, NY for more insight into puppy training.