Feeling Overwhelmed by Dog Training Advice? Start Here
- Lisa Nichols
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Crucial First Year: Setting Your Puppy Up for Success!
Training your new puppy is a journey for the first year of your puppy’s life. The first 4 months of your puppies life is the most critical socialization period. Take time to socialize your puppy with other puppies, friendly adult dogs, and people! Tall people, short people, heavy people, skinny people. People with glasses, people wearing hats, carrying purses, tote bags and (from personal experience) surf boards! Early and thoughtful socialization is the best way to acclimate your puppy to the human world they’re being asked to live in. Nurture your puppy’s development and show your pup the path to living harmoniously with you and your family. Puppy Socialization classes are one of the most effective ways to learn about proper socialization, while your puppy absorbs all that positivity! Set them up for success!
Beyond Stubborn: Understanding your dog’s perspective
Have you ever found yourself thinking “My dog is just being stubborn”? Before frustration sets in, take a moment to consider if your dog truly understands what you are asking in that specific moment and environment? Dogs do not generalize behaviors well. Taking the time to train in various locations – your kitchen, living room, the backyard, a quiet park, etc. will help them understand that "sit" means "sit" no matter where they are. If your dog isn't responding, take a peek at your environment - have they been there before? Are the distractions too much? Try breaking the command down into smaller steps, using a more enticing treat, minimizing distractions by changing location to a point where your dog can “hear” you, and ensuring they are physically comfortable and able to perform the behavior.
Navigating Reactivity: A Marathon, Not a Sprint
Leash walking becoming a nightmare around other dogs? There is no quick fix for Reactivity and/or Aggression. Expecting a quick fix can lead to frustration and giving up on them entirely. Slow and steady desensitization, often under the guidance of a certified professional dog trainer or behaviorist experienced in reactivity, is the key to helping your dog become more comfortable around situations that trigger those unwanted reactions
And always remember
Dogs are a part of your family! Show them through positive reinforcement what you want, and be sure to give them what they need in return….. A nice walk, a romp on the beach, a place to sniff and explore ~ and a place to learn!
Gentle Touch Pet Training, Training dogs on the Central Coast with Positive Reinforcement since 1999
Visit www.gentlepets.com and cut through the confusion!