Investing time and effort in training your puppy will lead to a happier, healthier, and more harmonious relationship. Here are four important steps you should take to train your puppy.
1. Start when the puppy enters your house for the first time!
When people bring a new puppy home, they invite it into the house with free reign. The puppy can wander the hallways, chew on things in the home, go potty in a different room when you are not watching, etc. Owners then get frustrated with their puppy and begin setting new rules. This approach confuses the puppy, and it’s important to remember that retraining a puppy is much more complicated.
2. Have a plan and work the plan!
Before you walk into your home for the first time with your new puppy, have a plan.
- How should the puppy enter the home?
- Do you open the door and let it charge in?
- Or do you want to set an expectation that the puppy waits at the door for you to enter? When not supervised, the puppy should be in a crate (see our blog on crate training).
- Will you allow the puppy to jump up on you or to chew on your hands and clothes?
- Will the puppy be allowed to join you on furniture?
- When and where will they eat, etc.
3. Use a leash.
New puppies should always have a leash they can drag when you are not holding it (and not in their crate). This will allow you to react and guide the puppy to the rules quickly. We recommend cutting any handle off so it does not get caught on things.
4. Be consistent.
Berger Blanc Suisse puppies are brilliant, but as puppies, they will also have short memories, and like kids, they will “test” the boundaries. Remember, all dogs are most comfortable when they know where they fit in the pack, so it is your job to constantly be the leader and give consistent guidance to establish rules. If you are consistent and stick with it, your puppy will quickly learn the routines, and you and your dog will have a happy, calm relationship!
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