Five Things You Must Know Before You Train a Puppy

If you're considering adopting and training a puppy then these five tips will help you prepare!

1. Training a Puppy Will Yield Great Rewards

Be prepared to invest time in training your puppy so it grows into a dog you really enjoy that is easy to live with and lovely to be around. Obedient and well-behaved dogs become beloved friends for life. Find out the best puppy school classes and enrol as soon as they will let you after your puppy has been immunised.

2. Be Top Dog from Day One

Dogs are pack animals and look to the Leader of the Pack or Top Dog for direction and acceptance. If you are in a couple, decide who is going to be Top Dog. That person needs to take primary responsibility for training and exercising your new puppy and spending time with him or her.

This doesn't sound like a big deal but when you're working full-time and the weather turns to rubbish in the winter or you're not feeling well or have visitors or a death in the family or whatever life chucks at you, the dog still needs a run. You have the responsibility to make that a priority to keep him healthy and happy and more inclined to behave well.

3. Before You Start Training, Think Ahead to the Future

My tiny little Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy loved to fall asleep and cuddle on my knee, and that never changed. When he was the size of a young horse and upset or frightened, he still would love nothing better than to climb on my lap and snuggle down as much as he was able as heavy and large as he was.

When he cried outside on his first few nights, we gave in and brought him inside and from then on, he slept in our room. What I learnt from that was the importance of starting off as you mean to begin. Think about where you want them to sleep not just when they are cute puppies, but when they are chew-aholic adolescents and gassy adults. Set up a comfy, warm place that is just his for the long term as soon as is practical after your puppy's arrival.

Calling a friend tonight, he laughingly told me he was pinned in unable to move on his bed due to their two basset hounds lying either side. He and his wife love their dogs. My friends with two Dobermans do exactly the same, but I never allowed my dog to sleep on the bed. If you don't want your dog to sleep with you, make your bed a no-go zone right from the start even when they are a cute, lonely little puppy. The same goes with couches if you don't want them to sit or sleep on the couch.

When it comes to toileting, plan where you want your dog to go. When your puppy first arrives home, take him there to relieve himself and get acquainted with the area so he begins to learn where it is good to go toilet.

4. Be Gentle, Firm, Consistent and Committed

Read up and invest the time in training dogs and you will be well rewarded. Talk to your breeder as well, or the SPCA if that's where your dog has come from. Different courses offer different techniques, but none of them recommend hitting dogs. There is no need to hit or yell at dogs. Use positive reinforcement instead. Lavish praise when they obey you. Begin the bare bones training gently from Day One. And get to a course as soon as possible to make all your lives easier.

5. Socialisation

Think about how you want your dog to react to visitors that come to your home. Your choice of breed will play a role here. Some breeds are natural guard dogs, others are more absorbed in members of the family. Once your pup has announced that there is someone at the door, how do you want them to behave?

If you don't want them to jump up on people, show them that from the start. Supervise your puppy's interactions with others, especially children. Children can be cruel to pets especially when they are out of parental view. I came home from work one day to find the neighbour's kids up on their shed throwing rocks and fruit at my three month old pup. Their parents didn't see anything wrong with it, and we had no idea how long it had been going on, but that explained why my lovely natured dog was never again completely at ease around strange children. Wherever possible, show children how to interact positively with dogs.

Do your best to nip destructive or mean behaviour from both people and dogs in the bud early on. Love and protect your pup and be rewarded with a positive, loving dog.