How To Train Your New Puppy – Top Tips & Socialization

With a new puppy coming into your home, you’ll certainly have your work cut out when it comes to training them. As adorable as these furry four-legged friends are alongside the endless hours of fun they bring, training is a big responsibility to undertake.

Teaching your new companion the basics of good behavior and socialization not only will help them become a well-behaved adult dog but will also deepen the bond between you, so how can you ensure you approach this in the right way from day one?

With effective training techniques and essential tips on socializing them around both human and other animal family members, below is a short guide so that your puppy can grow into a confident, friendly, and obedient companion – you’re going to need to show plenty of patience, consistency, and of course, lots of love.

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Basic Training Techniques To Try

If this is the first time you’re experiencing bringing a puppy home, as you can imagine, there is lots to think about and organize. From preparing your home to booking their first health check-up within 48 hours with a vet, you’ll have plenty to arrange in the initial stages of welcoming them. Training is the next big step in their development into your happy family dog, so what to do first?

A good place to begin is with classic simple commands like "sit," "stay," "come," and "down." These basic commands not only improve your puppy's behavior but also enhance your bond and communication with them. Do this when your puppy is in a calm state and have short sessions of 5-10 minutes each to keep their attention focused. Using positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and play will reward them for following your instruction. This will also encourage your puppy to repeat those behaviors and help establish a positive learning environment.

It's also important to be consistent with your commands and rewards. Use the same words for each command and deliver rewards immediately after your puppy follows through, so they make the connection between the command and the action. According to The Kennel Club, you want to be thorough and break each part into tiny components, one lesson at a time, repeating the process until they get it.

Having a calm and assertive tone throughout training is important as puppies are very responsive to your tone of voice, and using a cheerful tone when praising and a firm tone when commanding can be highly effective.

House & Toilet Training

As they may spend most of their time in the home, house and toilet training is a crucial part of the process. You want to establish a regular schedule for meal times and taking your puppy outside – according to the RSPCA, dogs do not have full bladder capacity until they are approximately 12 months old, so puppies typically need to relieve themselves shortly after eating, drinking, or waking from sleep. Take them to the same spot each time, as the scent will prompt them to go.

Watch for signs that your puppy needs to go out, such as sniffing around, circling, or whining. Immediately taking them outside when these signs appear helps prevent accidents and teaches them where it's appropriate to relieve themselves. Remember to praise and reward your puppy immediately after they go to the toilet in the correct location to reinforce this behavior.

If an accident happens indoors, clean it up thoroughly to remove the scent and avoid punishing your puppy, as this can lead to fear and confusion. Instead, continue to focus on reinforcing positive behaviors with patience and encouragement.

How To Approach Socialization

Socializing your pup is a key part of their training that can help them be much calmer and more confident throughout their life. The world is a noisy, busy place, so socializing your puppy early by introducing them to a variety of people, animals, environments, and sounds in a controlled and positive manner is good for their development.

In an article for pet insurance provider Petsure, expert dog behaviorist Philippa Short recommends that your puppy should only meet immediate family members living at home in the first three days. This will prevent them from becoming overwhelmed too quickly.

Gradually introduce them to people in a calm setting and to other vaccinated dogs and cats, ensuring all interactions are supervised and positive. Puppy classes are excellent for socialization, allowing your puppy to meet other dogs in a safe and structured environment.

Expose your puppy to different environments too, such as parks, urban streets, and other open spaces they may visit regularly. This organic socializing helps them to become accustomed to various sights, sounds and smells and helps them take it all in.

As with other training, use treats and praise to reward your puppy for their calm and curious behavior. The goal is to associate these new experiences with positive outcomes, ensuring your puppy grows into a well-rounded and confident dog.

What About Common Puppy Challenges?

During training, you’re bound to have a few challenges along the way – it’s all part of the process, so it’s important to not become frustrated if your pup doesn’t get things quite right the first time or starts misbehaving. Here are some typical things you might experience:

Biting and Nipping – Redirect your puppy's biting to appropriate toys instead. Whenever they bite, offer a toy. Don’t tell them off as this may frighten them – it’s better to manage this with toys.

Chewing – Ensure your pup has plenty of chew toys that satisfy their need to gnaw. Keep any personal items out of reach.

Jumping Up – Try not to respond when your puppy jumps up. Stay calm and wait for them to stop. Then, reward them with attention and treats only when they are sitting or lying back down. This should help them associate a positive action with not jumping up.

Excessive Barking – Work out the cause of the barking and address it directly, whether it's boredom, attention-seeking, or anxiety. Look to divert their attention and remember to only reward them when they are staying quiet – rewarding them while barking will give them the wrong idea!

It’s Hard Work, But Well Worth The Effort

Training and socializing your new puppy can feel repetitive, but just like with a child, it is crucial for their early development. It will help you build a lifelong bond with your pup and create trust and mutual respect.

Above are just some of the techniques to try, but there are many more to consider – this is where looking for dog training classes can help get support with doing so. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) is a not-for-profit organization that can help you find a trainer near you.

Consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement are key to successful puppy training, so good luck, and make sure you enjoy this special time with your puppy – they grow up so fast!