How to train a puppy: veterinary advice

Introducing an animal into the home requires some adaptation. The newcomer requires as much help as possible, they need to be treated with affection and patience, but without forgetting firmness. The first few weeks are crucial to the future prosperity of a life together.

The present post describes some tips on how to train a puppy. Our aim is for you to explain them to your current or future clients, so that everyone can get the most out of the information.

Foundations for successfully training a puppy

Firstly, it is important to be aware that we will reap our rewards gradually, occasionally the desired results only become apparent after 12 months. Patience!

There are three key points to successful training:

• Consistency
• Patience
• Never shout or hit

Puppies are usually very stressed out for the first few days. That’s why they need to receive love, serenity and above all a lot of freedom to explore their new surroundings. Never leave them alone in the garden during the first few days, as they can feel lost and vulnerable.

What should you do if your puppy whines?

It is better to ignore puppies when they whine, as they need to learn that whining does not obtain results. If this behaviour goes on for too long, occurs repeatedly at night or when the puppy is left alone, then some helpful tricks include:

• Roll a towel around a hot water bottle and place it in the puppy’s bed. The warmth calms the puppy by reminding of its mother.
• Similarly, a ticking clock will remind it of its mother’s heartbeat.

Exploring the great outdoors

Ideally, puppies should be carried the first few times they go out into the street. This allows them to get used to the outdoors and helps prevent undesired behaviours such as fear or aggression when adults.

Mischief

If the puppy is mischievous, it must be scolded so the behaviour is associated with an unpleasant experience. Sounding a horn or making an unpleasant noise will be sufficient. The puppy must be scolded while it is carrying out the wrongdoing, otherwise the reprimand will be ineffective.

The sofa and bed

The sofa is a particularly troublesome focal point. If you don’t want the dog to climb on the sofa when it is older, then it must be banned right from the outset. If you want the dog on the sofa with you at certain times, it must be trained to only climb up when invited.

Bodily evacuations

With regard to urine and faeces, very young puppies are yet to achieve sphincter control, so reprimands are a waste of time. If you don’t want the puppy to repeat the act in the same place, don’t clean the area with bleach or ammonia as this encourages repetition.

Owners can indicate where to urinate by covering the floor with newspaper then sprinkling a few drops of bleach over the chosen area, thus encouraging the puppy to use this site. Progressively lay down fewer sheets of newspaper, until there is only one remaining.

This habit can easily be transferred to the street. When the puppy has learned to urinate on a single sheet of newspaper, take the sheet with you on walks. Wait until it urinates on the sheet, then reward the puppy with a special treat.